Dana 60 question

[dads_69]

I picked up a Dana 60 from a 1990 Dodge truck 3/4 ton. I know somewhere someone here has swapped parts out to make it work in his charger. Axles were changed out to 5 bolt pattern and tubes were shortend. Anyone know who that person was on line here or know of what it takes to make it work in an A body? I spoke with drive train dealer here today, they are doing some research as well, just wanted to get a jump on it is all before they get back to me. I will be using disc brake kit also vs. drum modification.
Thanks Mark

[daytonalo]

I saw that in the aero section awhile back

[Daytona R/T SE]

I believe that Sunroofsuperbird did that conversion. There was also an article in one of the mopar magazines a few months ago 

[dads_69]

Thanks Daytona R/T SE. It was Marty who did the conversion to his clone. Now I need to do some more tracking.
Thanks. I never did hear back yet from shop here about my dilemma.
Mark

[Daytona R/T SE]

Thanks Daytona R/T SE. It was Marty who did the conversion to his clone. Now I need to do some more tracking.
Thanks. I never did hear back yet from shop here about my dilemma.
Mark

You're welcome 

For the money, I'm seriously considering one of these for my Daytona Clone:

http://www.magnumforce.com/strange_60.htm

[dads_69]

New question.....I picked up another Dana 60 tonight. A guy can never have enough. It is a 4.10 as well, but I'm looking for either backing plates with drums or maybe I'll just use a disc brake kit. Anyone know of the good set up for either kit? The Dana 60 I got tonight is a 1978 style with 60 plus thousand miles on it, it works well, I drove the truck to my shop. Its already out of the truck even. I bought it for $100.00. My boss was blown away. He said, how do I sleep at night! Ha-ha......
Thanks for any info.
Mark

[Chryco Psycho]

I have converted them as well , you need to know the spline count , order the axles & ends , have the car ends tigged onto the tubes with a jig to keep everything in line

[Steve P.]

Hey Neil, I noticed that you specified  ( TIG ) the ends. Is there a reason NOT to MIG the ends on?? 

[dads_69]

I contacted DTSCustom today and got know where with them. They kept telling me what I want to do can't be done using a full floater axles in my car. I got tired of arguing with the guy and hung up. Gees, no kidding. I'm not going to use it as a full floater axle in my A body mopar. I need backing plates of some kind for starters and axles, even from a B body so I can have them cut down for my car which an A body. I've called around here where I live in Alaska, gees, what a bunch of knuckle heads in this damn state. Once again, I got know where fast. I have the rear end set up at work on a jig, now the fun part soon as I get the rest of the crap I need to continue. I did ask about custom made axles for my car, the guy said they've never done that, so there goes my confidence in them now!
Thanks      Mark

[Steve P.]

Give a shout out to Dr. Diff over on Moparts. He can hook you up..

[Challenger340]

Hey Neil, I noticed that you specified ( TIG ) the ends. Is there a reason NOT to MIG the ends on??

I suspect it's to lessen the heat distortion, or "pull", as it's welded. But I have a good friend chassis guy, who Migs them, long as they're retained in a JIG.
Also, he tacks them up good first, nice & straight, then welds.

[Steve P.]

   This is how my buddy Scotty does them.  So far so good....

[kamkuda]

I have converted them as well , you need to know the spline count , order the axles & ends , have the car ends tigged onto the tubes with a jig to keep everything in line

I agree.  I had mine done for me,   Measure a couple times to ensure that your tubes are the right length for your car.  Weld the ends on straight. Order axles for the right length.   I used brakes from another car with an 8 3/4.

FYI  I cut a set of 8 3/4 ends off an old rusty housing and have them as spares for another dana as needed otherwise strange sells the axle ends.

[dads_69]

Awesome set up. Thanks for the photos also. I was on the phone earlier w/Moser about my Dana 60 combo. I'll give Strange a shout also. I have shipping to deal with since I'm in Alaska, but I don't care about price of that, just as long as I get what I need for my dana 60.
Thanks ...Mark

[Steve P.]

Give Dr. Diff a shout as well. He does many of them and ships...

[kamkuda]

Give Dr. Diff a shout as well. He does many of them and ships...

I agree, Dr diff has everything you need and knows Mopars better than anyone.
http://members.aol.com/doctordiff

[kamkuda]

Just for fun, here is another picture for you.

[squeakfinder]

I was just looking at this budget Dana 60 article last night. It doesn't look like they explain what to do for backing plates though.



                                       
http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/techarticles/mopp_0704_dana_60_rear_end_build/index.html

[Mike DC]

 
The Strange S-60 might be a better deal if you're gonna want to rebuild/beef up everything in the Dana that you use.  But if you're just trying to make an average Dana 60 physically bolt up under a Mopar then converting a truck rearend is probably still a better deal.


I think you have to get a Mopar-specific Dana casting if you want the factory pinion snubber mount, though.  The truck Danas don't have them. 

   

[kamkuda]

I was just looking at this budget Dana 60 article last night. It doesn't look like they explain what to do for backing plates though.



                                       
http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/techarticles/mopp_0704_dana_60_rear_end_build/index.html

Once you have the mopar ends on the axle tubes, you can use any Mopar Brake backing plate that you would find on a Dana or 8 3/4 rear end.  I think even the 7 1/4 rear end brakes would work.  If you want to use Ford rear Disc Brakes, you can use Ford ends on the housing instead.

[squeakfinder]

OK.  What is used for the ends? The flanges that the backing plate mount to. Any idea where those could be purchased?

[max]

Give Dr. Diff a shout as well. He does many of them and ships...

I agree, Dr diff has everything you need and knows Mopars better than anyone.
http://members.aol.com/doctordiff

Cass, knows his stuff and will help anyway he can from just the parts to a complete set up ready to bolt in.

[dads_69]

I sent the guy an email last night. Hope to hear from him soon. Just got off the phone about another Dana 60 from a 1977 3/4 ton Dodge 4x4 rear. 4.10 gears work well. $100.00 for rear end only. Call me lucky. I am going to use the center section and buy rest of the parts that can be had from Strange if I don't hear back from others soon. I only need center section, the rest can be bought separate for under $1100.00 complete. How much easier can they make it for people like us wanting a Dana 60 set up!? I now have three Dana 60's. 2nd is going in my B-body project. 3rd is in the waiting right now for a car.
Thanks for web links.
Mark

[kamkuda]

OK.  What is used for the ends? The flanges that the backing plate mount to. Any idea where those could be purchased?

Here you go...
http://www.strangeengineering.net/catalog/pdf/086.pdf