So I was out getting some broken plastic bits for my truck and I found a great deal on a Dana 80 from a 96 or 97' SRW CTD. Its geared the same as my truck but its considerably larger. It has BIG Drums compared to mine, and I could not tell if the yoke is a larger or not. I can score it from this crazy Swede for $200 cause its in a wrecked vehicle of his. He makes a pretty penny shipping our trucks to Sweden along with just the 12v engines. What im getting at is whether its worth doing the swap for this beefier axle, or should I be content with mine? What are some issues I may encounter?

 

You can make it work. Stomp has a D80 in his truck.

The drums are bigger because they are outside the hubs instead of inboard like our trucks. This means no more pulling axles to check the brakes.

 

It'd be worth it just for the outboard brakes.

 

Ooooh, I like that. Are they 13" as well?

 

oh yeah, I like that idea!

 

$200 bucks?! Dude what are you waiting for?

 

I think im gonna do it...seems like a good Idea + I can return the shoes and adjusters for my axle...

 

Pretty sure they are 12", but I think mine in my 2nd gen where 3 or 3.5" wide. Outboard drums is the way to go, no more fooling around with axles and wheel bearings to do brakes.

 

Is this a bolt in? If not how much fabbing? Are the spring center to center the same? What about the "wheel mounitng surface" to WMS?

 

I dont know. I pm'd Stomp to see if he could provide a little info.

 

I sent you a pm and I will try and get some pics for you tomorrow. Give me a day or two and I will get back to you. Its not that bad of a job. Go get it before someone else does.

Stomp

 

Yes the centers are the same just checked my 92 and 96 the springs are wider on the late model but that is OK. It looks like you can just bolt it tight in. the pinion U-joint is the same the tubes are just bigger so the lower bracket will not follow the contour of the tube exactly but that doesn't mater You will have to spread the top of the U-bolts away from each other (front to back) so you may have to make a new spacer on the top of your springs or just get rid of it. The E-brake lines should work just fine. Every thing I just looked at it should just bolt right in with very little mods. Worst case you will meed to weld shock mounts on the axle and use later model brackets on the bottom of the tubes. I really think you can make it work with what you have. May have to trim the spring perches on the side to clear the U-bolts.

 

I just paid $130.00 for a new pinion yoke for my D70....

 

EDIT! I was wrong . The D80 and D70 both have a 1410 yoke. I was confused as all the pullers around here have 1480 yokes. But after a search for '1480' it seems that's the upgrade.

 

So would you just put together a hybrid u-joint...or prolly a whole new shaft if you've got the power to justify a D80...