Front dana60

Bear Chow · 11-15-2007, 10:19 AM

Nothing set in stone yet. I'm still working on the details. Has anyone tried to SUA a Dana60? Was there major clearance issues? I'm thinking to model a new rig as my last one low and stable but with a heavier axle. I don't recall ever seeing a front D60 SUA has anyone here tried it?

It will be going into a 91 4cyl wrangler and I will be doing the NP435 swap again. Or I may trade it in on a newer TJ I'm tring to decide what I want to do.

Heck what I want to do is throw a two strap in it and hit the woods. I miss wheeling.

carwash · 11-15-2007, 10:28 AM

one major issue is going to be the spring mounts that are cast into the pumpkin. One of the sides (depending on your drop) has 2 of the spring plate bolts cast and threaded into the center chunk. The spring perch is part of the cast as well... Let me try to find a pic...

carwash · 11-15-2007, 10:32 AM

get what i'm saying?

Bear Chow · 11-15-2007, 10:40 AM

Got it. That kind of blows. Is that true for every/most D60?

94Dodge Truggy · 11-15-2007, 11:05 AM

No not so. The 1994 to 2004 dodge dana 60's have no spring perch holes in the casting but are drivers side drops. I hope that helps you.

blazerbrad · 11-15-2007, 11:15 AM

My question would be how low do you want it, and what size tires? I would presume if you need a D60 on a 4-banger Jeep than you are at least looking at tires in the 37-40" range. Even with a common SOA lift (maybe 5") that a Jeep on full width axles and 37-40" tires is still pretty squatty looking.

carwash · 11-15-2007, 11:36 AM

In my opinion, which probably doesn't count for much, the only true 60's are kingpin, which rules out your dodge garbage..

do your SOA with stock springs, or worn out springs...

94Dodge Truggy · 11-15-2007, 11:41 AM

Unit bearings resist debris better, 32 splines stock, etc... Quicker on most trail repairs also. Kingpin 60's are nice though but I get dodge 94 up 60's for 1/2 the price but now people are catching on to their value and price is on its way up now. GO MOPAR!

Bear Chow · 11-15-2007, 11:43 AM

I like squatty. I much prefer to slide down a hill than tumble. I’m hoping to go with a 40" tire. Sua leaf front, coil sprung linked rear with some messaged body panels for clearance. 2.5L, NP435, Dana300 or NP205 depending on what 60 I find for the right price.

Finally what I want to do is beat the snot out of it. As hard as I rode my last jeep I was always concerned about snapping axles. This time it's going to cry before I quit.

94Dodge Truggy · 11-15-2007, 01:07 PM

You will find it hard to break the dana 60 front with 98HP. lurking under the hood! You should get great trail mileage though! Bottle feed the 4cyl!

KargoMaster · 11-15-2007, 04:56 PM

Glad to see you're getting back on the horse Paul... Saw your rig without you at Haspin not too long ago and almost shead a tear...

Nice pick on the trans.. but I guess you were figuring out that 4cyl/435 connection looooong before I was even in this game...

Still not sure about your fascination with SUA... I'm with CW... snag some old springs, and that thing will FLEX with that much unsprung weight... ask me how I know.

itbrokeagain · 11-15-2007, 05:14 PM

My Jeep is SOA with stock Yj springs. I am very stable and flex very well. All you need is a good traction bar and you will be just fine.

Another note- To this day my Dana 44 front has never given me any issues. I dont know how I havent snapped axles. I am going to go with a set of chromoly axles here real soon and not worry about it anymore. I would find a 44. The 60 gives you peace of mind, but I am far from easy on my Jeep.

I will get you some pics on here.

94Dodge Truggy · 11-15-2007, 06:45 PM

Now you jinxed yourself really good itbrokeagain! I have been running SOA on the rear of truggy for 4 years with no traction bar at all and have had good luck with the wrapping. Set up and low arch can be the key sometimes!

jeep304 · 11-16-2007, 06:34 AM

whats wrong with Dodge.......my D-60 thats for sale is king pin.....1970's
though.....Nowa

carwash · 11-16-2007, 09:30 AM

i don't mind a 70's dodge 60... and by the way, that's a good deal on your axles for sale, im surprised you haven't sold them.

highlandercj-7 · 11-16-2007, 10:28 AM

There is never in my mind a reason that anyone still sua would need a d60. If you have it sell it and build a D44. There is way to much mass to try to stuff between the frame and the springs.

