rear end decision-CL finds locally

[tmills213]

All,

Need your opinion/information. The truck is a 64 c20 with a ridiculous gear ratio (still need to verify the exact number) it is running about 3-3500rpm at 50-55 mph. Internals are a 383/th350 up to a HO52 rear. Reading posts on here I have gathered that a 60s dana 60 out of a 3/4 ton with coils would bolt directly in (according to captnfab) and have a (what I think would be best) 3.73 option.

I have also been reading about some 14 bolt options out there. I have locally found some options but don't know enough about them to make a correct decision. I am trying to avoid MAJOR modifications such as cutting and welding while trying to get the rpms down and eliminate one wheel peel. I think at this point i could handle some new perches and maybe a panhard bar.

local cheap option is advertised as a dana 60 but the pictures look like something different. (see pic)
http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/pts/4251076557.html

there are also some like this one but no locker or anything in it.
http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/pts/4193650334.html
or
http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/pts/4230417240.html
or
http://holland.craigslist.org/pts/4260795226.html

what do you all think

[LVPhotos]

Why not just swap gears? New gears and no worries if the one you just picked up is bad. Or find an overdrive.

[tmills213]

The eaton ho52 I have on the truck does not have any options below 4.10. I have not bought a new rear end yet. Need help deciding what is the most practical and closest fit.

I literally just had the th350 rebuilt so I don't feel like scrapping it and everything attached to it

[Captainfab]

There are no gears available for the Eaton HO52/72.

Originally Posted by LVPhotos

Why not just swap gears? New gears and no worries if the one you just picked up is bad. Or find an overdrive.

tmills213, I don't see any pics in the first CL ad, but the picture in your post is a 12 bolt. The Ford Dana 60 I believe is going to be too wide as the Dodge Dana 70 would be as well. I think your best bet, aside from a '69-'72 Dana 60, is a '73-'87 14 bolt. The ones under the C20's and single wheel C30's are a little narrower than your current Eaton. The 14 bolts under the C30 cab and chassis are a little narrower yet. The only problem with a 14 bolt from a C30, is that most of those will have 4.10 gears, which aren't a whole bunch better than your 4.57 gears. I would definitely try and find a 14 bolt with 3.73 gears. That is as long as you are running a somewhat tall tire. That will help keep your RPM's down.

[tmills213]

This guy should work then.
http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/pts/4230417240.html

then swap some lower gears in and some new mounts...

[jtrichard]

Captain the cab and chassis is actually a little wider then the pickup c20 it is only about 3/8" different on each side than the oem rear

[Captainfab]

Sorry guys, I didn't convey my thoughts correctly in my post above. What I meant to say was that the '73-'87 14 bolts (aprox 66-7/8") are a little wider than the OP's current Eaton (aprox 65-1/2"), and the cab and chassis 14 bolts are a little narrower than the pickup 14 bolts.

Originally Posted by jtrichard

Captain the cab and chassis is actually a little wider then the pickup c20 it is only about 3/8" different on each side than the oem rear

[jtrichard]

i knew something was throwing me off in your post (i had it bass akwards also) yes the 14 bolt pickup is wider than the 14 bolt c+c but the c+c is so close to the 64 rear that it should not be any problem

[tmills213]

Update:

A good friend of mine has acquired a 1971 dodge 3/4 ton 2wd for scrap. He believes it is a dana 60. Said i could have it if I help him take it out. Says 4.10 on the door plate. Any reason why this would not work out for my c20?

Plan to rebuild it completely since I will have time and lower the gears ...3.73 or 3.54....

Thoughts?

[Captainfab]

Yes that should be a Dana 60. I'm not sure what the width of that one may be. You might want to check that before you get too involved in rebuilding the differential. You will have to set your pinion angle and weld on a set of trailing arm mounts and a panhard bar mount. I'm thinking that the 3.54 gears would be a good choice.

[tmills213]

Got the 60 in my possession. now I have to measure everything. The mounts are definitely too wide but the overall seems to be ok. The 60 came out of a leafed 71 dodge 2wd 3/4 ton. There is nothing to mount a panhard bar to. Am I going to be stuck fabricating some sore of setup or is there a bolt on something...

[Clyde65]

Do leaf spring truck have them?? If so, You can pickup a pan hard bar from no limit, they mount to the spring mount

[Captainfab]

I would just cut the panhard bar mount off of the Eaton and weld it to the Dana 60. If you need new trailing arm mounts I do make those.

