I will be swappin in a 351 this summer. I have the whole 92 f250 that its coming out of. SO should I just use the 10.25 rear since its free or should I buy a d60 that I have just found for sale (2004 chevy 373 gears full width and has m80 eaton Mechanical locker 8 bolt pattern, Setup for disc brakes but no rotors or calipers)

I would be trading my dana30 with a lockright for it

I'd go with the 10.25". It's a stronger axle.

Are you sure the diff under that 04' Chevy is a D60? I was under the impression that Chevy (along with Dodge) started using AAM axles several years ago.

go with the sterling.
a stock dana 60 is the dana35C of the full floater world, it's simply outclassed by any other full floater, especialy the sterling.

I will be swappin in a 351 this summer. I have the whole 92 f250 that its coming out of. SO should I just use the 10.25 rear since its free or should I buy a d60 that I have just found for sale (2004 chevy 373 gears full width and has m80 eaton Mechanical locker 8 bolt pattern, Setup for disc brakes but no rotors or calipers)

I would be trading my dana30 with a lockright for it
It sounds like your describing the 11.5in AAM axle in the 04 GM.

no its a d60, came outta a van or something, or so the seller says. so I take it the sterling is a full-floater? I know nearly nothig about it cept that parts for it are more expensive. Ill prolly just stick with that then and have it regeared and locked. Im just concerned about draggin it since I will only be runnin 35s to start (prolly wont move up to 37/8s for a year after)

They have a non floating Sterling that came in earlier f-250's. F250HD and f350 all had the FF. The Sterling housing is pretty easy to spot so look for that an the massive hub on it.

no its a d60, came outta a van or something, or so the seller says. so I take it the sterling is a full-floater? I know nearly nothig about it cept that parts for it are more expensive. Ill prolly just stick with that then and have it regeared and locked. Im just concerned about draggin it since I will only be runnin 35s to start (prolly wont move up to 37/8s for a year after)

Yep some of the vans still have (or had until recently) Dana rears. The Quadrasteer trucks had a Dana 60 centersection in the rear, also. I don't know if GM even still markets that.

They have a non floating Sterling that came in earlier f-250's. F250HD and f350 all had the FF. The Sterling housing is pretty easy to spot so look for that an the massive hub on it.

Define early...the one I have comes from a 92 f-250 custom.

Also would it be completely reatarded to run this with 35s until I go bigger. Im goin up to 35s when I swap in the 351 from that truck and I know that will not get along with the d35

Define early...the one I have comes from a 92 f-250 custom. I'm guessing he's referring to the Sterlings that came in the light duty F-250s around 97 or 98. I think the ring gear is around 9.5". The light duty F-250s I'm referring to share the same bodies as the 97-02 or so F-150s. There's not much aftermarket support for this diff from what I've seen. The fact that is uses semi-float axles would be enough reason for me not to want one.

A Sterling from a 92 F-250 will be a 10.25 FF.

Also would it be completely reatarded to run this with 35s until I go bigger. Nah, IMO you'll be just fine. You won't have any less diff clearance than a 9" or D44 would on stock sized tires.

cool thanks for the great answers, I am glad to know that I have a decent axle and since it will be free I am ok with the added cost of a locker and gears for it. Good to know I had one part of my 351 swap settled :smokin: