D60 swap got me scratching my head. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

SunSoaked · 10-20-2018, 10:26 PM

Recently swapped the stock front axle in my 85 K20 with a Dana 60. It bolted right in with no issues. I'm sure I measured things but I'm having second thoughts because I pulled the front shaft out today and noticed the slip joint seemed to be almost completely compressed. How much travel should there be in the joint? I'm thinking I was lucky that I didn't hit something that caused that shaft to bottom out and destroy my T-case. I didn't think there was any difference in the distance from the axle centerline to the yoke u-joint centerline but maybe the 60 was an inch or two longer? Hope this makes sense. And how would one determine the compressed height of the front end with leaf springs?

**mongocanfly** · 10-20-2018, 10:47 PM

I just did a front axle swap..not like yours but same scenario...I had a new ds made and he gave me 1-3/4" in the slip from fully compressed at ride height..

SunSoaked · 10-20-2018, 10:54 PM

Ya, I got like 1/4 inch at ride height. I'm thinking cutting the splined end to get some clearance isn't a good way to do it. I got three inches of splines but I wouldn't be comfortable chopping off more than 1/2 inch.

cadillac_al · 10-21-2018, 07:03 AM

When I did a D60 swap I had a new driveshaft made. The old one wouldn't work. It didn't cost much more to have a new one built than to have my old perfectly good one cut down.

sweetk30 · 10-21-2018, 10:35 AM

bigger the axle = shorter the shaft most of the time.

god drive shaft shop can most of the time cut down a shaft cheeper than lengthen one .

cut down = shorten your tube and reweld / balance .

lengthen = new longer tube and weld up / balance .

yes dana 60 is a big bigger as you found out in this . i bet you also noticed around 1" higher front end .

SunSoaked · 10-22-2018, 10:56 PM

I didn't notice a difference in height. However, I swapped a 14bolt FF in the rear at the same time so it still sits level. This was a NOS set of matching axles from a 87ish cucv that I got for free. Except for having to unbox them, pull the wax paper off and scrub the grease preservative (creasote?) off of them, it was a great deal even with the driveshaft mod.

**mongocanfly** · 10-22-2018, 11:12 PM

WOW!!...cant beat a deal like that...

SunSoaked · 10-22-2018, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

WOW!!...cant beat a deal like that...

Ya, former benefit of working on a military test base where excess equipment was used as targets for weapons systems. Destroyed a lot of cucv's, hummers and M60 tanks. I need to figure out what to do with my vast collection of aerial "drones" I picked up on the range. I always thought they would make some wicked motorized skateboards but the thought of crashing at 60 mph is no longer appealing at my age. lol

**jeffahart** · 10-23-2018, 12:22 AM

If the shaft is too long you will hear a gnarly clunk when you jam on the brakes hard. You can pull the hump and watch the shaft move as you hit the brakes. It's easier to get to the CV bolts on the front output with the hump removed anyway. D60 in front need shaft shortened. I had to do my front shaft also.

j

10-20-2018, 10:26 PM	#1
SunSoaked Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 1,524	D60 swap got me scratching my head. Recently swapped the stock front axle in my 85 K20 with a Dana 60. It bolted right in with no issues. I'm sure I measured things but I'm having second thoughts because I pulled the front shaft out today and noticed the slip joint seemed to be almost completely compressed. How much travel should there be in the joint? I'm thinking I was lucky that I didn't hit something that caused that shaft to bottom out and destroy my T-case. I didn't think there was any difference in the distance from the axle centerline to the yoke u-joint centerline but maybe the 60 was an inch or two longer? Hope this makes sense. And how would one determine the compressed height of the front end with leaf springs?

10-20-2018, 10:47 PM	#2
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,583	Re: D60 swap got me scratching my head. I just did a front axle swap..not like yours but same scenario...I had a new ds made and he gave me 1-3/4" in the slip from fully compressed at ride height.. __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

10-20-2018, 10:54 PM	#3
SunSoaked Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 1,524	Re: D60 swap got me scratching my head. Ya, I got like 1/4 inch at ride height. I'm thinking cutting the splined end to get some clearance isn't a good way to do it. I got three inches of splines but I wouldn't be comfortable chopping off more than 1/2 inch.

10-21-2018, 07:03 AM	#4
cadillac_al Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Maine Posts: 2,334	Re: D60 swap got me scratching my head. When I did a D60 swap I had a new driveshaft made. The old one wouldn't work. It didn't cost much more to have a new one built than to have my old perfectly good one cut down. __________________ 76 Chevy K20 76 GMC K15 77 Chevy C10 77 Chevy K10

10-21-2018, 10:35 AM	#5
sweetk30 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: horseheads,ny rust belt Posts: 2,794	Re: D60 swap got me scratching my head. bigger the axle = shorter the shaft most of the time. god drive shaft shop can most of the time cut down a shaft cheeper than lengthen one . cut down = shorten your tube and reweld / balance . lengthen = new longer tube and weld up / balance . yes dana 60 is a big bigger as you found out in this . i bet you also noticed around 1" higher front end . __________________ 77-k30lb BIG truck build . 87-k30lb budget beater build . 85-k30lb the plow machine build . 85-c10sb summer fun toy . ----------------------------- HOLLEY SNIPER efi = worst case of p.i.t.a i ever had . EDELBROCK pro flo 4 = best deal going so far . love my setup works great.

10-22-2018, 10:56 PM	#6
SunSoaked Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 1,524	Re: D60 swap got me scratching my head. I didn't notice a difference in height. However, I swapped a 14bolt FF in the rear at the same time so it still sits level. This was a NOS set of matching axles from a 87ish cucv that I got for free. Except for having to unbox them, pull the wax paper off and scrub the grease preservative (creasote?) off of them, it was a great deal even with the driveshaft mod.

10-22-2018, 11:12 PM	#7
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,583	Re: D60 swap got me scratching my head. WOW!!...cant beat a deal like that... __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

10-23-2018, 12:22 AM	#9
jeffahart Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,881	Re: D60 swap got me scratching my head. If the shaft is too long you will hear a gnarly clunk when you jam on the brakes hard. You can pull the hump and watch the shaft move as you hit the brakes. It's easier to get to the CV bolts on the front output with the hump removed anyway. D60 in front need shaft shortened. I had to do my front shaft also. j __________________ White K20



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