Rear D60 question

[crazy4ih]

I am in the process of trying to identify the d60 rear axle in a 73 Scout II I bought and I think I have narrowed it down to a early 70's ford d60. Wms to Wms is approx 63", 8 lug and it's full floating. I cant find the Bom #'s on the axle tube. It looks as if it was set up for SOA, but the perches were ground off and re-welded on the bottom of the tubes and may be covering the BOM #. There is a # cast into the front of the pumpkin its c30255. The axle id tag is gone. I pulled the shafts and they are coarse 16 spline. After searching all I can come up with is 70's ford d60 rear. Can anybody confirm this? I can get pics if needed.

Also, how bad are the 16 spline shafts? Should I upgrade now while I am in the building stage or just run them till I break them? I plan on running 35"-37" tires. When and if I do upgrade, how hard will it be to upgrade to 35 spline shafts? Just a carrier change or will the spindles need to be changed/modified?

Thanks! :beer:

[Scout8hundred]

I say run it until you break it. I have found my gear to hold up so well I don't feel like a real wheeler.

[ihojeff]

Sounds like a Ford rear end. I wouldn't buy a locker of any sort until you're ready to upgrade the shafts. To go 35 spline the spindles will need to be bored out. Lots of info on boring the spindles in general tech.

[19scout77]

IMO the only thing you will acheive if you don't make the upgrades now is an empty feeling in the pit of your stomach when you have to spend even more $$ and do it later. If you are planning on adding some sort of traction aid (locker, posi, etc) you may have to buy a 2, one now with 16 spline and one later with 35. that's a lot of wasted $$$. Do it now, do it once, and be done with it.

[crazy4ih]

Thanks for the input. I will have to re-gear the axle anyways and i am planning on a detroit in the back, so it will be upgraded before I run it. I'll do my homework for the spindle boring.

Another newbie question...Is the bolt pattern on the ford 8 lug the same as the chevy d44 8 lug outers I have?

I am planning on using my scout d44 front with the chevy 8 lug outers in conjunction with the d60 rear, which will be a little wider than stock. I have a full width chevy d44 front housing and a corp 14b. Any reason I should use those instead? Pro's/Cons??? I know with the 14b rear I had better be running at least 37's or I'll drag that pig on every rock unless I do a fair amount of shaving. I am not sure which 14b it is but that fawker is wide...and I really dont want my tires sticking out 8 inches on each side..

Thanks again!

[CSmith]

Ford and Chevy 3/4 tons used the same 8 lug bolt pattern until the Super Duty came out.

[BamaScout]

I think that you would come out money ahead to pick up a D60 with 30 spline axles or a D70 and swap it for the one you have. The go for $150 all day long in my neck of the woods.

[Jeepdude_Jay]

Keep the rear you have, it's a good width. If you don't have to change the carrier for the gear change you want, I would just leave the shafts until they break. Weld up the spiders and wheel it. When you are ready to upgradeyou will have to do it all, spindle bores, new axles, and some kind of 35sp carrier.

[crazy4ih]

Keep the rear you have, it's a good width. If you don't have to change the carrier for the gear change you want, I would just leave the shafts until they break. Weld up the spiders and wheel it. When you are ready to upgradeyou will have to do it all, spindle bores, new axles, and some kind of 35sp carrier.

I will need to do a carrier change as the gearing is now 3.73 and I'm planning on running 4.56 or 4.88 gears. I'll just bite the bullet and get it all done right the first time (gears, locker, axles, disk brakes etc...) I have been reading up on the spindle boring and re-welding etc... Since I have the 14 bolt also, I'll either cut the spindles off of that and weld them on the 60 housing, or bore the 60 spindles and sell the 14b to help fund the project.

Also, for anybody who has done the spindle boring, what alignment jig did you use to align and weld the spindles back in place? I saw the ones that d.d.machine have and some that 66cjdean have made, but that seems steep for what is possibly a one time use. Is this something that can be rented/borrowed from a place like United Rental or a machine shop, or would I be better off having someone who already has a jig weld it up for me?

[Rock Tractor]

I'll just bite the bullet and get it all done right the first time (gears, locker, axles, disk brakes etc...)
Smart man.

[srscout]

Hey Crazy
I'm not sure a 63" WMS what your 60 came out of. Just about every 60 I have ever seen has the number 60 cast into the web on the front somewhere. Look for that. I have a 60 that came out of a 73 F-250 with the small drums ( 2") and it is 66" WMS to WMS. I also have a 79 F-250 4X4 that has the large drum 60 and it is also 66". So I am not sure what a 63" on would come out of but it is a really good width. I wish I had one.
You are right though, the earlier 60's ( like my 73) are the course spline ( 19 I belive) and the latter ones ( Like my 79 ) are 30 spline. So if you can figure out what it came out of, you might be able to find a newer one with the 30 spline shafts or just not worry about it and order a set of 35 spline Mossers, Superiors or the like.
Let us know what you find out.
S&R Failure is not an option