1980 F250 Dana 60 value/convertability

[Killer_Mopar]

I have a Dana 60 that I acquired some time ago and am interested to see whats it worth. The numbers on the case read 603943 and I found this description on the internet: 1980-81 F-250 3/4 TON 4X2, 4X4 PICK-UP - SEMI FLOAT. The axles are 8 lug and the overall length is ~57.5 from backing plate to backing plate. Can this rear end be converted to work with a Mopar? if so, how much would it take to convert? or should I just sell it to a truck guy and for what price? I imagine that even as a core, its worth something to someone....

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[jimynick]

Talk to Cooter, he had a thread about converting them and apparently it's not a hideous job. Cooters the man for this. 

[Cooter]

First thing just to MAKE SURE, is to pull one of the axles and physically look at the splines to make sure they look similar to the 8 3/4..If so being a 3/4 ton rear, it is so simple, it should be illeagal...The onlky thing you really gain in strength IMO is the center section though...All I wanted was the braggin' rights that I had a Dana 60 under my junk so I did it.

All you need to do is cut off the truck ends of the Dana and and old 8 3/4, measure three times, then reweld to the proper length you need to fit under whatever car you chose, then slide in the 8 3/4 axles, Brake backing plates, and drums from the 8 3/4 rear..

only drawback to this is the fact that there is NO PROVISION for a pinion snubber on the Dana 60 "truck" rear. You will have to custom fab one as I did usuing the old 8 3/4 unit. it isn't all that hard. Installing a rear quarter panel is harder IMO.....Good luck..See some of my threads on here for pics of my custom pinionm snubber.

[Killer_Mopar]

Thanks Cooter! I thought I read somewhere, it might have even been your thread, that it wasnt too terrible of a job to convert it. I will pull the axles this week and check the splines. Not sure if I want a Dana in the back of my car because its so damn heavy and I probably dont need it strength-wise - but it would be nice for bragging rights! If I do decide to go with this Dana Im not worried about the snubber provision, theres always cal tracs or I could even ditch the leaf springs altogether.....

Thanks again!

[Killer_Mopar]

Well I went to tear this thing apart and noticed something odd right away. It was missing bearing retainers or any way of removing the axles from the outside. So I figured it might have had C-clips and sure enough it did. I did a little research and I guess the early 80s F250 are the only Dana's to come with C-clips. The axles are 35 spline, so no chance of me reusing any of the internals. Im assuming that I can still use the rear to convert, but I think I am going to have to call a bunch of Dana specialist to find some answers.