76-77.5 dana 60 oddball

[Boggie]

Now its definatly an oddball, 35 spline inners, 30 outers, internaly splined hubs, but its a low pinion? What have I made?

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Why you ask, well I dont have the money to outright drop $1300-$1500 on a high pinion (even though I have thought about it). And still end up droping between 500-1000 for repairs and upgrades. Or I rebuild one that I got a DEAL on and with a little money here and a little money there, enjoying an axle I know everything about, comes out about the same cost as if I were to do just bearings and seals on a much more desirable High pinion.

Still not complete yet though, turn stops, zerk fittings, dual piston brake calipers,90w oil and limited slip addetive (power-lok) and 9/16-18 lug nuts. Like I said a little money here and a little money there.

Any questions, I'll do my best to answer them.

[Wes]

very nice even low pinion is great up grade. With any added lift, you will prob be having a custom drive shaft made, you can add just for sever angles at that time. What size tires are going to run ?


Great to get more bump 4x4's

[Eric L]

I'd be proud to run that in my '67.

I'm actually going out of my way to stay LP in front w/divorced transfercase.. keepin' it old skool.

[Boggie]

The low pinion actually became ablessing in discuise. I married up the transmission and transfercase (435/205) and noticed that the low pinion vs high pinion front would allow me to retain the crossmember that is at the rear of the front leaf springs. And as for drivlines go im going to hunt for a company ( I have a few in mind) that make the 1350 CV joint drivelines for the front and the rear.

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[montana_hiboy]

Low pinion D60's were used on the 74-77 crew cabs, 74-75 closed knuckle/drum brakes, 76-77 open knuckle/disc brakes.

[Manny]

Now its definatly an oddball, 35 spline inners, 30 outers, internaly splined hubs, but its a low pinion? What have I made?

A great looking axle i would love to have in my rig. I bought a 67 350 closed dana60 but probably going to cut it up to make a open knuckle what are you doing with the old hubs and such interested to sell perhaps????

[Boggie]

If you want the older hardware from the axle I would be glad to help or sell, but if your going to turn yours into an open knuckle, might want look into turning that 60F into a true 1-ton with 35 spline inners, 30 outers, and the larger/later spindles for bigger bearings, later spindles use the internally splined hubs that are stronger and gives it a really clean apperance aswell.

[averagef250]

Looks good. Those axles pop up regularly around here. Probably want to run a CV front driveline. A low pinion ford front axle has a 5.5 degree down pointing pinion to work with a divorced transfer case. Put a short mated t-case setup in there with a lift and your front u-joint angles are really bad without any flexing, binding with a few inches of suspension droop. The low pinion pinion angle is meant for a divorced case at stock ride height.

Most GM, dodge and other's low pinion axle pinions point upward to work with mated cases and still require a CV driveline for the mixmatch in angles.

[mikejc]

dang i was tryin to find this thread and missed it so i started a new one. I have a 77 low pinion front and want to do exactly the same thing as im not intersted in shelling out $1000 or more for a hi pinion. Can i get a list of the parts you used I'd really appreciate it. I knew there was a way to polish this turd!

[mikejc]

No but you have a very nice axle for what you would pay for a less than perfect hi pinion. Thanks for the very detailed response. I bet if i kept an eye out for some used parts i could save a few hundred, but if the money is there when i go to do it, why not spend the money and build a tough axle that i never have to worry about? I have a c6 205 married combo i want to use, with 4-6" suspension would the angle be too poor? I thought some cv's could rectify this problem if necessary. Nice work, i think you gave ford guys another option for an axle swap other than "get a hi pinion, everything else is junk", until now thats the only answer i have recieved.

[averagef250]

I think it's far from possible to fit a front driveshaft with a mated transfer case and a low pinion front axle with lift springs. Divorced case will do it, but mated makes the angle at the t-case yoke extreme.

The low pinion axles are perfect for trucks at stock height, the pinion doesn't interfere with anything. High pinion is pretty nice when you have any lift.

[mikejc]

I meant to ask if you could explain the resplining of the inner axles and why its necessary. As far as the married vs divorced thing, i kinda figured the low pinion married thing may not work

[averagef250]

78-79 HP axles should fit the earlier housing. The overall width of the axle is the same. Finding a set of those axles in good shape might not be so easy and the originals are the neck down style (weaker than the 80's and newer 60 axles).

[mikejc]

and the aftermarket axles are splined differently therefore needing to be resplined to fit the 78-79 sidegears and housing?

[averagef250]

and the aftermarket axles are splined differently therefore needing to be resplined to fit the 78-79 sidegears and housing?

Can you explain what you're asking better? The splines are all the same- 60 degree involute rolled on Dana stuff, aftermarket axles and all resplined axles have thier splines milled. resplined axles are rarely post heat treated. Resplining ends up under the .030" or so case depth, but the case surface is for wear resistance mostly, not too big of a concern for a front axle.