[tmills213]

captain,

I am thinking about getting this thing going again but am looking at some dimensions. I know you sell the adapters but I was looking at the old Eaton and the tube OD is smaller by about an 1/8-1/4"??? wont this affect the way the ubolts hold the housing? The overall length seems to be close but it is hard to measure with one person and to be honest im not sure i am measureing correctly. Attached is a "measurement" of the d60. In my head the process would go like this...

get your adapters
cut the old ones off d60
get the angle while eaton is still on the truck with some jig
transfer angle to the new mounts
strap it in place centered
cut the panhard bar off, weld on new one or just make a new one and keep eaton original
Get new U joints since different sizes?
adjust Dshaft.
brake lines
enjoy.

(change gears from 4:10 to 3.xx later)

THank you

[Captainfab]

The correct way to measure a differential is WMS to WMS (wheel mounting surface). That is the main measurement that matters. The holes in the trailing arms for the U-bolts are far enough apart that a 14 bolt axle tube will work. The Dana 60 axle tubes are smaller. I will have to measure one of mine to see exactly what they do measure.

Have you read thru this thread?

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=624445

It is for a 14 bolt swap but changing to the Dana 60 is basically the same.

[hopped up]

Didn't those rear ends have 4.56 gears? Def not very useful for hwy speeds

[Captainfab]

Most of the Eaton HO52/72's did. The OP is replacing his with a Dana 60 with I believe 4.10's. Not as good on the highway as 3.73's but a step in the right direction with a differential that has a lot of aftermarket parts support.

Originally Posted by hopped up

Didn't those rear ends have 4.56 gears? Def not very useful for hwy speeds

[tmills213]

Well I think I potentially screwed myself again..... Picked up what I thought and read everything correctly was a "standard" 14 bolt.

Vehicle: 1999 g3500 single wheel van (guess i've never seen a dually before now that I think about it) according to the codes 3.73 open gears.

Now that I got it out of the truck into the garage I measured a few things again and the tube OD is measuring (with my small calipers) 3.5"!!! according to this attached chart it is the mystery axle? This is a little bigger than the 3 3/8ths needed to match the trailing arms eaton pattern. I would like to bolt this thing in.

PLEASE help clear up.

I forgot to add that when I try to measure wms to wms I am getting 68-69ish? the hubs could be a little loose but I dont see gaining enough to match the 67.5 but I also dont see it being the 70" for the van. They are the second gen slip off drums but idk what type 3 means.

not too thrilled atm.

[tmills213]

more picts

[Captainfab]

I don't think I have seen a 14 bolt that didn't have 3.5" axle tubes. That is what my 14 bolt trailing arm mounts are designed for. As for the width, most of the C20 and single wheel C30 14 bolts that I have experience with measure about 67". Of course those are from the '70's and 80's.

[tmills213]

Captain,

I need you to clear something up, I have attached a photo representing the axle housing and u bolts. I have measured the tube OD of 3.5", u bolt of 3.5 inside diameter (there is actually a little larger and allows a few degrees rotation but not much) and 4.25 center to center. I was wondering how your brackets allows the 4.25" holes on the a arms to be used if the trailing arms are angled and the u bolt wouldnt be wide enough.

With the 14bolt i have at 69", I think I could possibly pull off the width but the tube diameter is confusing me if they are all 3.5". I think the smaller 3 3/8" would possibly work but your brackets would not correct?

I can potentially return the van axle in 30 days but I would like to use it since its geared already. anything other than the 5.14 I have now in the eaton.

[Captainfab]

It is a snug fit with the U-bolts over the 14 bolt axle tube, but they do work. I'll try and get some specific measurements tomorrow when I am at my shop.

[spookylynx]

I just stumbled upon this thread, Look on RuffStuff Fabrications and they will have every bracket / tab / perch for 60s and 14blts you could need to mount it under any vehicle out there.

[Captainfab]

Dan doesn't sell trailing arm mounts. Ruffstuffspecialties.com is geared towards offroad and 4x4 vehicles with either leaf springs or link suspensions.

Originally Posted by spookylynx

I just stumbled upon this thread, Look on RuffStuff Fabrications and they will have every bracket / tab / perch for 60s and 14blts you could need to mount it under any vehicle out there.

[Captainfab]

OK, I stand corrected on my post yesterday. The earlier 14 bolt axle tubes do measure 3.375" in diameter, and when measured at the angle that the trailing arms and mount are, they measure 3.5". So with the center to center measurement of the U-bolt holes in the trailing arms and mounts of 4.250", the .750" diameter U-bolts will just fit.

With a 3.5" dimeter axle tube, the angle measurement will be aprox 3.625" which will make installing .750" diameter U-bolts very difficult.