Dana 60 inner shafts

[Greg]

I have a little idea involving a mix of parts, mostly 60 stuff to build ( faaaaaar down the road :-\ ) a 'frankenstin' axle and I'm curious as to which shafts to use.

The idea isn't new, and it isn't much cheaper than building a 60, but it's diffrent. I guess that's why I like it. The plan is to build an axle using a Dana HP 44 housing and tubes, all Dana 60 parts from the C's out (I'd build a sleeve to make up the size diffrence between the 44 tube and 60 Inner C.) and the 35 spline Dana 44 ARB for the diff, which would house the 35 spline shafts.

I'd want to use stock inners that can be found easily and cheaply in case they ever need to be replaced, so I don't want custom lenght shafts. I want to build an axle that's about 60-65" wide WMS-WMS. Any suggestions on the correct inner shaft combo that would reach that width?

 

[pepper]

Didn't a company already do that? Or was it a full float kit. I read something on it. If not that would be a good idea.

 

[James K]

my 60 is 64.5 wide and uses the stock short side inner shaft. the long side had 5.5 cut off and resplined. I don't believe you will find "stock" 60 shafts to accomidate what you are looking to do.

but then again I might be wrong.

 

[ROCKRUNNER]

I believe that you can get a 89 ford short shaft and a late 70's side long shaft and you would end up about 65-66 wms to wms. I would go to the bible and write down the lengths and see if there is any shorter. Tou might be stuck resplining one side though if you need to go shorter.

 

[I Lean]

Mine is the shortest long-side shaft easily available, I'm pretty sure. '79 Ford, 34.56" long. There is a part number that's 32"-ish, but it's not really available readily.

My axle is 64" wide, so if you used a stock short side from a later Ford, it'd end up probably 2" or 2.5" wider than that.

I wouldn't be too afraid of a resplined shaft. (I mean, I'm not afraid) If you're worried, get chromoly alloy shafts, or at least the one that will be resplined. I couldn't afford chromo shafts for mine, so only the short side inner is the better alloy shaft. (that's the one that's shorter, the other one and the outers are stock Spicer)

 

[ROCKRUNNER]

Ok I did some research and have found spicer part #s 660182-12 inner is 14.44" and part # 661812-26 long side is 32.06" wich would give you 62.76" wms to wms. The problem you will have is finding junkyard axle shafts at all as they will usually only sale the whole axle. They are available new from spicer, but I doubt anyone stocks chromolly shafts that length and in the end the extra $50-60 to have one axle resplined would be very worth not having to deal a migrain headache.... Which you would have from trying to find them at the junkyard.

Cool idea though. Might be something in the future if one could prove them (strength) over time. I know comp guys would love the extra clearance. The real question is will the R&P hold up at that point?

 

[I Lean]

Ok I did some research and have found spicer part #s 660182-12 inner is 14.44" and part # 661812-26 long side is 32.06" wich would give you 62.76" wms to wms. The problem you will have is finding junkyard axle shafts at all as they will usually only sale the whole axle. They are available new from spicer, but I doubt anyone stocks chromolly shafts that length and in the end the extra $50-60 to have one axle resplined would be very worth not having to deal a migrain headache.... Which you would have from trying to find them at the junkyard.

Cool idea though. Might be something in the future if one could prove them (strength) over time. I know comp guys would love the extra clearance. The real question is will the R&P hold up at that point?

Carl Nielson has that 32.06" inner, he was able to get it from Six States. They couldn't get another one though, something about Spicer discontinuing production of that one, but still listing it in their catalogs.

 

[Greg]

Humm... if the available junkyard parts would only get it down to 66-67" wide, I guess I should really consider cutting & resplining a shaft. Ideally, I'd like to be 62" wide, but it's not a necessity.

Seth, as for the comment about the R & P holding up... that's what I'd like to see! If I did this, it would be in a 4 cyl ( ) equipped, lightweight rig with tires in the 37-39" range. Hopefully the gears would survive.

 

[KToy]

they will if you get good gears.

 

[Greg]

they will if you get good gears.

Of course... been down that road before. Never again.

 

[ROCKRUNNER]

If I remember right you said it was high pinion I am no expert but believe that the R$P is weaker in that application.

 

[V-DAWG]

If I remember right you said it was high pinion I am no expert but believe that the R$P is weaker in that application.

I am not an expert either, but isn't a high pinion stronger in the front and weaker in the rear?

 

[James K]

I am not an expert either, but isn't a high pinion stronger in the front and weaker in the rear?

this is the way I always understood it to be.

 

[Bud]

I am not an expert either, but isn't a high pinion stronger in the front and weaker in the rear?

I've run several axles with 60 outers and the Dana 44 HP center section, but with 30 spline innners. Make sure your measure three times and cut once. The 60 flanges are thicker and differnet width from your 44 (WMS), and generally the tubes are different sizes. I've used different items to take up the gap, but the easiest was to send the end-flange into a machinist and have him take make a ring to fill the gap. We never broke any R&Ps in the HP D-44s.......
call Randy's for an axle shaft catalog, they have a ton too......sometimes better availability than Spicer

 

[Milner]

Carl Nielson has that 32.06" inner, he was able to get it from Six States. They couldn't get another one though, something about Spicer discontinuing production of that one, but still listing it in their catalogs.

I am not sure, but I believe that shaft was for a tractor or airplane tug that was built in the 60' and discontinued....
Call wade at the sixstates in Orem....he is the human version of the Dana 60 bible. He'll be able to tell you what is available or not....

As far as resplining, the cost is not that much to just have a JY spare cut down and splined, just in case.

I think a 44 center is a good idea, or even a toy center with re-broached side gears....
I still want to build a solid 50 from a TTB

 

[Herzog]

I am not an expert either, but isn't a high pinion stronger in the front and weaker in the rear?

Correct because in a front high pinion, the teeth on the pinion are contacting the steep side of the teeth on the ring... where as if it were a rear axle, the rotation would be the opposite and the teeth would ride on the sloped side of the ring gear.

A front low pinion standard cut R&P ride on the sloped side of the ring gear, making it essentially weaker than a front high pinion reverse cut R&P. I think the numbers were around 30% difference in strength.

I run a standard cut front R&P w/ no probs though. (Welded spiders for extra stress and fun)

 

[Bud]

Correct because in a front high pinion, the teeth on the pinion are contacting the steep side of the teeth on the ring... where as if it were a rear axle, the rotation would be the opposite and the teeth would ride on the sloped side of the ring gear.

yep

 

[ROCKRUNNER]

Thanks for the clarification on the HP, it seems to be a sweet idea if you can find cheap dana 60 knuckles!

 

[Bud]

I used D-60 knuckles, ends, bearings, rotors, brakes and shafts from newer Dodge trucks with uni-bearing.......VERY strong flanges and outers....

 

[Bud]

Mine is the shortest long-side shaft easily available, I'm pretty sure. '79 Ford, 34.56" long. There is a part number that's 32"-ish, but it's not really available readily.

My axle is 64" wide, so if you used a stock short side from a later Ford, it'd end up probably 2" or 2.5" wider than that.

I wouldn't be too afraid of a resplined shaft. (I mean, I'm not afraid) If you're worried, get chromoly alloy shafts, or at least the one that will be resplined. I couldn't afford chromo shafts for mine, so only the short side inner is the better alloy shaft. (that's the one that's shorter, the other one and the outers are stock Spicer)

Randy's has that shorter long-side shaft (34.56") part# YA D660182-10 5-733x U-joint, 35-spline