I bought a front Dana 60 from a '90 Dodge SRW 1 ton. I pulled up the Bill of Material #610342-1ga and the Spicer website says it's a 61. I didn't know 61's were used in a front application. It has 3.07 gears and I want to go to 5.13 am I screwed <IMG SRC="smilies/mad.gif" border="0"> ????

Regards

MT
<IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

yep your pooched

Originally posted by GearMan:
<STRONG>yep your pooched</STRONG>

Bwwwaaaahahaha - Gearman that is the funniest comment - thanks for the morning laugh <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

I talked to Dana Corp about a year ago and was told there is no such thing as a Dana61 front axle.

It is definately a 61 got it right from the Spicer Expert website http://www2.dana.com/expert/wc.dll?DSD~deabill~2~

type in a BOM of 610342 and 61 pops up with a maximum ring gear of 3.42 geez... I am really feeling sick to my stomach... Guess I will be searching for a 60 housing to use.

Regards

MT

you got the importent stuff, the knuckles out. Now you can use whatever center you want and either go brute strength or strength/clearance

[ 10-03-2001: Message edited by: NE-RokToy ]

I would be getting my money back for misrepresentation of the product.

call sandy cone 805-239-2663 he will have the dana 61 parts you need.

Sandy makes a spool that lets you run 60 gears in the 61. The only difference is that the ring rear mounting surface is moved over to allow for the big fat pinion of the 3 series gears. It is also possible to make a ring gear spacer to allow the use of 60 gears in a 61, on a Detroit or whatever diff you want. I don't think anyone is selling this spacer now, but I think Sandy can at least set you up with the dimensions you need. He doesn't answer his phone much, cause he is the nicest guy you will ever meeet and could talk all day, but like camo said he knows what you need to know.

Just got off the phone with him....

SANDY is THE MAN!!!!


Regards

MT
<IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by MT:
<STRONG>Just got off the phone with him....

SANDY is THE MAN!!!!


Regards

MT
<IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

So let us in on the info please? <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Whoa, after seeing this post I drove 30 miles to go check my front D60. Mine is off a 93. I never checked the ID tag since I bought it, but had to make sure. Mine was #610405 w/3.54 gears,so mine is a D60, glad I know now before I ordered everything . I was also told there were only D61 rears. Then I got a copy of this Dana/spicer BOM list too and noticed the front D61's. Hope everything works for you. Good to know people on this board. I have saved a lot of pain on Pirate.

According Sandy the Dana 61 was developed during the gas crunch era to allow the use of super aggressive gear sets like <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> 3.07 and 3.54. The result was a Dana 60 axle identical in every way except the center casting moved the pinion mounting over 7/16" to allow for the massive pinion gear. They were first used in Fords (rear app)and later Chrysler used them in 1 tons and D600 & 700's. The ring gear and carrier are the same as the 60 and higher gears can be used with the appropriate custom spacer. This would have to be machined, according to Sandy.

Thanks guys I appreciate the heads up...

BTW if you find a 61 rear the spindles are the same size as the 70's so 35 spline axles fit no problem.

Regards

MT
<IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by MT:
<STRONG>BTW if you find a 61 rear the spindles are the same size as the 70's so 35 spline axles fit no problem.

Regards

MT
<IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0"></STRONG>
This is true!!

The 61 rears also use fatter tubes so if you are a baja kind of guy you are less likely to bend a housing with a 61 than a 60. That's why Sandy builds them.

MT I've got you a new chevy housing today. Give me a call at the shop when you get a chance.

ok im pickin up a dana 61 from a older ford van, but 3.73 gears where avalible for them from spicer. but any way does any one know how much the spool is that sandy sells? im gonn give him a call tomarrow too.

man all these axles im gettin ive lost my mind

[ 11-02-2001: Message edited by: BigRebel ]

one of my spicer books shows that spicer made a 4.56 gear set for the 61's, part # 706661-8x

but i also couldn't find that bill of mat. 3 in my book also.........

I've got that same 61F out of a 90 dodge W250 4x4.

Did sandy know how thick that ring gear spacer needed to be? I had heard someone guessing it was like 3/4" thick. If from Sandy's info the pinion is only moved over 7/16", then that would seem more likely the correct thickness of the spacer.

Anyone made this spacer yet? What did it end up being?

I'm thinking of using the munched original 3.07 ring gear out of my 61F and machining it into a spacer and enlarging the bolt holes pending I can cut through it on the lathe.

Originally posted by cj5driver
I've got that same 61F out of a 90 dodge W250 4x4.

I'm thinking of using the munched original 3.07 ring gear out of my 61F and machining it into a spacer and enlarging the bolt holes pending I can cut through it on the lathe.

GOOD LUCK! You will not enjoy making your ring gear into a spacer.....

I expect it to be a battle of rockwell proportions but it is worth a try since the 3.07 gear is trashed anyway. If it doesn't want to be cut, something else will get chucked up instead. It may also be a trial and error approach, starting thick, and slowly turning the spacer thinner and thinner until within range of the bearing shims.

hey dumb forks :flipoff2: Reider racing makes a ring gear spacer. i believe its only $45 bucks.

Gotta watch out for those 61's. 'Course, they are easy to spot since the number 61 is cast right into most of the cases!

Dodge CTD's of the late 80's and early nineties run these in the front almost exclusively.

Andy

you can find em under most Excursions too.
HP, thick tubes, and vacuum activated hubs - plumb em independently and you can have front right, front left or both on demand from the dash. So, in theory eliminating the need for a locking diff, just weld or spool it I think I'll try it.