Dana 60 Question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Pickemuptruck71 · 05-29-2005, 01:01 AM

My 69 C20 has a Dana 60 in it, my question is concerning the 8 lug axles. Were there any 5 lug axles made for this rig? I'm also concerned about the 4.56 screw being a little bit to low for a big block. Any thoughts?

HugrOrang71 · 05-29-2005, 02:08 AM

There were no GM Dana 60 applications with a 5 lug bolt pattern. Some Ford, Jeep and IH's had flanged axle 60's with 5 on 5.5. And there were a few Chrysler muscle cars that had 60's with a 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern.

I would say that 4.56's will be too low if you are planning on much highway driving. With 31" tires, your cruise RPM at 60 mph is going to be almost 3K.
Depending on how much you plan on towing or hauling with it, I would think that a better ratio for all around performance would be around 3.54- 3.73.

Jason

72 CustomCamper · 05-29-2005, 02:11 AM

Your Dana 60 is like mine, it's a full floating axel. Basicly the wheel bolts up to the brake drum. The axel shaft has nothing to do with the bolt pattern. The easiest way to get a 5 lug is to swam in a 12 bolt axel...

Chuck

da-burb · 05-29-2005, 11:04 AM

The other gear ratios you have available in a dana 60 are 3.54 and 4.11. I would try to find the 3.54's if I were you.

**kwmech** · 05-29-2005, 11:17 AM

There are chevy 5 lug 60s but they are a semi float. This was recently discussed on this board. With the big block you will want the 3.54 gears.

Hardrock2 · 05-29-2005, 01:26 PM

There weren't any 5-lug Dana 60's made for our trucks that I'm aware of, but some big block equipped '68-'69 Chevy 1/2 tons came with Dana 60 semi floating 6-lug rear ends.
Few and far between, and most were setup for coil spring suspension.

If your truck is leaf sprung, you have a better chance of finding a bolt in D-60 semi floating rear in '69 and earlier GMC 1/2 ton trucks.
They will all be 6-lug, but the axles can be re-drilled for 5 on 5, I think.

Like da-burb said you can get 4:11, 3:54, and 3:73, I believe.

Better yet, a 12-bolt slides right in, has 3:07 (3:08), 3:42, 3:73, 4:11 (4:10) gear choices, 5 on 5 axles, two size brake options, and they're EVERYWHERE.
A big block should be happy with either the 3:54's, or the 3:42's for an all around dual purpose truck.

HugrOrang71 · 05-29-2005, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hardrock2

but some big block equipped '68-'69 Chevy 1/2 tons came with Dana 60 semi floating 6-lug rear ends.
Few and far between, and most were setup for coil spring suspension.

Can anyone verify this or have a factory example? I've been collecting Dana 60 stuff for almost 15 years (mostly front ends) and I've never seen or heard of a 6 lug Dana 60.

Hardrock2 · 05-29-2005, 06:47 PM

Whoops, my mistake. Those are Dana 44's in the '69 and back GMC's. (just went and looked under a '68)
Something stuck in my head that the big block 1/2 ton trucks in '68 and '69 could have had D-60 6-lug rears when optioned with the HD rear.
I've had a few over the years and always assumed they were D-60's, not ever imagining GM would stick a little 44 under a 396/402 motored truck and call it HD.
Sorry 'bout that! (blush)

stelth2002 · 05-30-2005, 02:00 AM

GM did both. They most certainly had a d60 6 lug semi floater in the 1/2 tons. I cant say if it was a big block only thing or not, but I seem to remember they were more apt to be put in a truck designated as a 'GMC'.

Pickemuptruck71 · 05-30-2005, 04:48 AM

Many thanks for the info, I've decided to use the c10 rolling chassis, 12 bolt with 3.08 gears, 5 on 5 bolt circle. Anyone want to buy a Dana 60.....LOL

**special-K** · 05-30-2005, 07:49 AM

Check markwilliams.com,that`s what I`m going to do with my shortbed.

05-29-2005, 01:01 AM	#1
Pickemuptruck71 Coast 2 Coast in 61 mins. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canton, Illinois Posts: 33	Dana 60 Question My 69 C20 has a Dana 60 in it, my question is concerning the 8 lug axles. Were there any 5 lug axles made for this rig? I'm also concerned about the 4.56 screw being a little bit to low for a big block. Any thoughts? __________________ 69 C20 71 C10 40 over 454, AT, 3.08 gears 71 Demon 340, 4spd, 4.56 gears 70 RoadRunner 440 6pack, 4spd, 4.10 gears 99 Dakota R/T 360, AT, 3.91 gears

05-29-2005, 02:08 AM	#2
HugrOrang71 Bite me, import boy Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Eagle Point, Oregon Posts: 102	There were no GM Dana 60 applications with a 5 lug bolt pattern. Some Ford, Jeep and IH's had flanged axle 60's with 5 on 5.5. And there were a few Chrysler muscle cars that had 60's with a 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern. I would say that 4.56's will be too low if you are planning on much highway driving. With 31" tires, your cruise RPM at 60 mph is going to be almost 3K. Depending on how much you plan on towing or hauling with it, I would think that a better ratio for all around performance would be around 3.54- 3.73. Jason __________________ Jason '71 C-10 Deluxe-under construction '69 C20, 396,T400-donor truck, '65 C10 project "Facts are meaningless, You can use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true."

