Dana 60 half ton 6 lug differentials

[66-PMD-GMC]

I have seen a couple of posts on this and wasn't really interested in resurrecting any old threads.
Here's the deal.
I'm mainly interested in GMC trucks over the Chevys so when I have a chance to buy a GMC parts truck or driver I usually jump on it.
I've been trying to find information on the 1/2 ton 6 lug Dana 60's that come in the GMC trucks, 63-66... the BOM numbers are different from the mainstream Dana 60's. ..
I read on a thread that they are assumed to be rare..
I've bought a couple dozen GMC trucks in the past 6 years and 1 out of 3 have had the 60.. the others are 44's so they arent that rare.. I have 9 of them.
The earliest information I have found is for 1974 dana 60's.
Does anyone know of any kind of information on the 63-66 GMC dana 60 6 lug diffs? I need to find bearing and seal parts and no shops in my area have anything for these trucks.

[special-K]

I know they were semi-floating, unlike the 8-lug. They also were installed beyond '66, maybe as far as '69. I've seen them mostly in 67/68 GMCs but maybe a '69 or two.

[BigDan3131]

What options were on the truck that had the 60? There had to be some reason unless it was that GM had cores they wanted to use up because they changed their minds and went to the 44 for cost reasons.
I love my GMC's too and try to buy only them if I can.

[Brad54]

I've got a factory coil-spring Chevy rear for '60-'62 under my Suburban, and found a spare.
THOSE are hen's teeth.

I didn't know they made a 6-lug 60 for the GMCs. I'd love to find one for the 4x4 project I'm going to start this winter.

A 6-lug 60 in the rear, and 44 up front, with readily-available used and rebuildable Posi units, and 3.42 or even 3.23 gears would be perfect for my needs.

-Brad

[LVPhotos]

I'm surprised that AZ shops don't have information. I seem some crazy built trucks from there. I use Adams Driveshaft, Henderson, Nevada. http://www.adamsdriveshaftoffroad.com/

[DPowers]

You been to this site??
http://6066gmcguy.com/

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by BigDan3131

What options were on the truck that had the 60? There had to be some reason unless it was that GM had cores they wanted to use up because they changed their minds and went to the 44 for cost reasons.
I love my GMC's too and try to buy only them if I can.

"GM" had little to nothing to do with decision making at "GMC" in the 60-66 era.. they hadn't started the "corporate" nonsense yet.

LOL

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by DPowers

You been to this site??
http://6066gmcguy.com/

Yes... been there .. was a member. . Their focus is on the V6 that was... don't get me wrong.. Jolly is a wealth of information but not much is there on the Dana 60 6 lug that I could find.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by special-K

I know they were semi-floating, unlike the 8-lug. They also were installed beyond '66, maybe as far as '69. I've seen them mostly in 67/68 GMCs but maybe a '69 or two.

I only do 60-66 but mainly 60-63. .. I am surprised to here they went beyond 66

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by LVPhotos

I'm surprised that AZ shops don't have information. I seem some crazy built trucks from there. I use Adams Driveshaft, Henderson, Nevada. http://www.adamsdriveshaftoffroad.com/

"Shops" have only suggested cutting off the axle ends and converting to ford 9" axles and other costly suggestions. .
Parts stores say they don't exist.

[Brad54]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

"Shops" have only suggested cutting off the axle ends and converting to ford 9" axles and other costly suggestions. .
Parts stores say they don't exist.

Holy crap, why would anyone do that?!
I can see, MAYBE, if drums are hard to come by, but ANY time you go from a Dana 60 to a Ford 9-inch (even just parts), you're going backwards.

-Brad

[66-PMD-GMC]

The Dana I am building has huge 35 spline axles and a bullet proof powr-lok 3.54 posi....
Why in the world would I want to change out anything??? I just need seals and axle bearings. ..
That's why I am posting this here...

[Classic v6 GMC's]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

I have seen a couple of posts on this and wasn't really interested in resurrecting any old threads.
Here's the deal.
I'm mainly interested in GMC trucks over the Chevys so when I have a chance to buy a GMC parts truck or driver I usually jump on it.
I've been trying to find information on the 1/2 ton 6 lug Dana 60's that come in the GMC trucks, 63-66... the BOM numbers are different from the mainstream Dana 60's. ..
I read on a thread that they are assumed to be rare..
I've bought a couple dozen GMC trucks in the past 6 years and 1 out of 3 have had the 60.. the others are 44's so they arent that rare.. I have 9 of them.
The earliest information I have found is for 1974 dana 60's.
Does anyone know of any kind of information on the 63-66 GMC dana 60 6 lug diffs? I need to find bearing and seal parts and no shops in my area have anything for these trucks.

If you could post a picture of one of the differentials that would be great. We have a quite a few 63-66 GMC trucks and never had a Dana 60 6-lug.

[special-K]

There has got to be a bearing out there that matches.

[Brad54]

I've got a friend in Michigan who has been building rear ends for 4 decades... everything from concours-resto to hard-core rock crawling Dana 60s with custom thick-wall tubes to Funny Car.
Ultimate Driveline
(616) 915-6718.

He'll be able to hook you up.

Tell him Brad Ocock sent you.

