husky410ohio Posted December 28, 2014 Posted December 28, 2014 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..
Incommando Posted December 28, 2014 Posted December 28, 2014 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.
Motorcharge Posted December 28, 2014 Posted December 28, 2014 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.
husky410ohio Posted December 28, 2014 Author Posted December 28, 2014 Thanks motocharge and Incommando. I am in Piqua, Ohio and it looks like Moser is about an hour away and I could drive it there and save shipping charge. I am going to call my friend and pick it up. Thanks
Jeep Driver Posted December 28, 2014 Posted December 28, 2014 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.
Motorcharge Posted December 29, 2014 Posted December 29, 2014 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.
xjrev10 Posted December 29, 2014 Posted December 29, 2014 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.
Jeep Driver Posted December 29, 2014 Posted December 29, 2014 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.
Motorcharge Posted December 29, 2014 Posted December 29, 2014 Dana 70* I'd feel less bad about a 70, but I wouldn't run a 70 in a Jeep, let alone on just 33s. Differential on a 70 is massive and going to knock the hell out of everything offroad on such small tires.
Incommando Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 I had Moser narrow and weld 4-link brackets on two D60's for drag cars and was very satisfied. But I will add that was in '93 & '96.
Motorcharge Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 I had Moser narrow and weld 4-link brackets on two D60's for drag cars and was very satisfied. But I will add that was in '93 & '96. I could see that considering the amount of torque you're dealing with.
Incommando Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 Running 9.7 seconds @ 140 MPH I wanted the crap right..... :thumbsup:
husky410ohio Posted December 31, 2014 Author Posted December 31, 2014 I plan to add a Detroit locker in the future and in the past I have twisted axles on the street. The first thing I want do is pick it up a take it apart and see what it looks like.
Motorcharge Posted January 1, 2015 Posted January 1, 2015 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.
benjy_26 Posted January 1, 2015 Posted January 1, 2015 You'll probably have less ground clearance with a D70 and 33's than the stock 225's had with a D35. Sure, it's strong, but dragging the center section over every rock on the trail has got to get old after a while.
husky410ohio Posted January 7, 2015 Author Posted January 7, 2015 Anyone know what the WMS to WMS measurement is for the comanche dana 35 rear?
jpnjim Posted January 8, 2015 Posted January 8, 2015 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
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