JasonCJ7 · 11-16-2007, 03:00 PM

Not trying to hi-jack your thread here Paul, but I may be willing to sell you my axles. I have a set of Scout Dana 44 with disc brakes all around. They have 4.27 gears, rear is welded and front has Detroit locker, corssover steering. Axles are setup for SOA.

Bear Chow · 11-16-2007, 03:21 PM

I am a research finatic. If I can't build it on paper I won't buy the parts.

When I swapped in the NP435 to 2.5L I spent 6 months before I ever touched a wrench. Had I not run into a financial problem at the time I would have finished in a weakend. Everything lined up perfect during it's test run I had one bolt come loose and never had another problem. When I swapped my first set of axles I was done in a weekend never had to make any adjustments.

My current plans for this vehicle are changing by the minute. Your axles are very appealing but I don't want to do an incremental build up. I would love to run those axles in a sammy. I think jeeps just get too heavy too quick.

mckeddie · 11-20-2007, 06:40 PM

there is an orange CJ up in dayton i believe in the miami valley four wheelers i think, that is running an SUA 4" spring on what i think was a dodge 60. i remember him having to run a big spacer on one side to get the axle the right width, and probably to clear the pig with the spring. he was running 38" TSL's. we use to run into them every year at natural bridge on our fall october trip before we started going to harlan.

greg

11-15-2007, 10:19 AM	#1
Bear Chow Jeepless Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oxford, Oh Posts: 302	Front dana60 Nothing set in stone yet. I'm still working on the details. Has anyone tried to SUA a Dana60? Was there major clearance issues? I'm thinking to model a new rig as my last one low and stable but with a heavier axle. I don't recall ever seeing a front D60 SUA has anyone here tried it? It will be going into a 91 4cyl wrangler and I will be doing the NP435 swap again. Or I may trade it in on a newer TJ I'm tring to decide what I want to do. Heck what I want to do is throw a two strap in it and hit the woods. I miss wheeling.

11-15-2007, 10:28 AM	#2
carwash pimpin' IS easy Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Union, KY Posts: 3,344 Images: 605	one major issue is going to be the spring mounts that are cast into the pumpkin. One of the sides (depending on your drop) has 2 of the spring plate bolts cast and threaded into the center chunk. The spring perch is part of the cast as well... Let me try to find a pic... __________________

11-15-2007, 10:32 AM	#3
carwash pimpin' IS easy Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Union, KY Posts: 3,344 Images: 605	get what i'm saying? __________________

11-15-2007, 11:36 AM	#7
carwash pimpin' IS easy Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Union, KY Posts: 3,344 Images: 605	In my opinion, which probably doesn't count for much, the only true 60's are kingpin, which rules out your dodge garbage.. do your SOA with stock springs, or worn out springs... __________________

11-15-2007, 11:41 AM	#8
94Dodge Truggy EX-Vice President Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fairfield, Ohio Posts: 3,048	Unit bearings resist debris better, 32 splines stock, etc... Quicker on most trail repairs also. Kingpin 60's are nice though but I get dodge 94 up 60's for 1/2 the price but now people are catching on to their value and price is on its way up now. GO MOPAR! Last edited by 94Dodge Truggy; 11-15-2007 at 11:42 AM. Reason: HeeHee

11-15-2007, 10:40 AM	#4
Bear Chow Jeepless Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oxford, Oh Posts: 302	Got it. That kind of blows. Is that true for every/most D60?

11-15-2007, 11:05 AM	#5
94Dodge Truggy EX-Vice President Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fairfield, Ohio Posts: 3,048	No not so. The 1994 to 2004 dodge dana 60's have no spring perch holes in the casting but are drivers side drops. I hope that helps you.

11-15-2007, 11:15 AM	#6
blazerbrad - CORE Member - Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 831 Images: 6	My question would be how low do you want it, and what size tires? I would presume if you need a D60 on a 4-banger Jeep than you are at least looking at tires in the 37-40" range. Even with a common SOA lift (maybe 5") that a Jeep on full width axles and 37-40" tires is still pretty squatty looking.

11-15-2007, 11:43 AM	#9
Bear Chow Jeepless Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oxford, Oh Posts: 302	I like squatty. I much prefer to slide down a hill than tumble. I’m hoping to go with a 40" tire. Sua leaf front, coil sprung linked rear with some messaged body panels for clearance. 2.5L, NP435, Dana300 or NP205 depending on what 60 I find for the right price. Finally what I want to do is beat the snot out of it. As hard as I rode my last jeep I was always concerned about snapping axles. This time it's going to cry before I quit.

