Dana 60 swap

[Brad W.]

since i was deprived of surfing IFSJA, I actually got off my butt and did something constructive. check it out.

http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/Users/BCW1284/axle_lift1.jpg

http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/Users/BCW1284/axle_lift3.jpg

http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/Users/BCW1284/Dana60a.jpg

[ August 09, 2004, 11:55 AM: Message edited by: Brad W. ]

[Robber80]

thats awsome. i'm just about done mine too. looks good!

[DieselSJ]

That looks close to stock width. What is that out of? My 44 isn't going to last long behind the diesel.

[Brad W.]

this is from a 1982 Dodge Ram 250 4x4. it is a 30-spline full-floater.

the plan is to hook up the existing drums so I can drive it, and when I get all the junk ordered, the front and rear axles will be completly rebuilt w/ new seals, bearings, ball joints, u-joints, 4.56:1 gears, a mini-spool rear, Lock-right front, premium hubs, 4-wheel-discs.

the reason I chose 4.56:1 gears is so I can find a CUCV dana 60 front axle later on and just stick it in w/o changing the internals (35-slpine outers will be added of course)

the gears are 3.54 now, so it matches the wagoneer front axle. i'll be putting dodge knuckles, etc. on the front so I can match the 8-lug wheel pattern. this way at least I can drive it until I find my Dana 60.
I gained about 4"-5" of width with this axle. the dodge front axle is FAR too wide, but the narrow wagoneer housing and wide dodge outers should match the rear Dana 60 width.

[Brad W.]

btw- I made those spring packs myself. 6-leaf (bottom is short AAL) + thick overload. with those and a 3" CAST IRON block, I got 5" lift. I'm putting on 4" front springs to level it out. When I get the GM front Dana 60, i'll shackle-flip the rear so it will match the SOA GM axle. then i'll be tall enough for 39.5 IROKS or 39" boggers...

For being such big springs, they are very flexy. 190lbs of me on the back (jumping up and down) can get it to bounce about 3"-4". enough to hit the pinion on the gas tank.

[Brad W.]

**update**

I will be pulling the 8-lug front stuff tonight, so hopefully I can get it installed when I get back from Hawaii (leaving Wed. morning). Aloha ya'll...

[rockjeep44]

Sweet man. Can't wait to see the front done.

[Brad W.]

I pulled 8-lug front crap tonight, so I can install it when I get home from vacation.

So I pulled the parts, then the cops show up because some nosy jackass thought we had stolen our SURPLUS deuce and a half from the Air Force Base... turns out we knew the cops. nice guys. we all had a good laugh at that.

then about an hour later, a guy (lives on the next street I might add) who was totally blazed on 5 different prescription meds (paranoid schizophrenic, clinically depressed, etc.) bashed into (side-swiped) my neighbors parked truck. then he stopped, and backed up right into it... pulled forward, backed up into it AGAIN... Then we pulled a SWAT team move and pulled his dumb *** out of the car. all in all an exciting night. His Buick is TOTALED, the victims' Dodge Dakota is repairable. Probably about $2500 worth of damage to truck... bummer.

anywho, I'm leaving for Hawaii in 7 hours, so I better get some shut-eye. Aloha ya'll!