Dana 60 rear?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Patriot · 03-13-2010, 12:33 AM

I will be building a trail rig(K5 Blazer) and have a dana 60 front for the truck.

My question is I found a Dana 60 posi rear with the same gear ratio and he only wants 125.00 for the rearend.

Is this a good rear for a trail truck???

My 82 full size has a 12 Bolt posi and a Dana 44 front. They seem to work great for trails and such.

Thanks fellas.

4x4Poet · 03-13-2010, 05:29 AM

Yes.

The D60 is the next step up in strength from the 12-bolt and has more aftermarket support for diff traction aids and high strength axles.

Watch your WMS-WMS needs and spring perch positions.

Burt4x4 · 03-13-2010, 11:24 AM

I ran D60 rear for years. Not as tuff as a 14FF but one tuff axel!
I had aftermarket 35spline 1.5" shafts with a Dana Powr-lock posi

That posi is the closest thing to being locked with out being locked

D60 parts are more expensive than 14FF parts, for the most part. There are more aftermarket mods avail for the 14FF than a rear D60.
Pros & Cons

**special-K** · 03-13-2010, 04:28 PM

They came in GMC 3/4t 4wds and my`72 has the Power-Lok.It`s a great axles and a huge step up from any 1/2t axle,yet not worthy of 1t rating.It will take your Blazer where you want to go.I`ve wheeled them hard with 14.50/37s with nary an issue.I`ve busted front shafts on the same trucks using the Dana44.Figure,it`s as much heavier for the rear over a Dana 44or 12-bolt as a front Dana60 is over the Dana44 front or 10-bolt.It`s a step above the D44s...a decent step.

Beelzeburb · 03-23-2010, 10:36 AM

Some good advice already. I was going to add to what they've said by telling you that most D60 FF rear ends came with 30 spline 1.31" diameter axle shafts (except the Dana 60HD). That's the same diameter as a Dana 44, or even 12 bolts. They're inherently stronger though, because unlike a semi-floater the weight of the vehicle isn't on the axle shaft, but on the axle tubes instead. Still, like Burt4x4 said, they can be upgraded to the 1.5" 35 spline shafts.

Burt, who did you have bore out the spindles for you to clear the larger shafts, or did you do it yourself?

Oh, and the only thing I had to do to mine to get it to fit was relocate the spring perches.

Burt4x4 · 03-23-2010, 10:52 AM

Mine was a semi-flot 6 lug with MarkWilliams 1.5" 35spline axels stuffed in it. I bought the rear end that way. It came out from under a K20 that was getting Rockwells put under it so I can't take the credit for building it, well I did add the Powr-lock and 4:11 R&P...

It never broke and was still in great shape when I sold it.

03-13-2010, 12:33 AM	#1
Patriot Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Summerset SD Posts: 312	Dana 60 rear?? I will be building a trail rig(K5 Blazer) and have a dana 60 front for the truck. My question is I found a Dana 60 posi rear with the same gear ratio and he only wants 125.00 for the rearend. Is this a good rear for a trail truck??? My 82 full size has a 12 Bolt posi and a Dana 44 front. They seem to work great for trails and such. Thanks fellas.

03-13-2010, 05:29 AM	#2
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	Re: Dana 60 rear?? Yes. The D60 is the next step up in strength from the 12-bolt and has more aftermarket support for diff traction aids and high strength axles. Watch your WMS-WMS needs and spring perch positions. __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup.

03-13-2010, 11:24 AM	#3
Burt4x4 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,842	Re: Dana 60 rear?? I ran D60 rear for years. Not as tuff as a 14FF but one tuff axel! I had aftermarket 35spline 1.5" shafts with a Dana Powr-lock posi That posi is the closest thing to being locked with out being locked D60 parts are more expensive than 14FF parts, for the most part. There are more aftermarket mods avail for the 14FF than a rear D60. Pros & Cons __________________ 1972 K5 MPFI454/Sm465/Np205/D60/14FFd/Re-Centerd H1s w/Swamper Iroks Last edited by Burt4x4; 03-13-2010 at 11:25 AM.

03-13-2010, 04:28 PM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Dana 60 rear?? They came in GMC 3/4t 4wds and my`72 has the Power-Lok.It`s a great axles and a huge step up from any 1/2t axle,yet not worthy of 1t rating.It will take your Blazer where you want to go.I`ve wheeled them hard with 14.50/37s with nary an issue.I`ve busted front shafts on the same trucks using the Dana44.Figure,it`s as much heavier for the rear over a Dana 44or 12-bolt as a front Dana60 is over the Dana44 front or 10-bolt.It`s a step above the D44s...a decent step. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

03-23-2010, 10:36 AM	#5
Beelzeburb Devil's in the Details Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southern Utah Posts: 353	Re: Dana 60 rear?? Some good advice already. I was going to add to what they've said by telling you that most D60 FF rear ends came with 30 spline 1.31" diameter axle shafts (except the Dana 60HD). That's the same diameter as a Dana 44, or even 12 bolts. They're inherently stronger though, because unlike a semi-floater the weight of the vehicle isn't on the axle shaft, but on the axle tubes instead. Still, like Burt4x4 said, they can be upgraded to the 1.5" 35 spline shafts. Burt, who did you have bore out the spindles for you to clear the larger shafts, or did you do it yourself? Oh, and the only thing I had to do to mine to get it to fit was relocate the spring perches. __________________ '70 K10 Suburban - TBI 454, 4L80E, NP241C, Dana 60 & 44 - The 10+ Year Project Thread Datsun 240Z, 510 2 door and an old Honda motorcycle Last edited by Beelzeburb; 03-23-2010 at 10:37 AM.

03-23-2010, 10:52 AM	#6
Burt4x4 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,842	Re: Dana 60 rear?? Mine was a semi-flot 6 lug with MarkWilliams 1.5" 35spline axels stuffed in it. I bought the rear end that way. It came out from under a K20 that was getting Rockwells put under it so I can't take the credit for building it, well I did add the Powr-lock and 4:11 R&P... It never broke and was still in great shape when I sold it. __________________ 1972 K5 MPFI454/Sm465/Np205/D60/14FFd/Re-Centerd H1s w/Swamper Iroks



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