Front diff locked up??

[OryH]

Thanks for being here....
I just picked up an abandoned 85 sierra 2500 that was abandoned behind the courthouse and about to be towed. I will locate the owner tomorrow, but I think they went to jail. Anyway, I drove the truck home, key was in it, and the front end was working against me the whole way. She did not want to move! 4 high, 4 low, 2 high, was fighting the front end no matter which gear the transfer case was in. It's a 4 spd with a granny gear btw, and 8 lug wheels. There is diff oil on the front differential housing, indicating a leak, but there is also a funnel and hose in the cab, so maybe they recently added oil to the front duff, which would also explain the presence of oil all over the housing. Can you guys please tell me your thoughts on why this truck is so hard to move? Squealed the back tires several times getting her home, can't push it, I thought the Dana 60 front end was supposed to be bomb proof. Thank you.

 

[Radiohead]

Stuck calipers come to mind.
If you drop the front drive shaft, does it roll more like it should?

Just making a punch list of sorts....

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Maybe mismatched front and rear gears, look like either axle has been swapped or opened?

 

[Radiohead]

Automatic or manual hubs seems relevant.

 

[Grit dog]

Thanks for being here....
I just picked up an abandoned 85 sierra 2500 that was abandoned behind the courthouse and about to be towed.

There's so many squarebodys out here, that folks just leave them behind like empty pop cans!