Dana 60 semifloat strength?
 

I've got a Dana 60 semi float out of, I believe, a '68 C15.
Before I go to the trouble of swapping it into my '57, though, I want to get a sense of the axle weight rating between the two rear ends (55T vs Dana 60 SF)
Wikipedia says "up to 5,500 lbs" for a semi floating '60, but then, there is more than one bearing and more than one application for semi floating dana 60's.
Anyone have an old service manual or some such?

Basically, I have a '57 truck that I want to be able to stack more concrete blocks / pile more gravel into. The plate on the door jam says 5,000 lbs GVWR and it's about 3,900 with me and some gas in it.
The 4.8 & 4L60e are up to the task of hauling more, and I want the power lok that's in the '60, but if it won't haul more weight I might keep looking for a new rear end.

Re: Dana 60 semifloat strength?
 

For heavy loads and such I would be inclined to go with a full floater. I build custom differentials if you are interested

Re: Dana 60 semifloat strength?
 

I have looked at your build thread(not all of it).
Nice job.
I would go with a Full-Floating Rear-End.
With a Full-Floating rear-end the only thing I think about is how much weight can the Tires handle. :lol:

Re: Dana 60 semifloat strength?
 

Is it a 3/4T truck? That's a 1500 pound payload, which is 200 pounds over the 5500. Maybe the diff can carry it, but that exceeds the design capability of the frame and brakes, too, right?

FWIW, I know a farmer who put 2 tons of wheat in his 1/2 ton truck and drove it slowly the 12 miles back to his dairy farm, sine it was down on the bump stops. Not a practice I'd ever recommend.

I'd personally buy a trailer that can carry that weight. Since I have no place for a trailer, I just pay to have that kind of stuff delivered to the job site.

Re: Dana 60 semifloat strength?
 

Full-floater.