Superduty Dana 60 into 86 2wd squarebody chevy

[fuelsipper]

I have a dana 60 from a 03 superduty that I'm putting into a 86 crew cab dually chevy. The frame in front is close to 10 inches narrower than the spring perches on the front axle. What are my options as far as making it work? Shorten axle? Leaf spring outriggers? What works best, not easiest but optimal. Any Insight is much appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Just making sure you're aware that fords are drivers side drop, squares are not. I assume you're doing an ls and 4L swap?

Depending on how far off it is. ORD sells offset bushings for dodge front 70's-80's axles. Can't remember for ford.

 

[Strick]

Even the OBS GM trucks frame width is 10.5 inches or so wider than a Square. As mentioned by PrarieDrifter, the Dodge and Ford axles are driver side drop as opposed to the passenger drop on a Square. If you want to use the Ford 60 then I'd suggest doing a custom 4 link or move the spring & shock perches to accommodate. I did this when I used an '04 14FF rear from a 3500 Silverado. Be advised that when using an offset wheel like the 86 used originally that the wheelbase will be wider than stock as well.

 

[SquareRoot]

I have a dana 60 from a 03 superduty that I'm putting into a 86 crew cab dually chevy. The frame in front is close to 10 inches narrower than the spring perches on the front axle. What are my options as far as making it work? Shorten axle? Leaf spring outriggers? What works best, not easiest but optimal. Any Insight is much appreciated, thanks in advance.

Sell it and buy the correct axle.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Even the OBS GM trucks frame width is 10.5 inches or so wider than a Square. As mentioned by PrarieDrifter, the Dodge and Ford axles are driver side drop as opposed to the passenger drop on a Square. If you want to use the Ford 60 then I'd suggest doing a custom 4 link or move the spring & shock perches to accommodate. I did this when I used an '04 14FF rear from a 3500 Silverado. Be advised that when using an offset wheel like the 86 used originally that the wheelbase will be wider than stock as well.

Dodges we're passenger drop in the 70's and 80's. The late 80's dodge changed to drivers side.

I asked if he was doing ls because if he went full drivetrain from an ls truck it would have a drivers drop transfer case. But the width is a whole nother thing.

 

[Strick]

Yeah. The older 93 back Dodge stuff & some Jeep was similar to Square Chevy stuff. The OBS truck frames were almost a foot wider and the rear diff is wider too. The front IFS junk makes the truck easy riding FWD cars.

HS

 

[Strick]

He'd be better off sourcing a D60 from an older Dodge or GM truck for certain.

Strickland

 

[squaredeal91]

I wish I could get my hands on a chevy Dana 60. It's the Holy Grail. I know there available but ouch!! As far as driver vs pass side drop you can go either way with np 208s and 241s

 

[fuelsipper]

Yeah, im aware it's drivers drop, I have a divorced 205 I'm using to get over, its got a 12 valve cummins in it and the exhaust runs through where the chevy stuff would go, I have an old chevy dana 60 that'd work but then I'm just trading one problem for another.

 

[fuelsipper]

Well I talked to a 4×4 conversion guy and he said to mount a beam across front so I can mount my springs to. Not super optimal, gaudy and slapped together is what I don't want.

 

[fuelsipper]

Is it possible to build the axle up? Basically like a truss going all the way across with some sort of a control arm leading back to frame to keep the axle from twisting due to the higher spring perch?

 

[Strick]

mount a beam across front

Well, FWIW, I would measure the distance from the knuckle to the tube edge/hoghead on both axles. GM and Dodge 60's in the Square era have the spring perch actually cut into the housing on the right side. You may have to do the same perch design except for being on the opposite side when using the Ford axle. You'll know once you do the measuring. I would hold off on moving spring perches and shackles on the vehicle itself until I was certain that I absolutely had to.

HS

 

[loco]

What did you end up doing? I'm in the same boat and seems that I need to source a 77-79 Ford Dana 60. I'm doing an LS Swap into an 85 2wd.

 

[Bextreme04]

What did you end up doing? I'm in the same boat and seems that I need to source a 77-79 Ford Dana 60. I'm doing an LS Swap into an 85 2wd.

So... you are converting a 2wd into a 4wd? Are you just going to ignore the emissions issues of converting a stock diesel to an LS? You technically would need to go to a referee and get a CARB number for the conversion to be legal. Your cheapest and easiest route is probably to get a junk 85-later 4wd complete vehicle and take the complete engine mount brackets, spring brackets, T-case, driveshafts, and front axle. 85 and later would come with a round pattern NP208 that will bolt right up to a 4l60 with no issues.

https://www.walterseandp.com/produc...DamCEjJlf4h1dnyufLnBAi5T_-R8D6mxoCJcEQAvD_BwE

 

[nvrenuf]

What did you end up doing? I'm in the same boat and seems that I need to source a 77-79 Ford Dana 60. I'm doing an LS Swap into an 85 2wd.

The early Ford D60's are a direct bolt in to 4wd squares so if you install factory style brackets on your 2wd frame the axle should bolt in.