How about narrowing a Dodge 9.25" Axle from the 70's

[jpfrogger]

From a previous post regarding Dakota axles a thought sprung to mind. Didn't the Dodge full size 1/2 ton trucks of the 70's and early 80's run a 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern and didn't some of them come with Chrysler's 9.25" rear axle? If so, it would'nt cost that much to narrow a rear axle housing and shafts thru Moser Engineering and they have to be cheap and easy to find under most any Ramcharger, Pickup or even a Dodge Van I would think. Any thoughts on using one of these as a donor axle?

[Oizarod115]

the chunk might hang to low... see dirty's thread he shaves his 60, alot of those big axles hang low but can be shaved up so that its not so bad, but you'd better be runnin big ole tires.

[Pete M]

Sounds like a whole lotta work for a half-ton axle. One question though, if you're going to get custom shafts, why does the current bolt pattern matter? Wouldn't you be looking in to a disk conversion of some kind? Seems to me you could pick whatever axle you want, narrow it, get custom shafts with the 5 on 4.5" pattern, and adapt Explorer disks to it. :hmm:

[jpfrogger]

Not custom axles. Just shorten and respline the originals, costs alot less. I think it's about $100 to shorten the housing and $75 or so to shorten both shafts. You are probably correct that it's too much effort for the Dodge 9.25" , but I would definately do it for a Semi-Float Dana 60 with stock 35 spline axleshafts!