Finding a Dana 60 front

[kwmech]

Wanting to change my 1/2 ton 'burb over to some bigger axles and brakes so I can tow our travel trailer with the Suburban as well as the flat bed. Seems to be really elusive on the west coast. I can find them on the east coast, but with shipping I'm into one from 1600-2000 and still have a small pile of rust that needs to be gone through and maybe re geared. Anybody have any leads? Rear is not a problem, leaning towards either a Dana 70 or a 14 bolt.

[Ski-me]

This guy has the axles and it looks like two blazers too...

https://denver.craigslist.org/pts/6093435978.html

[wildwilly4x4]

Ive got quite a few here in TX, but by the time you ship it, or come pick it up, its gonna run you the same as the East coast ones. A decent used 60 goes for $1k easy, so if you find a rebuilt one in cali, or a used one cheaper, jump on it.

If all you are after is bigger brakes, save yourself some money and just swap your half ton front over to the 3/4ton brakes/hubs. a 60 isn't needed unless your wheelin hard

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by wildwilly4x4

If all you are after is bigger brakes, save yourself some money and just swap your half ton front over to the 3/4ton brakes/hubs. a 60 isn't needed unless your wheelin hard

This is a sensical (new word there) option. Spend the money you save on front and rear stabilizer bars and Bilstein shocks.

Springs weren't mentioned, are you upgrading them?

[kwmech]

Yes, upgrading the springs to 1 tons in the front. Pulling the rear out and having them rebuilt and rearched. Putting a 14 bolt or dana 70 in the rear. Already have the 8 lug rotors and backing plates for the front, but a D60 would be nice. Looking at these tires.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes


with these rims

https://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Whee...0&autoModClar=

[kwmech]

This was my 1990. I was sorry I sold it about 3 months after. So looking for the same stance, maybe just a little lower. This had a Rancho 4'' lift with the rear springs rebuilt and a 2'' factory block. This had a 60 front in it with an ARB. 4.56 gearing. This was originally a 1/2 ton also

[andrewmp6]

You can use a dodge leaf spring dana 60 btw.It will bolt in with these spring spacers http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/Dod...apBushings.htm

[NorCalAnthony]

I feel your pain. I live right down the hill from you and the D60's are hard to find and usually super expensive when you do. It took me over a year and half of checking Craigslist on almost a daily basis before I found one that was in good shape and not ridiculously over priced. The best way to find/get one is to check CL or Pirate regularly and try to call/contact the seller the moment you find one you're interested in because they usually go fast... And as mentioned above 75-93 Dodge D60's will work in a Chevy and can be easier to find around us than the GM D60's. Just be aware that that the 89 and down axles had external locking hubs but 90-93 were internal like GM and be cautious of people selling D61's, they look almost identical to a D60 but they have really high gears (3.07) and have a weird pinion offset that makes gear changes a lot more difficult.

There are a couple options out there right now if you don't mind driving a little bit. Best deals I'm seeing at the moment are a D60 front with D70 rear out of a 92 Dodge for $1600 in Stockton ( https://stockton.craigslist.org/pts/6104721288.html ) or a GM D60 with 14 bolt rear for $1600 in San Jose ( https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/pts/6112603270.html ). There's also a front D60 from a 92 Dodge listed on Car-part at a wrecker by Vallejo that used to be listed for $990 and now says "call" for the price so it may be cheaper now...

[Bigred74k20]

Originally Posted by kwmech

Wanting to change my 1/2 ton 'burb over to some bigger axles and brakes so I can tow our travel trailer with the Suburban as well as the flat bed. Seems to be really elusive on the west coast. I can find them on the east coast, but with shipping I'm into one from 1600-2000 and still have a small pile of rust that needs to be gone through and maybe re geared. Anybody have any leads? Rear is not a problem, leaning towards either a Dana 70 or a 14 bolt.

You could always do what I did and buy a complete k30 truck and pull the drivetrain out of it. A few months back I bought a D60/14 bolt for $1100 (complete with spring plates) and thats a ok deal, but sometimes you have to pay to play. I went to our local swap meet last month and picked up a D60 housing for $200. if you can get that, you could always piece one together. Dont mess with a D70, there is a lot more aftermarket options for the 14 bolt, and replacement parts are everywhere. Up here you can pick them up for around $100 all day long.

When searching for a Dana 60, I would recommend using keywords like D60, 1ton, k30, k35, V30 and V35. You would be surprised what people label certain items as.

Best of luck

[kwmech]

Thanks, I've been doing just that. Looking from Redding down to Sacramento and over to Reno. This whole area is picked over pretty well.
the 70 is possibly for the rear. I have both a 70 and a 14 bolt sitting here at the house. Either one I pick is going to be about 1500.00 to build plus the springs and new shocks. Front is going to be pricey when I up grade that. I can wait out finding a front end for a while as I can swap that to 8 lug in about 2 hours

[abig84]

for whatever reason up around chicago land they are $800 for just a stock open dana60. have been that price forever and as long as i can remember. its just funny how prices change when you go to a different area

edit... guess im out of touch and just looked on craigslist it seems they did go up in price a bit, there is one on there for $900

i bought mine complete and attached to a pos plow truck for $800 but that was like 10 years ago

i guess its supply and demand with all the off road people buying them up.