Finally a set of cheep 70's!

[uglyjeep]

I just got a set of dana 70's for $90 ! 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 )

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

[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, 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/f...lyjeep/006.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...lyjeep/005.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...lyjeep/008.jpg
engine bay
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...lyjeep/015.jpg
th350 to t18 adapter
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...lyjeep/013.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...lyjeep/012.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...lyjeep/009.jpg