RETUBING a FORD D60

[CtChevy]

OK whos doing it, who has tried it, who was sucessful and who wasnt. I am pretty confident guy at this shit but never tried it. Looks like i am goin to be picking up a HP 60 and what to retube it for my chevy. I have narrowed 9 inches but i had fixtures and a guy that knew what he was doin looking over my shoulder. SO How hard is it, what kind of special tools do you need. I work in a shop so i have access to a large press, 220 welder mig or tig and yes i can weld, torches and plasma cutter. Just looking for a little insite in to trying this on my own. Just dont feel like paying someone to do it. Oh yeah and I did search in here and couldnt really find that much info, and i checked the D60 bible again not enough info on this. but you guys are welcome to flame away because i am sure i will hear it anyways.

[CtChevy]

Originally Posted by CtChevy

OK whos doing it, who has tried it, who was sucessful and who wasnt. I am pretty confident guy at this shit but never tried it. Looks like i am goin to be picking up a HP 60 and what to retube it for my chevy. I have narrowed 9 inches but i had fixtures and a guy that knew what he was doin looking over my shoulder. SO How hard is it, what kind of special tools do you need. I work in a shop so i have access to a large press, 220 welder mig or tig and yes i can weld, torches and plasma cutter. Just looking for a little insite in to trying this on my own. Just dont feel like paying someone to do it. Oh yeah and I did search in here and couldnt really find that much info, and i checked the D60 bible again not enough info on this. but you guys are welcome to flame away because i am sure i will hear it anyways.

OK so I did some more searching and found some info still not alot but a little, pretty much stuff i already knew. like cut the long tube down to the length you need and retube the long side, cut the plug welds and press the tube out. I plan on using reid inners and outers for a Chevy. But is it really worth all the work and Honestly how hard is it really gettin a lot of mixed info

[Mechanos]

Since you're going to replace the tube on the side you remove the tube from, the easiest way to remove the plug welds is probably the torch. Just blow a hole through the plug weld all the way through the axle tube and all. Burn out the entire plug weld and then clean up the edges of the holes with a die grinder or the like before pressing the tube out. Press the new tube in and reweld new plug welds in the holes you burned out. I'd personally go one better and weld the tube to the center section around the entire circumference of the tube.

I'd let the tube run a little long and then cut it to length once it's installed into the center section.

[CtChevy]

ford uses a spring pad on the tube, now is the center goin to clear ok if i do this on my chevy?

[Mechanos]

Originally Posted by CtChevy

ford uses a spring pad on the tube, now is the center goin to clear ok if i do this on my chevy?

Don't know... I'm not there. Got a tape measure?

[CtChevy]

just thought someone mite know. I dont even have the axle yet just trying to figure out if it will be worth it, axles are goin to 600 buck plus another 200 in gas to get them. then the time and money to build it. already have a 14 bolt rear, i know it would be easier to just go buy a chevy front but it wouldnt be a HP. i was just trying to get some feed back on if its really worth the work for the HP housing.

[Grumpy_old_fart]

why not just use a different transfer case and live with the ford drivers drop housing?

[CtChevy]

Originally Posted by Grumpy_old_fart

why not just use a different transfer case and live with the ford drivers drop housing?

i am goin to run a th400 and a dubbler i guess i could get a gm 203 and get a ford 205. honestly didnt really think about it much

[Grumpy_old_fart]

Originally Posted by CtChevy

i am goin to run a th400 and a dubbler i guess i could get a gm 203 and get a ford 205. honestly didnt really think about it much

lol

i have a d44 hp front with radius arms.
i have a th400.
I have a married ford nP205 case.
whats the problem?

[the_experience3006]

Wait...you were already planning on running a doubler?

Options:

1. Run TH-400 with a Chevy 205 doubler. Retube the axle at great expense both monetarily and in time.

2. Run TH-400 with a Ford 205 doubler. Leave the axle alone and spend $0 extra.

I know what I'd do, but that's just me.

[trkklr77]

you are talking about $1000 in the c/knuckles alone,

how much are you paying for the axle?

how tall are you?

do you realy need h/p?

if you are going to go through this much effort would it be easier/smarter to simply rotate a chevy to better *'s

[CtChevy]

Originally Posted by trkklr77

you are talking about $1000 in the c/knuckles alone,

how much are you paying for the axle?

how tall are you?

do you realy need h/p?

if you are going to go through this much effort would it be easier/smarter to simply rotate a chevy to better *'s

I have 5 inches of lift in the front and running 39.5 iroks. yeah this is what i am trying to get a good answer on is it really worth all the work. I mean i would be nice to have but do i really need it. and you are talking about cutting the inners on a chevy and rotating the housing, now how do you mount the leafs since the pad is on the housing?

[N_Rod]

Make sure you brace the center section when you go to press the new tube in. I broke a HP center pressing in a tube. Since then I made a bar that has pins that fit the holes used for spreading the case. It also bolts to the differential cover bolt holes to hold it steady.
If I ever do another, I am going to install an old carrier and shim it up tight.

[dahoyle]

Originally Posted by CtChevy

i am goin to run a th400 and a dubbler i guess i could get a gm 203 and get a ford 205. honestly didnt really think about it much

Yep that's how I conduct all of my business. Honestly don't think that much about it.



Have you considered coming up with a plan? That's always a good start when you are modifying a vehicle.


An important part of a good plan, is thinking about it. Why don't you spend some time on that, and then come back.

Whether or not something is "worth it" is not a tech question, and you will get as many different answers as you get people responding. The question is, Is it worth it to you, and you are the only one who can answer that.

as to the rest of your questions, you apparently suck at searching, because it's all been asked and answered before.

[b454rat]

Got a doubler for sale, Ford 205.... can deliver......

Originally Posted by CtChevy

i am goin to run a th400 and a dubbler i guess i could get a gm 203 and get a ford 205. honestly didnt really think about it much

[dahoyle]

Originally Posted by b454rat

Got a doubler for sale, Ford 205.... can deliver......

Sent you a PM.

[trkklr77]

you dont need a h/p.

want an h/p is a different story.

you are shorter than 90% of the trail rigs running stock chevy axles with zero problems, like me.

[BigOl'Flatbed]

some axle shims may have the same effect and work the same. i got 12 inch springs with some shims and i got no problems

[Grumpy_old_fart]

Originally Posted by BigOl'Flatbed

some axle shims may have the same effect and work the same. i got 12 inch springs with some shims and i got no problems

that thars some funnay shit rite thar...

[rcurrier44]

You are going to want the heavy front output shaft from the Ford 205 anyway...

[CtChevy]

i ended up finding a chevy 60 closer to my house and for the same money so it all good thanks for the input though

[BigOl'Flatbed]

Originally Posted by Grumpy_old_fart

that thars some funnay shit rite thar...

haha yeah i kinda ment that in a sarcastic way. but i dont have to bad of an angle with my doubler

[Grumpy_old_fart]

I can see where the doubler would help..

[BigOl'Flatbed]

yea