-Brad
(and as a finder's fee, you can sell me one of those 9 other Dana 60 6-lugs!)

[Captainfab]

I assume you have tried looking up replacement bearings and seals using the numbers on the originals?

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I assume you have tried looking up replacement bearings and seals using the numbers on the originals?

I have a guy working on that...
He has a ton of old parts books in his NAPA store.. he's supposed to be calling me today..
I'm going to rebuild 5 of the diffs I have and sit on the others for future projects.
BTW.. these dudes are heavy... :-)

[Captainfab]

Yeah, you should be able to find replacements using the old numbers. If your guy strikes out, get me the numbers and I'll see if I can find them. I have several sources between here and Spokane.

I'd like to see some pics of these rare 6 lug Dana 60's if you have a chance.

[66-PMD-GMC]

I have a photo of the numbers on one.. I've been busy with other issues... I'll get a chance to take some pics possibly wed.. I work from before sun up until after sundown. .

[66-PMD-GMC]

I have a line on some sealed bearings from currie enterprise

[special-K]

Originally Posted by special-K

There has got to be a bearing out there that matches.

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I assume you have tried looking up replacement bearings and seals using the numbers on the originals?

^^^ Yeah, that is what I was suggesting. I've found many a deleted bearing part# still available that way

I have a question. How many coil spring Dana60 6-lug or 8-lug rears has anyone seen? I want to put one in a coil sprung chassis and now I'm wondering about the panhard bar situation. The rear I have is leaf spring, so I know I'd have to provide a mount on the housing. What I'm pondering is clearance with the differential cover. I know it can be touchy just clearing an aftermarket cover on a 12-bolt coil rear. I wonder if there were any Dana60 coil rears (6-lug) and if there were (I seem to recall seeing these before) did they have a unique panhard bar? I'm think I'd need to do my own custom thing because I'm dropping it 6" and would be relocating stock mount locations just as the ECE Super bar does

[Brad54]

Originally Posted by special-K

^^^ Yeah, that is what I was suggesting. I've found many a deleted bearing part# still available that way

I have a question. How many coil spring Dana60 6-lug or 8-lug rears has anyone seen? I want to put one in a coil sprung chassis and now I'm wondering about the panhard bar situation. The rear I have is leaf spring, so I know I'd have to provide a mount on the housing. What I'm pondering is clearance with the differential cover. I know it can be touchy just clearing an aftermarket cover on a 12-bolt coil rear. I wonder if there were any Dana60 coil rears (6-lug) and if there were (I seem to recall seeing these before) did they have a unique panhard bar? I'm think I'd need to do my own custom thing because I'm dropping it 6" and would be relocating stock mount locations just as the ECE Super bar does

The '60-62 chassis had a large bracket for the panhard bar that mounted to the axle tube, about midway between the center section and the springs.
I believe the '63-up all mounted to a boss on the housing, didn't they?

I'd try finding a '62 and older rear and grab the bracket off of it.

-Brad

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by Brad54

The '60-62 chassis had a large bracket for the panhard bar that mounted to the axle tube, about midway between the center section and the springs.
I believe the '63-up all mounted to a boss on the housing, didn't they?

I'd try finding a '62 and older rear and grab the bracket off of it.

-Brad

That's correct, the pan hard bar on dana 60s was welded to the axle tube. . However, chevy only used the Dana 60 in 3/4 ton applications.. GMC used them in 1/2 ton trucks so 63-66 GMC 6 lug units would all be leaf diffs. Easy to convert to trailing arm. 60-62 trucks used HO-33 and HO-52 diffs 1/2 and 3/4 ton respectively.

[Brad54]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

That's correct, the pan hard bar on dana 60s was welded to the axle tube. . However, chevy only used the Dana 60 in 3/4 ton applications.. GMC used them in 1/2 ton trucks so 63-66 GMC 6 lug units would all be leaf diffs. Easy to convert to trailing arm. 60-62 trucks used HO-33 and HO-52 diffs 1/2 and 3/4 ton respectively.

'60-'62 Chevy also used Dana 44 as an optional rear end, in coil-sprung 1/2-tons.
I've got one under my Suburban, and have a spare, and found a third online that someone sold me a single axle-shaft out of.

-Brad

[Captainfab]

I have a '72 C20 chassis that is coil spring and has an 8 lug Dana 60. If I remember correctly the panhard bar mount is on the passenger side axle tube. It's been a while since I have looked at it but I can verify that if you like.

I do make trailing arm mounts specifically for the Dana 60.

Originally Posted by special-K

^^^ Yeah, that is what I was suggesting. I've found many a deleted bearing part# still available that way

I have a question. How many coil spring Dana60 6-lug or 8-lug rears has anyone seen? I want to put one in a coil sprung chassis and now I'm wondering about the panhard bar situation. The rear I have is leaf spring, so I know I'd have to provide a mount on the housing. What I'm pondering is clearance with the differential cover. I know it can be touchy just clearing an aftermarket cover on a 12-bolt coil rear. I wonder if there were any Dana60 coil rears (6-lug) and if there were (I seem to recall seeing these before) did they have a unique panhard bar? I'm think I'd need to do my own custom thing because I'm dropping it 6" and would be relocating stock mount locations just as the ECE Super bar does