DANA 60 front drive shaft lenght? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

walkerb · 10-07-2010, 03:26 PM

Im swapping out the 44 for the 60. Long time coming!

Does anyone know if I'll be able to use the 44 driveshaft or will I have to do something to make it work? shorten it? Thanks for the help

1985 3/4t turbo 400 and stock transfer case.

Greenlee · 10-07-2010, 04:54 PM

I have a friend that did this swap (3/4 ton dana 44 to dana 60) and the front drive shaft was the same.

walkerb · 10-08-2010, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenlee

I have a friend that did this swap (3/4 ton dana 44 to dana 60) and the front drive shaft was the same.

Thanks boss, I hope your right.

Im looking to swap her and start plowing with her soon!

dropd80s · 10-08-2010, 10:08 AM

Honestly, I think It depends on the year. We had a 79 K30 we robbed the 60 out of swapped in a 84 8 lug 10 bolt and resold the truck. The joints were not the same. You should be able to get a combination U joint if they don't match though.

hitcher · 10-09-2010, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkerb

Im swapping out the 44 for the 60. Long time coming!

Does anyone know if I'll be able to use the 44 driveshaft or will I have to do something to make it work? shorten it? Thanks for the help

1985 3/4t turbo 400 and stock transfer case.

excuse my ignorance but how are a 44 and 60 differant ? and how can i tell what i have on my truck ? my truck is geared much to low for highway use and need to swap the gears , or would an overdrive transmission be a better way to go ? right now at about 60mph she is screaming 3000rpm !!!!

thanks for any help .

(1988 1 ton crew cab ex army cv30943)

1985-GMC · 10-09-2010, 01:57 AM

1 tons came with Dana 60s. The easiest way to tell is to look at the passenger side spring pad, dana 44s have two U bolts and 60s have one U bolt and two regular bolts.

hitcher · 10-13-2010, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

1 tons came with Dana 60s. The easiest way to tell is to look at the passenger side spring pad, dana 44s have two U bolts and 60s have one U bolt and two regular bolts.

thanks , looks like i have a 60 on mine . im now looking in to getting an overdrive trans and keeping the 4:10 gears . my boss knows someone that may be able to hook me up . then if i can sell my 3 speed it shouldnt hurt to much in the wallet department . trucks not to bad around town but cant really go above 55 on the highway , just need to get those revs down .

1985-GMC · 10-14-2010, 12:06 AM

Is it a 6.2?

hitcher · 10-14-2010, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

Is it a 6.2?

yep , a 6.2

walkerb · 10-14-2010, 07:22 AM

Quick question, how many leaf springs do you guys have up front? the Dana I got has three from a dually.

My buddy has an 86 K30 reg cab SRW with 5 or 6 up front. Is this aftermarket?

1985-GMC · 10-14-2010, 01:35 PM

I think my K30 has three.

Adams74Chevy · 10-14-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

I think my K30 has three.

Probably so, both my K20's have 2.

jltait · 10-14-2010, 02:46 PM

Driveshaft: I would check to see that the shaft has 1" or so of additional compression by removing the ujoin u bolt and compressing it. If it does not have at least 3/4" of additional compression I doubt it will work. If you are planning to or already have installed a lift kit of 4" or more then it will probably extend or is extended enough for the 60 to fit just fine. My guess is it has room for that much compression.

Leaf spring: 3/4 tons typically had 2 leaf fronts, but some heavier GVW setups had 3 front. 1 tons typically had 3, however I had one (SRW) that had 2 and assume it was a lighter GVW 1 ton. (think it was 9200 or 9300#) I have also heard of a Heavy chassis package that gave 4 leafs ( I think this was a wrecker package) and have seen a couple of them all were chassis and cab trucks. Not aware of 5/6 leaf setups on K30's, not saying they never existed but if they did they were very rare.

1985-GMC · 10-14-2010, 03:46 PM

I looked at it and it has 4 in the front,9 in the rear with 2 overloads.

rideair · 10-16-2010, 03:14 PM

3 in the front, 9 in the rear.

Paul Waddell
1986 K30, Crewcab, Longbed, SRW (Ex-Airforce Truck)
Front Royal, VA

Patriot · 10-16-2010, 09:04 PM

3 in the front and 16 in the rear. It used to be a TOW TRUCK!!!

10-07-2010, 03:26 PM	#1
walkerb Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 831	DANA 60 front drive shaft lenght? Im swapping out the 44 for the 60. Long time coming! Does anyone know if I'll be able to use the 44 driveshaft or will I have to do something to make it work? shorten it? Thanks for the help 1985 3/4t turbo 400 and stock transfer case. __________________ 1973 k20 Suburban 350 1974 Custom stepside c-10 250 1975 Chevy stepside 454 1986 K30 Crewcab SRW 350 R.I.P- glimmertwin01- board member and good friend, you will be missed

10-07-2010, 04:54 PM	#2
Greenlee Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: El Lago, TX Posts: 1,668	Re: DANA 60 front drive shaft lenght? I have a friend that did this swap (3/4 ton dana 44 to dana 60) and the front drive shaft was the same.

