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#1 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 121
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Dana 60 Front axle in 67-72 trucks
Has anyone taken a 4x4 Dana 60 front axle out of a newer (73-87) 1 ton and put it in our trucks? I want to do this but I need to know if there are any differences with spring width, mounting pads on the axle housing, and issues with steering arms and such. How about, what do I need to know?
Duffy
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'72 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper |
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#2 |
user # 2756
![]() Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chesapeake, Virginia
Posts: 4,612
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It's a bolt in. Need to replace brake hoses. Front dana 60 first available in 1977 I believe.
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1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm ![]() |
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#3 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 121
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Cool, thanks for the input.
Duffy
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'72 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper |
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#4 |
Broke
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: West Plains,MO
Posts: 385
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They fit really well. Here is a picture of my Dana 60 on a 72 frame.
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72CheyenneSuper1ton4x4BigBlock |
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#5 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
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That's a sight to behold!
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 |
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#6 |
Currently Blazerless
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: St. Joseph Mo.
Posts: 4,826
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Besides being a bolt in you will gain an inch more height from swapping in a 60, if you have at least a 4" lift try and find a Dodge steering arm and retaper it from the opposite end for the big chevy draglink ends, works alot better than using a steering arm block. For the brake lines I used the line brackets from a mid 80s truck,blazer, these conect the brake lines about 2" away from the frame, even though this does not drop the line any just bringing the line out closer to the caliper gives you more slack.
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1972 C/30 133" W.B. C&C 1970 GMC 3500 157" W.B. single wheel C&C |
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#7 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Beavercreek, Ohio 45431
Posts: 737
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Duffy, One other thing to consider is that the factory 1-ton trucks came with hydro-boost brake systems instead of vacuum boost units. I found out why when I put my Dana 60 in my truck...the brakes SUCKED BAD!!! After swapping to the hydro-boost unit the brakes are better than ever. I purchased a junkyard unit for a core and put in rebuilt everything but could have just used a new MC and would have been OK. BTW, purchase '79 or older parts if you go the rebuilt route or else you'll have to swap your steering gearbox and PS pump to the O-ring type ports. (I learned that one the hard way). And there is a difference in the 3/4-ton and 1-ton hydro boost units so beware. Some of the guys I wheel with still have the old vacuum systems but their trucks are scary to stop! Just thought I'd let you know my experience with this conversion. Good Luck!
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1967 K30 461/TH400/Np205/D60/14FF/BDS MTZ 375/75/16 on 16x10 Pro Comps |
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#8 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 121
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Thanks for the info Trukman. Someone tell me more about hydroboost braking systems. Also, how much work is it to go from a dually style front axle to single wheel?
Duffy
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'72 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper |
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#9 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 117
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I just got a Dana 60 for my blazer. it is on the list to put in soon.
One thing I'm going to do is change the steering geometry to cross over type to eliminate the factory steering arm and draglink. This offers better steering control offroad. I will probably raise my tie rod to go over the leaf springs at the same time. |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Ellensburg wa
Posts: 6
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Re: Dana 60 Front axle in 67-72 trucks
I am also going to tackle this project whenever the 4'' lift gets here. Glad I read the post to learn about the hydraboost tip. Guess ill have to rip that off the donor truck too. Any issues hooking up the emergency brake cables when swapping in the 14 bolt in the rear?
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#11 | |
Loading.....
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Posts: 214
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Re: Dana 60 Front axle in 67-72 trucks
Instead of going hydro, I had the parts store order a booster from a 3/4 ton '72. It's a little different shape but bolts in the same and provides way better boost than the 1/2 ton one. That and going to rear disc on my blazer made the brakes feel like a sportscar. They work almost TOO well.
Quote:
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-M7 '69 SWB GMC 5.7 EFI ‘69 C/10 SWB patina survivor ‘71 GMC K20 '72 K5 1-ton gear 468BB ‘86 K30 GMC High Sierra C&C Single Cab '96 SWB Single Cab 5.7 ‘99 SWB Z71 Single Cab '00 SWB Single Cab 5.3 '01 K2500 Yukon Safari 6.0 ‘06 2500HD Single Cab C&C Duramax 4x4 '08 1500 crew '11 2500HD Single Cab Duramax 4x4 |
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#12 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: highspire,pa
Posts: 423
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Re: Dana 60 Front axle in 67-72 trucks
Bram, wheres the picture of your truck with a d 60 in it.I cant see it theres a red "x" there.
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'72 chevy k20 '06 H-D Springer softail http://www.bluemooncruisers.com/ http://www.enginecycle.com/ ~Eric ![]() |
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#13 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,858
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Re: Dana 60 Front axle in 67-72 trucks
I have nothing,not even a red x. Where did it go? I don't see an edit message either.
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"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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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: st.joseph mo.
Posts: 116
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Re: Dana 60 Front axle in 67-72 trucks
I can see the red X --mark the spot
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#15 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Pennsylvania
Posts: 334
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Re: Dana 60 Front axle in 67-72 trucks
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1967 K-10 4x4 with a 3" lift and 35" BFG mud terrains ![]() Quote:
![]() want to see some slow progress on my truck? http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=436560 <-click there |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Alabama
Posts: 739
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Re: Dana 60 Front axle in 67-72 trucks
Like the previous posters said, the Dana 60F is a direct bolt in.
I took a Dana 60 from a 1984 1 ton and put it in my 72. As far as the brakes go, I did have to get new brake lines. That's the only change I did to the brakes and they work great. I also installed crossover steering on the Dana 60. It was easy to install as well; however, you have to change the steering sector to a two-wheel drive so the pitman arm can turn side to side, instead of front to back. Chevy front axles are basically interchangeable up to 1987 (1991 on K30s). Rear axles are different though. |
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