The 60 will definitely be more... It's stronger 
And harder to find, usually...
What year of K5? Or were they all passenger side drop?
And harder to find, usually...
What year of K5? Or were they all passenger side drop?
SAS/Front end weight question
- Thread starter bubbatrucklover
- Start date
bubbatrucklover
Heavy Metal Red Neck
The 60 will definitely be more... It's stronger
And harder to find, usually...
What year of K5? Or were they all passenger side drop?
All passenger to my knowledge.
Once again going on what "others" say. With the Chevy Dana 44 I have one of two options. Flip the transfer case or flip the axel and have a certified welder/shop weld the spring pads on the opposite side.
I'm still certain I would RATHER have the dana 60 and be done with it. I'm just not certain if I "should be" looking at ONLY the '78-'79 F-350 as the "optimum" axel.
It's possible other years (which ones I obviously don't know for certain but think it's 86-91) could be obtained cheaper and more readily and then modified and or beefed up to obtain the same end product with as much or less investment.
Ehh i would just put a 10 bolt in it.
bubbatrucklover
Heavy Metal Red Neck
Cowboy Cadillac
Ain't no trash in my trailer!
The 78-79 Ford D60 or 44 will be the easiest to swap in as they are already Drivers side drop so its just a matter of welding in spring mounts or 4 link kit and getting new driveshaft made. Flipping transfer cases is not the best idea either... a divorced t-case is the best way to put in a pass side drop IMO which is why I'm heavily searching for one.
bubbatrucklover
Heavy Metal Red Neck
Thanks.
Yeah flipping the transfer case was a new one on me. I had just heard about it and was told that's one way to go with out getting a Ford front end. Made sense (to an extent).Ford Kingpins and divorced t's(as you know) are highly sought after and usually EXTREMELY high priced.
(Dana 60's fetching between $450 and $1,000 with NO regear or beef up's) That's why I've been trying to take into consideration other options to help me acheive my desired lift. The axle is the first hurdle in this setup as far as I'm concerned. I can drive it as a 2 wheeler 'til I get a new T-case,re geared axle and modified driveshaft. After all that's how I'm driving it now.
Cowboy Cadillac
Ain't no trash in my trailer!
A cheaper option for axles that just occured to me is a newer Dodge front axle. Readily available in junkyard, drivers side pumpkin, already has ABS sensors, high pinion etc etc.
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bubbatrucklover
Heavy Metal Red Neck
Cowboy Cadillac
Ain't no trash in my trailer!
03 or newer. The latest ones have AAM axles, Id look for a 3/4 ton( power wagon would be better) and get both axles so you don't have to do a wheel pattern change. Iirc they would basically be an new "old" corporate 14 bolt and they have a better locker than gm's cuckoo clock g80.
