Finally a set of cheep 70's!

[uglyjeep]

I just got a set of dana 70's for $90 :thumbsup:! They're under a 1974 dodge w10 ex-military ambulance (haven't found any info on the truck at all???). My buddy bought the truck to sell the parts, and he used my trailer to move it. He only paid 200 for the whole thing, and since I worked my butt off helping, he sold me the axles cheep. We are going to pull the axles sometime next month, but I ain't in no hurry.

About the axles - the front is a closed knuckle dana 70f with a huge "B" cast in the top of the diff. From the BOM I see that it is a 4.88 with a 2 piece (open) carrier. It has 30 spline inner and 21 spline outer shafts (not the 35 spline shafts :(), with warn locking external hubs. It also has the most odd steering set up I've seen yet- the steering linkage goes under the diff!
On the rear the BOM is gone - far to much rust on the axle tubes! I can see that it also is marked with the "B".
Both axles are 8 lug with drum brakes. (Now I don't have to deal with that 6 lug 70 I have:D )

Question - I've heard rumors of the closed knuckle 70 fronts having dana 44 sized u-joints. Doing my research, I see that the u-joint, part # 5-88x, seems to be LARGER than the one used in the 60 open knuckle front. Is it the tracta joint front end that people put down and not the u-joint type? But from the little info I have found, it seems that the tracta joint has more torque transmitting surface. Am I missing something, or are these rumors BS?

I'll post some pics after I head over to my friends place to unload the truck tomorrow.

Edit: on a side note - Anyone want to trade their 3.73's or 4.10's for my4.88's? I need the Highest gearing I can get (# low).

[Chris Barry]

Buy em off ya for $100:D

[uglyjeep]

Hmmm... I could make ten bucks...

[kenny kustom]

Are you putting the 70's in your FSJ ? Why ?

[HARDCORE pacer]

lets see some pics of the truck.

[uglyjeep]

Kenny - yes, and because I can. Really, because it had an extreme drivetrain (th350 with a manual t-18 behind) when I bought it, I figured that I had to finish what some one else started. I got the 6.2 diesel for it a set of 38' tires and now the axles. I'd eventually like to go bigger on the tires when I either can afford them or find them cheep. My uncle builds the scorpion, www.scorpion4x4.com (http://www.scorpion4x4.com), and I'd like to be able to kinda keep up when offroading with him.

Here's some old pics of the truck (when I got it) I'll throw some new ones on this afternoon, along with pics of the axles.
over all photos
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/uglyjeep/006.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/uglyjeep/005.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/uglyjeep/008.jpg
engine bay
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/uglyjeep/015.jpg
th350 to t18 adapter
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/uglyjeep/013.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/uglyjeep/012.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/uglyjeep/009.jpg

[kenny kustom]

Hopefully with the 38's, you wont be dragging your pumpkin everywhere. I have 40's and d60's and the pumpkin still isnt high enough out of the way. I'm also running 5.38's . You want to trail it with 3.73's ? ?

[uglyjeep]

I think I'm going to shave the diffs, at least down to the size of 60's.
On the gearing - the t-18 has the 6.32 1st (I'm pretty sure) and the th350 has a 2.52 1st, figure a 2:1 t-case low gear, with the 4.88 in the axles, I'm going to have about a 155:1 crawl ratio when in 1st, 1st, low. With the 3.73 gearing I'd still have about a 118:1 crawl ratio. Someone running a granny low t-18 with a 203/205 doubler and 5.38 gears is going to be getting about 140:1, right?
I'd like to be able to run on the street and get decent (read: not in single digits) mileage (the whole reason I got the diesel was to get better milage than a SBC). I don't want to deal with swapping the th350 for a OD trans, so I figure I'll cut down on axle gearing. But I'm probably going to put it together with the 4.88's, and run it for a while.

[Stuka]

The trucks going to be a gutless pig with 3.73's and 38's. You could run the T18 in a different gear I suppose, although I am curious how you shift it. I would assume the truck has to be stopped, and the auto shifted to neutral. I fear the D20 isnt going to live long with that kind of torque multiplication. But is is a neat setup. How long is the rear drive shaft?

[uglyjeep]

Stuka- I've pretty much figured already on running the t-18 in 3rd and using 4th sort of as overdrive (difference in having to stop to shift, you're right). And for the t-case, I'm either going to use a dana 300 or divorced 205. Currently the front and rear shafts are about the same length (not sure on the measurement).

Here are the photos -
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/uglyjeep/017-1.jpg
the donor
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/uglyjeep/006-1.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/uglyjeep/012-1.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/uglyjeep/011-1.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/uglyjeep/014-1.jpg

[kenny kustom]

Why not run a t case doubler instead of dual tranny's ? Although, i have never seen someone run an auto/manual doubler....

[Stuka]

Why not run a t case doubler instead of dual tranny's ? Although, i have never seen someone run an auto/manual doubler....

I have seen some of them, and the difference is choices of gears. The downside is you need the wheelbase to make it work.

