Jump to content

Company that can narrow a Dana 70


Recommended Posts

I have a Jeep friend that will give me Dana 70 axle from a Ford truck.  It has a tag number with the 4:10 gears I need.  I want take it completely apart and check the axle spline size.  I have an 81 CJ-5 with a Dana 60 I purchased in the 90s from Summer Brothers.  I am going to call them but anybody know who can cut and narrow the fullfloater housing for 1 piece axle with flanges for Jeep backing plate and axle shats with 5 on 4-1/2" circle?  Want to replace my original dana 35 before it breaks with chevy 350 motor and 12.5 x 33 x 15 tires..

10862703_715474618565837_267835477831981

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Many competent automotive speed machine shops. It is a relatively simple process and I have seen it done in ahome garage. I don't know where you are in Ohio but Moser Engineering in Indiana does a good job. Some axle shafts can be shortened and re-splined if necessary to avoid the price of custom shafts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's not much to it if you have a chop saw and a welder. Even if you can't weld all you need to do is measure the width you want and figure out how much to chop off either end to run stock axle shafts so you don't have to have custom ones made. From there you can take it to any competent welder to have them weld the ends on for you. Check with race car shops in your area, most should be able to do it for you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The other guys have you covered....I'll add........

 

I'd only have someone with a jig weld up one for me, I found a company in Nashville several months ago when I was considering a similar axle.

 

I just went with the 1 1/4" spacers for the rear.......if you need to you can take this into account when you narrow and bypass the spacers......nice thing about a custom axle.

 

I'd also have them consider rear disc before they weld up the Ford flanges.....may be able to accommodate KJ or other discs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

x2 on disk brakes. I wouldn't narrow a 60 just to run 33s though. You can do an 8.8 and they're almost the same width as a D35 and stronger than a factory D44.

Just cuz it's free doesn't make it a good deal. I'd go with a 8.8. Sucks tracking down disc brake parts and the parts are NOT cheap. 8.8s can be had from $50-250 complete.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

x2 on disk brakes. I wouldn't narrow a 60 just to run 33s though. You can do an 8.8 and they're almost the same width as a D35 and stronger than a factory D44.

Just cuz it's free doesn't make it a good deal. I'd go with a 8.8. Sucks tracking down disc brake parts and the parts are NOT cheap. 8.8s can be had from $50-250 complete.

 

 

 

He's running a SBC 350.

 

Yeah yeah yeah.......I know.

 

I'd still go with a bigger axle..........in his case this is likely a good move.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

60 on the left, 70 on the right to give you an idea of just how big they are. They are complete overkill for 33s whether you're running a locker or not. You could be running 42s and a 70 would still be unnecessary. Hell even if you narrow one I doubt you can find a stock length shaft that will fit in a 70 narrowed for an MJ.

 

49257d1406854498-dana-70-strip-chassis-r

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I ran a 5 on 4.5" D60 with 33's for a bunch of years, and that was complete overkill,

no way would I wheel a 70 with 33's.

 

Plus, what front axle would you use?

5 on 4.5" means a D30 front axle, or a slightly stronger D44 ft end 

neither is a good match for a 70 rear.

 

Do the 8.8, or XJ/MJ D44,

or even a 9".

If/when you do need a D60 or 70,

use a bigger wheel pattern so you can get a similarly strong front axle to match.

good luck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...