05-29-2005, 02:11 AM	#3
72 CustomCamper huh ??? Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fredericksburg,Va. Posts: 3,369	Your Dana 60 is like mine, it's a full floating axel. Basicly the wheel bolts up to the brake drum. The axel shaft has nothing to do with the bolt pattern. The easiest way to get a 5 lug is to swam in a 12 bolt axel... Chuck __________________ 90 Blazer Silverado 350w/ 700R4 and 32" Kelly's "I am a bomb technician. If you see me running try to keep up!"

05-29-2005, 11:04 AM	#4
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	The other gear ratios you have available in a dana 60 are 3.54 and 4.11. I would try to find the 3.54's if I were you. __________________ Bowtie Truck Stop Inc. Mid-West GM Truck Restoration Parts Supplier Your Key Parts, Auto Metal Direct, Dynacorn, and Goodmark dealer. like us @ www.facebook.com/BowtieTruckStop 1971 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1971 K-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 K-20 Suburban (Yellow- that just aint right!) Springfield, Minnesota 56087

05-29-2005, 01:26 PM	#6
Hardrock2 A$$ deep into trucks Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Central Illinois,USA Posts: 249	There weren't any 5-lug Dana 60's made for our trucks that I'm aware of, but some big block equipped '68-'69 Chevy 1/2 tons came with Dana 60 semi floating 6-lug rear ends. Few and far between, and most were setup for coil spring suspension. If your truck is leaf sprung, you have a better chance of finding a bolt in D-60 semi floating rear in '69 and earlier GMC 1/2 ton trucks. They will all be 6-lug, but the axles can be re-drilled for 5 on 5, I think. Like da-burb said you can get 4:11, 3:54, and 3:73, I believe. Better yet, a 12-bolt slides right in, has 3:07 (3:08), 3:42, 3:73, 4:11 (4:10) gear choices, 5 on 5 axles, two size brake options, and they're EVERYWHERE. A big block should be happy with either the 3:54's, or the 3:42's for an all around dual purpose truck. __________________ hardrock2

05-29-2005, 11:17 AM	#5
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,599	There are chevy 5 lug 60s but they are a semi float. This was recently discussed on this board. With the big block you will want the 3.54 gears.

05-29-2005, 06:47 PM	#8
Hardrock2 A$$ deep into trucks Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Central Illinois,USA Posts: 249	Whoops, my mistake. Those are Dana 44's in the '69 and back GMC's. (just went and looked under a '68) Something stuck in my head that the big block 1/2 ton trucks in '68 and '69 could have had D-60 6-lug rears when optioned with the HD rear. I've had a few over the years and always assumed they were D-60's, not ever imagining GM would stick a little 44 under a 396/402 motored truck and call it HD. Sorry 'bout that! (blush) __________________ hardrock2

05-30-2005, 02:00 AM	#9
stelth2002 Young Gun wth Fast Inline Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 1,475	GM did both. They most certainly had a d60 6 lug semi floater in the 1/2 tons. I cant say if it was a big block only thing or not, but I seem to remember they were more apt to be put in a truck designated as a 'GMC'. __________________ 1967 Chevrolet LWB with built 292! 415 ft. lbs of torque, 4 speed :O with 27% overdrive too, 3.73 Posi. Frame and body done... getting painted!!!

05-30-2005, 04:48 AM	#10
Pickemuptruck71 Coast 2 Coast in 61 mins. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canton, Illinois Posts: 33	Many thanks for the info, I've decided to use the c10 rolling chassis, 12 bolt with 3.08 gears, 5 on 5 bolt circle. Anyone want to buy a Dana 60.....LOL __________________ 69 C20 71 C10 40 over 454, AT, 3.08 gears 71 Demon 340, 4spd, 4.56 gears 70 RoadRunner 440 6pack, 4spd, 4.10 gears 99 Dakota R/T 360, AT, 3.91 gears

05-30-2005, 07:49 AM	#11
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Check markwilliams.com,that`s what I`m going to do with my shortbed. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

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