For a while in the lte 80's you could buy Corvette's with a 4+3 setup. Which was an auto trans behind a 4sp manual. It was an odd setup.

[elbastardo]

What spline outers does the close knuckle 70 have? Congrats on the find:thumbsup: . Looking foward to your not so standard build:D .

[Dmntxn77]

Will be following this thread to see how everything works out for you..

Personally, I would put that front 70 on ebay and hope to get enough out of it to cover some of a front 60 cost. It might get you up to half way there which in my opinion would be a big step in the right direction...

[Ugly Truck Nut]

That's a nice Dodge.

[uglyjeep]

Kenny - I'm running it that way because that's how it was when I bought it:D .

What spline outers does the close knuckle 70 have? Congrats on the find:thumbsup: . Looking foward to your not so standard build:D .
It has the 21 spline outers, which means 30 spline inner shafts. Sadly not the 35 spline (which I think was only in the dodge w600). Oh, and thanks, I was pretty lucky to find something that fit my budget.

Dmntxn77 - Why a 60? All I've heard is that the 70 has a 44 size u-joint, but according to the dana expert site, the 5-88x (1480wj) is much larger than the one for the 44 (something like a 1310 wj or 1340 wj, I can't remember the # of the top of my head). I'm not trying to attack anyone - I just haven't found an answer that makes sense to me. Even if the 70 is weaker than a 60, I don't think that I could afford the other half of a 60 (the cheapest I've seen a front 60 around here is 1000). The 70 should hold up well enough.

Ugly truck nut - Do you want it? I'm sure my buddy will sell whats left plus the pink for 200 ;) .

[malodin]

uglyjeep, i remember you posting that auto/manual setup a long time ago did you ever drop the auto/manual down and pull the mounting apart? i think i am safe in speaking for all of us we would love to see more tech pictures of the setup, huh huh?:D ;) ;) ;)

[Rednex4x4s]

X2 on the pics of the tranny set up.Man I wish it was closer to Kansas City I would like to have that truck from the frame up.

[Dmntxn77]

Dmntxn77 - Why a 60? All I've heard is that the 70 has a 44 size u-joint, but according to the dana expert site, the 5-88x (1480wj) is much larger than the one for the 44 (something like a 1310 wj or 1340 wj, I can't remember the # of the top of my head). I'm not trying to attack anyone - I just haven't found an answer that makes sense to me. Even if the 70 is weaker than a 60, I don't think that I could afford the other half of a 60 (the cheapest I've seen a front 60 around here is 1000). The 70 should hold up well enough.



Sorry, I didnt mean to come off like I was bashing if thats how you took it.

Their are several reasons that I would prefer a D60, such as:
-more clearance
-open knuckles
-disc brakes
-better aftermarket support
-weight
-kingpins

Those are just a few things right off the top of my head..


But, like you said, it was a good find for the price. And, I have always been one to support wheelin what you got. I would just expect that you will have just as much $$ in that as what a D60 would cost you by the time you are done with it, thats all...

Regarding price on a D60... I dont know where you live in CA, but it seems that 60's are very abundant in various places around the state. Up here in WA, it is pretty common for 60's to go for $1K-$1200, but their are always deals to be found. I got my 1 tons on craigslist for $800, and they already have 4.88's and a Power Loc in the rear. Now granted, you dont always find deals like that, but they are around.

In fact, just last night, I found a 78 or 79 F250 4x4 complete with a 460 (IIRC), 205, and 60 front for only $600. If I had the time or energy to part another rig, I would have been all over it..

Not all sellers know what they have..

[DAHoyle]

In fact, just last night, I found a 78 or 79 F250 4x4 complete with a 460 (IIRC), 205, and 60 front for only $600. If I had the time or energy to part another rig, I would have been all over it..

Not all sellers know what they have..

Where? Around Amarillo? I'm working right down the road for a while. I'll jump on it

[Dmntxn77]

No its in Tacoma.. If I were in Amarillo, I would probably jump on it since I could just hold onto in. Here though, I have to take it apart or get it home..

Check the Seattle-Tacoma CL.. For that price, it might be worth the shipping cost...

[KaiserMan]

The D70 c/k's are rated for more weight then the modern D60's. I've always heard they are comparible in strength off road. You WILL HATE the turning radius. With the clsoed knuckles, you u-joints will almost almost forever.

I'd love to run one in the front of my 71. Hard to find around here.

Very nice score.

[uglyjeep]

Dmntxn - I didn't think you were doing any bashing, I just didn't want to come of as too harsh or anything. Finally, someone saying something other than 44 size u-joints - Thank you. I have gotten tired of only seeing people (on pirate and other forums) bashing 70 based just on u-joint size.

To all interested in seeing the doubler - Soon I will be pulling the drive-train and I'll take lots of detailed photos. But I wont have time until this semester ends in a month or so. I'll probably start a build thread and put everything there.

Kaiserman - the turning radius can't be any worse than my long bed extra cab toyota tacoma. My dads old extra cab long bed dually chevy turns better (hmm... that has a 60 front ;) ).