a body rear end ? 8 3/4 vs dana 60
'67 was the last year for D44's in the rear on the Ford trucks. After that it was Ford 9, D60, or bigger (on the heavy duty trucks).
The '68+ 3/4 ton trucks had full floating axles, but most of them were 30 spline just like the 8 3/4's. I've seen a couple of Ford truck D60's converted for Mopars. You cut the Ford full floating housing ends off, set the tubes up to be the right length so you end up with axles the same length as the 8 3/4's were, and weld on Mopar car housing ends. Obviously you would need a jig to keep everything straight and aligned, but if you have that (or access to one) you can convert a truck D60 over pretty easily. Especially for an A-body, because the it's a narrower rear. For the E-bodies you have to be pretty careful otherwise they end up too short after you cut the Ford housing ends off. Or, of course, you could always just buy custom length axles. The gentleman I quoted below just cut down the D60 and reused his 8 3/4 axles, and had less than $300 into the swap. I can still get truck D60's out of the wrecking yards here for about $170.
The truck housings don't have pinion snubbers, but there are ways around that too.
This post (from another site) shows some of the details of how to do it...
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=79213.15
'67 was the last year for D44's in the rear on the Ford trucks. After that it was Ford 9, D60, or bigger (on the heavy duty trucks).
The '68+ 3/4 ton trucks had full floating axles, but most of them were 30 spline just like the 8 3/4's. I've seen a couple of Ford truck D60's converted for Mopars. You cut the Ford full floating housing ends off, set the tubes up to be the right length so you end up with axles the same length as the 8 3/4's were, and weld on Mopar car housing ends. Obviously you would need a jig to keep everything straight and aligned, but if you have that (or access to one) you can convert a truck D60 over pretty easily. Especially for an A-body, because the it's a narrower rear. For the E-bodies you have to be pretty careful otherwise they end up too short after you cut the Ford housing ends off. Or, of course, you could always just buy custom length axles. The gentleman I quoted below just cut down the D60 and reused his 8 3/4 axles, and had less than $300 into the swap. I can still get truck D60's out of the wrecking yards here for about $170.
The truck housings don't have pinion snubbers, but there are ways around that too.
This post (from another site) shows some of the details of how to do it...
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=79213.15
Bout the only way you can slide the 8 3/4 axles in to "Test" the theory would be to cut off the "Truck" housing ends...Otherwise, the Dana will be too wide for the 8 3/4 axles to slide in....Basicaqlly, this swap involves more than I led on, but like I said, if you have ANY mechanical ability youi can swap 'em...
First, Cut the housing. Measure three times and cut once here..Gotta get it right.
Next, find out if you can, or will have to MAKE a "Thrust block"(piece in the middle of an open 8 3/4 that kinda slides back and forth on the pin to allow the axle end play to be adjusted.) as the Dana 60 had the full floating bearings and no need for this.
After that, next would be either cutting you old 8 3/4 housing, or any 8 3/4 housing from about 1965-up for the "Car" ends that will allow your "Car" backing plates to be bolted on...
next would be sliding in your stock or aftermarket your choice, axles and set the end play on the bearings.
next, go have some fun...
Here's my Conversion Pinion Snubber off an 8 3/4 reworked to fit a Dana 60..
In this pic notice the lack of the thrust block? (No slider on the pin?)
Now, notice the slider on the pin in the 8 3/4?
In this pic. You can clearly see one side has the "Car" end welded on and one side doesn't...
