Dana 60 1/2 ton rearend

[71Bowties]

Originally Posted by 6872xtc

If my brain is working correctly, was the axle spline count in these somewhat low? I believe that the D60 was mainly an option that ended up in the BB 4spd 1/2 tons. I think you could get it with TH400, but less likely???? My Dad's '69 396/TH400 truck has 12 bolt in it. I know the rearend that you found and was tempted, but I didn't have a home for it, so I am pleased to see someone is going to get some use out of it. I had a chance to buy the truck it was in from the original owner back in the mid-90's, but of course I made the mistake of holding on to my money!! Make sure you check the housing for straightness, my buddy's granpa used that old truck hard in it's early years.

That truck was definitely used and used hard, I wish I could have gotten the trailing arms off of it too.

I think you're right on the spline count being really low, like 16 or something on some of them. I am actually going to change everything inside to upgrade for Moser 35 spline axles and take the opportunity to change it back to 5 on 5" pattern too.

Do you get up to Western Colorado Dragway much?

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by 6872xtc

I believe that the D60 was mainly an option that ended up in the BB 4spd 1/2 tons. I think you could get it with TH400, but less likely????

It was automatic in a BB 3/4 ton truck, and few came with the eaton. Auto, or manual.

[PICKMUP]

I've got two of those dana 60 1/2T rearends. One is a 6-lug, leaf, 3:54 posi and the other is a 6-lug, coil, 3:73, open. The 4x4 guys really like those, but they always have to be re-geared.
I think the coil unit came out of a '66 carry all? They have been outside under tarps for years, so they may not be so good anymore. I never figured out what to do with them, so I just saved them.
The brakes are those wierd offset drums, like on dana 44, and I don't think you can get new drums anymore.

[texanidiot25]

My truck also had the 6 lug D60, it's a beast of an axle. Long story short, the spider gear shaft lock screw was broken off in the carrier, so there was no way I could pull it apart to replace the axle bearing Just a dime-a-dozen 12 bolt now. I hope I can keep it around and put back in one day, but needed it on the road sooner.

It makes the 12 bolt look like a sissy though. And my truck is a factory 350, TH350 half ton.

[Longhorn Man]

how can it make a 12 bolt look like a sissy... when it's broken from just a 350?

[texanidiot25]

Motor didn't break it.


Broken off hardened steel screws in the diff means you can't pull the axles to replace wheel bearings. You can thank some PO for that fine work on my diff.

Put them side by side... D60 looks a lot beefier than the 12 bolt.

[Longhorn Man]

got it.

[texanidiot25]

Haha yeh, you can imagine how annoyed I've become with this. Should've taken no more than 2 hours to do both sides! But can't break the shaft out, can't drill the screw (broken a lot of bits trying, doesn't help you can't hit it straight on), and it strips out easy-out bits Short of torching the thing apart, it's all locked together.

And now the 12 bolt I threw in has it's on problems fitting. Know where I can find a longer panhard-bar stud for the axle?

[6872xtc]

71Bowties, I haven't been to the dragstrip much in the past couple of years. I need to get up there and play with both of my trucks. My '72 needs tuneda tad more then I can see what difference the engine mods have made. I would really be curious to see what my 4x4 does now, too. I usually go with Pat from Western Alternator whom might know from Montrose.

[71Bowties]

I know Pat well. I was actually going to stop by and see him today to see if he might be interested in a trailer that I have for sale. That guy is a 12v guru for sure. Hopefully we can do some racing this summer if I can get one of my projects done.

[Willys47]

Originally Posted by 71Bowties

I will get some pictures this weekend after I have a chance to sandblast and clean it up a little. The brakes actually look kinda small on that thing.

I know hurry up and wait but I keep getting emails about responces on this thread and think I'll finaly get to see what these rare difs look like close up

[eagleuh1]

Try some machine shops or specialty weld shops. We used to use a special plasma cutter to remove stuck bolts and studs on pumps and valves that were no longer available in the Navy. If the guy was really good with it you could just run a tap down and clean the slag out of the threads. I was amazed sometimes.

[71Bowties]

Here are some pictures of the D60 after a good sandblasting and painting. I am going to tear it down tonight and see what I can work out for a brake upgrade.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by PJsthnam

Sorry guys, i'm just trying to get educated. What does "full floating" mean?

The actual difference has to do with what supports the weight of the vehicle.
In a "semi floating" axle, the drum and wheel are attched to a flange on the end of the axle itself. The axle holds the weight and drives the wheel.

In a "full floating" rear end, the drum is connected to a hub that is mounted to a spindle, which is very much like the front axle of a 4x4. This spindle/hub combination holds the weight of the vehicle and the axle just provides the drive. You can litterally remove the axle w/o jacking the wheel off of the ground.