11-15-2007, 01:07 PM	#10
94Dodge Truggy EX-Vice President Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fairfield, Ohio Posts: 3,048	You will find it hard to break the dana 60 front with 98HP. lurking under the hood! You should get great trail mileage though! Bottle feed the 4cyl!

11-15-2007, 04:56 PM	#11
KargoMaster Cleaning off the rust... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,009	Glad to see you're getting back on the horse Paul... Saw your rig without you at Haspin not too long ago and almost shead a tear... Nice pick on the trans.. but I guess you were figuring out that 4cyl/435 connection looooong before I was even in this game... Still not sure about your fascination with SUA... I'm with CW... snag some old springs, and that thing will FLEX with that much unsprung weight... ask me how I know. __________________ brad 5.0L \| 435 \| 203 \| 300 \| 4.10 \| 39.5 Buildup BACK underway...

11-15-2007, 05:14 PM	#12
itbrokeagain Just Empty Every Pocket - CORE Member - Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Amelia Posts: 1,435	My Jeep is SOA with stock Yj springs. I am very stable and flex very well. All you need is a good traction bar and you will be just fine. Another note- To this day my Dana 44 front has never given me any issues. I dont know how I havent snapped axles. I am going to go with a set of chromoly axles here real soon and not worry about it anymore. I would find a 44. The 60 gives you peace of mind, but I am far from easy on my Jeep. I will get you some pics on here. __________________ 91 fj 80 on 37 Nitto Muds with a 10k winch. Cage and sliders coming soon.

11-15-2007, 06:45 PM	#13
94Dodge Truggy EX-Vice President Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fairfield, Ohio Posts: 3,048	Now you jinxed yourself really good itbrokeagain! I have been running SOA on the rear of truggy for 4 years with no traction bar at all and have had good luck with the wrapping. Set up and low arch can be the key sometimes!

11-16-2007, 06:34 AM	#14
jeep304 ROD BURNER Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 52	Front60 whats wrong with Dodge.......my D-60 thats for sale is king pin.....1970's though.....Nowa

11-16-2007, 09:30 AM	#15
carwash pimpin' IS easy Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Union, KY Posts: 3,344 Images: 605	i don't mind a 70's dodge 60... and by the way, that's a good deal on your axles for sale, im surprised you haven't sold them. __________________

11-16-2007, 10:28 AM	#16
highlandercj-7 locked n' loaded Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Da Burgh' Posts: 22	There is never in my mind a reason that anyone still sua would need a d60. If you have it sell it and build a D44. There is way to much mass to try to stuff between the frame and the springs.

11-16-2007, 03:00 PM	#17
JasonCJ7 Throttle Jockey Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Liberty Twp., Ohio Posts: 182	Not trying to hi-jack your thread here Paul, but I may be willing to sell you my axles. I have a set of Scout Dana 44 with disc brakes all around. They have 4.27 gears, rear is welded and front has Detroit locker, corssover steering. Axles are setup for SOA. __________________ 78 CJ-7, 350 V8, T-18a Tranny, Twin Stick Dana 300, Scout 44's, 4.27 Gears, 36" TSL's, Welded rear and Full Spool Front, Hi-Steer with GM Knuckles

11-16-2007, 03:21 PM	#18
Bear Chow Jeepless Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oxford, Oh Posts: 302	I am a research finatic. If I can't build it on paper I won't buy the parts. When I swapped in the NP435 to 2.5L I spent 6 months before I ever touched a wrench. Had I not run into a financial problem at the time I would have finished in a weakend. Everything lined up perfect during it's test run I had one bolt come loose and never had another problem. When I swapped my first set of axles I was done in a weekend never had to make any adjustments. My current plans for this vehicle are changing by the minute. Your axles are very appealing but I don't want to do an incremental build up. I would love to run those axles in a sammy. I think jeeps just get too heavy too quick.

11-20-2007, 06:40 PM	#19
mckeddie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: van wert oh Posts: 583	there is an orange CJ up in dayton i believe in the miami valley four wheelers i think, that is running an SUA 4" spring on what i think was a dodge 60. i remember him having to run a big spacer on one side to get the axle the right width, and probably to clear the pig with the spring. he was running 38" TSL's. we use to run into them every year at natural bridge on our fall october trip before we started going to harlan. greg __________________ zuk buggy.....it'll be a jeep eventually.