axle spec resources?

[Polarweasel]

Any idea where I can find specs on what axles came on what year vehicles? Right now I've got a 79 E350 van with a D70, and I'd like to know what the spline count is, without crawling in the mud in the alley to pull an axle...

I'd love to find a more general resource where I can look stuff up before I go junkyard-hopping. It always helps to know what trucks you can ignore without looking too close (other than TTB, which you can of course spot a mile away!) :D

Any ideas?

[Nobody]

unfortunately the only sure way to know what you have is to put your own eyes on it. Even if you decode any numbers you might find, it's no guarantee of what's inside.

With that said, I'm not aware of a good resource other than the Bible.

[Paul Gagnon]

If it is a Dana axle you can take the bill of materials number into a Dana authorized dealer and they can tell you exactly what it was when it was new. doesn't tell you if anyone changed anything but it's a start.

[Polarweasel]

Thanks guys! I did check the Bible before I posted, but nothing useful in there.

Paul, the BOM number is definitely a good start, but still not "the definitive guide to what vehicles came with what axles" that I was dreaming I might find. ;) I guess that's a pipe dream -- as in crack-pipe dream! :smokin:

Since I've only got the one axle at the moment to find out about, I'll just drag my lazy ass outside and pull a shaft tonight to count the splines.


Alex

[Cherokee Paul]

Dana 60's and Dana 70's look nearly the same. But somewhere on the ribbing around the centersection, there should be a stamp that says wether it is a 60 or 70. Some 70's will have the stamp on the top of the section. 60's usually have 30 splines, while 70's will have 35. Some older 70's have 32.

Also, Van rear ends, have a slight offset to the center section... can be hard to see by eyeballing it, but tape measure will find it.

[Nobody]

Originally posted by Polarweasel
Thanks guys! I did check the Bible before I posted, but nothing useful in there.

Alex

Uhhh...... you might want to reword that :flipoff2:

[Polarweasel]

Originally posted by Nobody
Uhhh...... you might want to reword that :flipoff2:
OK, howzabout this? :flipoff2:

I checked the Bible before I posted, but I couldn't figure out where to find D70 spline counts in Ephesians, Romans, or Revelation, so I threw myself upon the mercy of all you fawkers. :rasta:

[Polarweasel]

Originally posted by big78bronco
Dana 60's and Dana 70's look nearly the same. But somewhere on the ribbing around the centersection, there should be a stamp that says wether it is a 60 or 70. Some 70's will have the stamp on the top of the section. 60's usually have 30 splines, while 70's will have 35. Some older 70's have 32.

Also, Van rear ends, have a slight offset to the center section... can be hard to see by eyeballing it, but tape measure will find it.

Thanks, Paul! I know it's a 70, I just don't know what the spline count is. How old is "older"?

Interesting about the offset. Does the slight offset matter at all, really?

[Cherokee Paul]

Not sure how much older the 70's with the 32 spline shafts are.. but certainly older then '75 I know.