10-08-2010, 10:08 AM	#4
dropd80s Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: wichita falls tx Posts: 429	Re: DANA 60 front drive shaft lenght? Honestly, I think It depends on the year. We had a 79 K30 we robbed the 60 out of swapped in a 84 8 lug 10 bolt and resold the truck. The joints were not the same. You should be able to get a combination U joint if they don't match though.

10-09-2010, 01:57 AM	#6
1985-GMC Chevy Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Canyon Lake Texas Posts: 2,024	Re: DANA 60 front drive shaft lenght? 1 tons came with Dana 60s. The easiest way to tell is to look at the passenger side spring pad, dana 44s have two U bolts and 60s have one U bolt and two regular bolts. __________________ Tony 1985 GMC K2500 restoration Project: Rust, White & Blue 1989 Chevy R3500 CC Cummins & 4X4 swap some day... 1989 Burb (D60, 14BFF, 12V, NV4500, NP205, 37" tires in progress)

10-14-2010, 12:06 AM	#8
1985-GMC Chevy Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Canyon Lake Texas Posts: 2,024	Re: DANA 60 front drive shaft lenght? Is it a 6.2? __________________ Tony 1985 GMC K2500 restoration Project: Rust, White & Blue 1989 Chevy R3500 CC Cummins & 4X4 swap some day... 1989 Burb (D60, 14BFF, 12V, NV4500, NP205, 37" tires in progress)

10-14-2010, 07:22 AM	#10
walkerb Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 831	Re: DANA 60 front drive shaft lenght? Quick question, how many leaf springs do you guys have up front? the Dana I got has three from a dually. My buddy has an 86 K30 reg cab SRW with 5 or 6 up front. Is this aftermarket? __________________ 1973 k20 Suburban 350 1974 Custom stepside c-10 250 1975 Chevy stepside 454 1986 K30 Crewcab SRW 350 R.I.P- glimmertwin01- board member and good friend, you will be missed

10-14-2010, 01:35 PM	#11
1985-GMC Chevy Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Canyon Lake Texas Posts: 2,024	Re: DANA 60 front drive shaft lenght? I think my K30 has three. __________________ Tony 1985 GMC K2500 restoration Project: Rust, White & Blue 1989 Chevy R3500 CC Cummins & 4X4 swap some day... 1989 Burb (D60, 14BFF, 12V, NV4500, NP205, 37" tires in progress)

10-14-2010, 02:46 PM	#13
jltait Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Eaton Rapids, MI Posts: 97	Re: DANA 60 front drive shaft lenght? Driveshaft: I would check to see that the shaft has 1" or so of additional compression by removing the ujoin u bolt and compressing it. If it does not have at least 3/4" of additional compression I doubt it will work. If you are planning to or already have installed a lift kit of 4" or more then it will probably extend or is extended enough for the 60 to fit just fine. My guess is it has room for that much compression. Leaf spring: 3/4 tons typically had 2 leaf fronts, but some heavier GVW setups had 3 front. 1 tons typically had 3, however I had one (SRW) that had 2 and assume it was a lighter GVW 1 ton. (think it was 9200 or 9300#) I have also heard of a Heavy chassis package that gave 4 leafs ( I think this was a wrecker package) and have seen a couple of them all were chassis and cab trucks. Not aware of 5/6 leaf setups on K30's, not saying they never existed but if they did they were very rare.

10-14-2010, 03:46 PM	#14
1985-GMC Chevy Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Canyon Lake Texas Posts: 2,024	Re: DANA 60 front drive shaft lenght? I looked at it and it has 4 in the front,9 in the rear with 2 overloads. __________________ Tony 1985 GMC K2500 restoration Project: Rust, White & Blue 1989 Chevy R3500 CC Cummins & 4X4 swap some day... 1989 Burb (D60, 14BFF, 12V, NV4500, NP205, 37" tires in progress)

10-16-2010, 03:14 PM	#15
rideair Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Front Royal Virginia Posts: 243	Re: DANA 60 front drive shaft lenght? 3 in the front, 9 in the rear. Paul Waddell 1986 K30, Crewcab, Longbed, SRW (Ex-Airforce Truck) Front Royal, VA

10-16-2010, 09:04 PM	#16
Patriot Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Summerset SD Posts: 312	Re: DANA 60 front drive shaft lenght? 3 in the front and 16 in the rear. It used to be a TOW TRUCK!!!



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