1ton PD, HP axles?

[BigRedChief]

This is probably more rediculous than I would ever do, but a buddy at work got me wondering... Are there any HP, Passenger Drop (or is it "drop" if it's HP?) D60 or other 1-ton front axles that were production on some other vehicle or do you have to get something like that custom made?

[matt thompson]

as for dana 60's...I've never heard of a pssger/high pinion pumpkin. the only oem high pinion dana 60's are fords which are all drivers drop. (correct me if I'm wrong. please), as for other 1 ton+ front axles, maybe somethin for commercial/military trucks. 2.5 ton rockwells have a centered case, but the pinion on the gear reducer(top) is slightly to the pssgr side, and this axle could be considered high, HIGH pinion, but in most rigs overkill/unroadworthy.

[BigRedChief]

I managed to finally find something on Pirate that basically said the same thing. I'd probably be in over my head anyway. I've gotten into some pretty hairy stuff with 4" springs, D44's and 33" MT's. Every time I start thinking 1-tons and SOA my mind starts thinking... "Well... it's not much more to just 3 & 4-link with coilovers... and it's not much more to put a cage in... and it's not much more to just buy a frame and build a buggy... I'll just build a buggy!" And then I realize that I might have the money or I might have the time, but I never seem to have both. :rolleyes:

[Slick Willie]

Just get a LP Driver D60 and flip it over with reverse cut gears. :thumbsup:

Just kidding. Do not do that.

Put in a new t-case and/or tranny and get a HP Ford D60. Or why do you want the HP? Driveshaft angle to t-case, a little better clearance for rocks hitting the ds, and better gears (reverse cut being stronger or something?) are all the advantages that I know of. I'll be corrected in 3...2...1...

[BigRedChief]

I was thinking driveshaft angle. SOA + 4" springs sort of necessitates HP (I think so anyway... maybe not...) and if I didn't want to switch t-cases, I'd be sort of stuck needing a passenger pumpkin. How bad would it be to find a driver HP and cut/swap the axle tubes?

[Slick Willie]

Ask Nick (orangecherokee) about his driveshaft angle. He has SOA and 4" with a passenger drop axle (LP). I don't know the measurement, but an HP 60 will give you a slightly better angle on the driveshaft, but it might not be much. Some of these other guys will know about angles with your QT. A 1410 will more than likely hold up on the front though. The front doesn't get quite as much torque as the rear anyway.

U-joint series: Maximum Angle: Continuous rating: (lb-ft) Short Duration rating (lb-ft):
1310 ____________ 30 __________________ 130 ___________________ 800
1350 ____________ 20 __________________ 210 ___________________ 1240
1410 ___________28-37 _________________ 250 ___________________ 1500


As far as redoing an HP axle to make it passenger drop, it depends on how good you are at fabricating or how much money you want to spend. Welding steel tubes to a cast iron differential, getting the tubes PERFECTLY square and level to the diff, welding on knuckles at the right alignment angles, and bracing, not to mention all the GM parts (shafts, brakes, etc.) that will be needed. Those are just some of the many things to consider. You would ultimately have to buy a GM D60 and a HP Ford and then some more parts. It'll add up. It can be done, but it is very tedious and cannot be half-@$$ed. Not even 9/10-@$$ed.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

I was thinking driveshaft angle. SOA + 4" springs sort of necessitates HP (I think so anyway... maybe not...) and if I didn't want to switch t-cases, I'd be sort of stuck needing a passenger pumpkin. How bad would it be to find a driver HP and cut/swap the axle tubes?


Having a HP Diff retubed is possible, but $$$$. While the HP is a desired setup, it is not the end of the world if you don't have one. Many rigs have LP 60's and are holding out fine.

[Big-wagon87]

I bolted a Dodge passenger drop d60 it fit perfect never had to move the perches. The axle came from a ton dodge truck with 4:10 and 30 spline. I think dodge and gm are passenger drop and ford are driverside. what size gears and tires do you want to run.
CH

[BigRedChief]

Well I guess I was wrong! It's been known to happen. :D

This friend of mine was trying to convince me to put my Chero up on 38's. He's doing a 4-link SAS on an S10 with a Wag 44. Between the two of us we could probably fab up an HP axle. We're both engineers and he's got quite a bit of fab experience and equipment (including a new Tig). I've got some, but I'm learning as I go.

I don't know though... I've had the Jeep out on trails a few times now and it seems like I could get through everything okay with what I've got. It might be easier to do some things with a better approach, departure and break-over angle, but then it would potentially get tippy. That and my wife is 5'6" and I don't want to have to install a rope ladder! :p

[Slick Willie]

If you keep the 4" springs and SOA, I could see it getting tippy. But if you do SOA and get some stock springs, it would be better. You can run 38's on a Chief with SOA and stock springs. My buddy does. When you switch bolt pattern from 6 to the 1 ton 8, get rims with numerically low backspacing. You probably will have to anyway to clear the brakes, depending on what diameter rim you'll run. That, along with wider tires, will give you a wider stance, and thus more stable. Just some more convincing. :thumbsup: