Mike Holmen

Awesome video, thanks to you I just want to blast those rocky hills I want a rocker now.

Tate

I think what he is getting at is run the chevy outers on a Ford 60 that is already hi pinion. Scrap the dodge junk.

Mike Holmen

Ok, I'll look into finding one tomorrow, I bet that what I can find will not be cheap. I still think that using my current front axle is best route.

So whats the positives on the hi pinion axle besides the pinion angle? I can rotate my axle with my lower control arms as they are adjustable. To me its easier to just pop-off the inner c, do horizonal/vertical measurement then make sure its about the same spot in relation to the pumpkin as before. Its dana 70 stuff, and the aftermarket knuckle its beefy beefy stuff. I'll document what I find out along the way. 35 spline hubs/billet axles and warn hubs, so its good stuff. I'm keeping my truck for another 300-500k, so I'm looking longer term.

I bet that hi-pinion dana 60 is $1600-2000 used.

Tate

You can find them for $1k to $1.5k. Cheaper in the states. It has 35 spline axles stock. Comes king pin stock. So what you would spend to make your axle equivalent to the Ford axle would be more than what you would spend for the said axle. And you still are a low pinion housing. You could drop the Ford axle in and run it instead of spending another $2k on knuckles and stub axles and spindles, brakes, etc. For a highway truck like yours, I don't see the point in putting in the stuff for hardcore rock crawlers.

1-5-3-6-2-4

HiPi Ford D60s aren't that much used. If you;re going to go throught the effort of Deadenbear or Reid stuff for ultimate beef. I would not choose to use a Dodge CAD D60 housing. unless you retube the long side to get totally rid of the weak spot in the OEM design. I think like tate says, you'll be further ahead rebuilding a stock HiPi Ford kingpin D60 and running it. than trying to spend enough to create something good from a dodge D60.

HiPi are stronger gearsets IIRC. I don't remeber the theory on it though.

Tate

Low pinion front ends run on the coast side of the gear. In a rear application, the run on the proper side. High pinion fronts run on the drive side of the gear, which is where the strength comes from.

Mike's truck is a late '02, has a solid axle shaft on the long side. Still 32 spline junk though.

1-5-3-6-2-4

thinking about it now for a sec. If I were you now, i would look for a Dana Super60 thats the front end in the Dodge 4500/5500 and ford F450/550s.


now that i have one. its a no brainer. I have to go on a field call right now. but I'll tell you what I learned about them since I own one now. they're better than any standard D60 though, no question about it/.

dvst8r

Mike here is the Easy (read $$$) way: http://www.dynatrac.com/aa.html

They even have a Dana 80 front available.

Tate

That would be something to see, D80 in front, D70 in rear.

Mike Holmen

I found a few hi-pinion D60 on ebay. Of course everything from the deep south. Its gonna be trickest part is to get it shipped up here.

I'll call around today. I think Tate, your right on the pricing for a hi pinion.

Brett, I looked at the price of a built dana60 from currie, almost $5k.I'll call dynatrac just for kicks/giggles. Dana 80...

You think that the ford hubs with the dodge rims work. The ford brakes are slightly smaller than the chevy/dodge stuff, so they are gonna be scrapped.

Thanks guys. I might have everyone over to help build this axle up once I get everything together.

Tate

I'm running Ford hubs and brakes on my truck.

Mike Holmen

I'm gonna use the chevy knuckle, chevy caliper bracket and use my wimpy 30 spline stuff. There's a bracket available to get the dodge calipers on the knuckle. Later on when my wallet is fatter, it will be upgrading to the 35 or 40 spline stuff, but that abit more $$$

I can't find any ford dana 60 hipin here in town. I might have a lead on a decent priced dana 60 chevy front end. Most wreckers here in town have only the new stuff. I can find them easy from down south, but shipping/customs will be brutual.

Tate

Don't bother buying the chevy diff. Its still low pinion, and the diff is on the wrong side.

Mike Holmen

I just wanted the chevy axle for parts, like hubs, caliper bracket plate, knuckles and all the other little parts. Your right the pumpkin is on the wrong side.

1-5-3-6-2-4

chevy D60 is the wrong side drop for your transfer case.



see if you can find a Dana super60 if your on the lookout right now. everything from the tubes out is way bigger. OK granted it is a balljoint knuckle, they are bigger too. I think thats a small sacrifice for the huge brakes bigger shafts and the joints are bigger they have a larger operation angle. gives you a way better turning radius. the ring and pinion is slightly larger diameter. but carrier is the same 35 spline inners as all the strong carriers. and you can use any D60 traction device because the carriers are the same.

If you do go with a Ford Hipi you need a '78-'79 model year. because the Hipi ford D60 later than '80 until they stopped makeing kingpins have the pumpkin set out closer to the knuckle than the '78-79. you will have more room for the coil on a '78-79. the 1980- and newer usually have the coil bucket partially on the diff housing. doable just not ideal.

besides, the super60 in the 450/550 is already setup for coils, radius arms and panhard bar. thats the stock setup.