Dana 60 rear gears

[68 50th]

I have 71 C20 with a big block, TH400 and a Dana 60 with 4.10 gears. I would like to find a 3.54 gear set to keep the rpm´s down.
Theese trucks are not plentiful over here to say the least so I would like to widen the search criteria.

Would anyone here know what other vehicles came with the same type Dana 60 that I could take the gear set from?

Newer trucks/vans or other manufacturers like Ford or Dodge with Dana axle maybe?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[kwmech]

Ford trucks used a 3.54 ratio a lot. Make sure the gear set comes from the rear and not the front. The fronts, 4x4, (for the most part) are a reverse cut

[Mike C]

Ford Dodge and GM all used the Dana 60. Later GM ones are likely to be found in vans. But any 8 lug pickup truck from 60's-80's with Ford and Dodge are likely to have a 60. Not sure about vans from them.

The good news is gear sets could be ordered. Shipping would be expensive, but not prohibitively expensive like an entire drive axle assembly!

[68 50th]

Thanks for replys.
So would a gear set from any Dana 60 rear axle fit? Is it only the front axles I should stay away from?

Another option is of course to buy a new gear set. I have seen them for around $150, shipping and import taxes will double that so it will end up at $300.

[Mike C]

Fronts are not near as common as rears. The carrier break is 4.10 and down and 4.27 and up.

Low pinion GM's drive on the coast side of the gear. The high pinion Ford's are the reverse cut that drive on the actual drive side of the gear.

[68 50th]

OK so there is different set up on some Fords. Good to know I can use the same carrier, thank you for that info Mike.
I called a guy parting out a 1990 Chevy van G30. He didn´t know what axle or gearing it had, just the big 8 lug axle he said.

[special-K]

That would be a 14-bolt in '90.

[68 50th]

Originally Posted by special-K

That would be a 14-bolt in '90.

Thank you for letting me know that special-K.

[Mike C]

Get him to take a pic. GM used the 60 in some vans well past 90. You just never know for sure. Get a pic.

[toolboxchev]

I am also informed by fellow board members that a 3.54 gear set utilizes a different carrier.

Some one here will verify no doubt.

[picklito]

What about swapping that TH400 to a 4-speed auto with overdrive? I guess that could be hard to find in Sweden?

[RichardJ]

For my '67 with 4.56 , I found a Dodge in the wrecking yard with 3.54 gears. As it needed the different carrier, I was lucky in finding that the Dodge carrier was a Posi unit.
Some of the Dana 60's have 30 spline axles and some 35, so you have to match that.
The Dodge had a different pinion spline count for the yoke than the GMC. The GMC uses the larger 1350 U-joint (I think that is the #) and the Dodge used a much smaller U-joint.
A local differential shop had a Dodge yoke made for the larger U-joint, for $20.

[68 50th]

It seems like the 1990 G30 got sold but if it turns up another it could be worth take a look at what rear it has.

Have been told 3.54 and 4.10 use the same carrier. Numerically higher and up have another carrier as Mike C stated in this thread.

Have also considered a transmission swap to a TH700 or a TH200. I do actually have a complete drive train from a 91 Astro. 4.3 and a TH700. Would that TH700 trans work with the big block?

Good info about the different splines the danas could have. Need to look for that if a Dodge axle turns up.

Many thanks

[BCOWANWHEELS]

I,d get a new set. cost isn't that much different

[Mike C]

I am not a fan of the gear ratio split on the TH700R4 but the TH200 4R is excellent. If you are planning a trans swap anyhow, keep the 4.10s and go with the TH200 4R.

[picklito]

I felt the same way, so I'm building a 200-4r for my 402. A big block doesn't need that low first gear.

[kwmech]

Carrier break for a dana 60 is 4.10/4.56

[dennislbrooks]

Won't the 200r4 require an adapter? I run a Monster 700r4 with adapter on my 70 olds 455 and it shifts thru quickly in norml driving. I would think the low first gear would be better suited on a truck.

The 200r4 is near the same length as a 400 turbo so driveshaft mods except for splines may not be needed. Most likely a shorter driveshaft would be needed on the 700r4.

But I agree -- big blocks need another gear -- overdrive.

[Mike C]

The TH200 4R came in a BOP pattern case and it came in a universal GM case that is BOP and Chevrolet/Cadillac.

If you are able to get a junkyard trans, one is as good as the other, but IMO, if you are going to spend money beefing one up the less first gear of the 200 combined with the more overdrive makes for a much better combo.

My 427 that currently resides in machine-shop-jail will be matched up to a beefed up TH200 4R (there is a TH200 as well that is a 3 speed) and a set of 3.73 in the 12 bolt.

[68 50th]

Thanks for all replys regarding both the rear axle and the trans.
A guy offered me a mid 80`s Dodge Dana 60 axle with 3.31 gearing, 30 splines, semi float, leafs and limited slip. Believe I have a full float axle now, it is the original 71 C20 axle with leafs.
Don´t know if I can use that differential and gears.

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by 68 50th

Thanks for all replys regarding both the rear axle and the trans.
A guy offered me a mid 80`s Dodge Dana 60 axle with 3.31 gearing, 30 splines, semi float, leafs and limited slip. Believe I have a full float axle now, it is the original 71 C20 axle with leafs.
Don´t know if I can use that differential and gears.

You would have to swap the entire axle assy. That dodge with the 3.31s is a Dana 61. Different carrier breaks and offsets

[68 50th]

Originally Posted by kwmech

You would have to swap the entire axle assy. That dodge with the 3.31s is a Dana 61. Different carrier breaks and offsets

OK, thanks. That`s what the guy selling it also suggested would be the easiest way to go. That will probaly involve some fabrication I believe. New location for the leaf springs maybe.

[toolboxchev]

Why not just order a set of gears from Summit or one of the other big names?