Swapping in Dana 70's

9488 Views 63 Replies 12 Participants Last post by MoparMurdoc, Jan 29, 2004

MoparMurdoc

Discussion Starter · Jan 19, 2004

Well, I have a '78 1/2 ton Power Wagon with the wimpy 8.25 rear and I figure its time to upgrade the axles and tires. I found a guy who's got front and rear Dana70's with 4.88s out of a 74 Dodge for sale cheap so I figured, "Why not?"
So, what am I going to have to do to make this work on my truck? I know there's drum brakes all around so will I need to change to a different master cylinder (non-power?). I'm not sure if the rear is single or dual wheels, but their probably dual so what am I going to need to make them single? Also, will the steering setup be basically the same? And I know I'm going to have to get some 1 ton drive shafts and have them shortened, right?

1 - 20 of 64 Posts

CLRracer

· #2 · Jan 19, 2004

is the front 70 closed knuckle? if so i would pass on it. also, front drums suck, i would look at swaping to discs. if the rear is dual, then the front probably is too, and that might be a simple as removing a spacer to having them manchined down. and u will need new yokes on the tcase for the larger u joints that 1ton driveshafts run, or u will need custom ones.

Duane

MA$TER BLING!

· #3 · Jan 19, 2004

I agree with CL, pass on the front 70 if it's closed knuckle. The steering is different and the turning radius is terrible. The Tracta joints are about as strong as open 44's, last time someone checked on these there was very little bolt on upgrades for these front 70's. On the rear there are a couple of widths of 70's. Only way to be sure is with a tapemeasure, but you may be able to swap or machine the hubs like CL said.

MoparMurdoc

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 19, 2004

Is it possible to just get some wheels with a strange backspacing to work with the dually rear?

G

· #5 · Jan 19, 2004

no.... the axle will actually be wider than the truck

and the dana 70 front idea is out.... the 70 front was garbage

so id skip the whole idea really those rears just arent worth it..... if you find a 60 front and a 70 single wheel rear then hell yea.. but be carefull because some of the earlier 70 rears had some crap ass brakes on them. smaller than the ones on a 9.25.... others had brakes that would boggle the mind.....

G

· #6 · Jan 19, 2004

forgot, the dually rears also had different spring perch widths on them as well.......

Bogie

· #7 · Jan 19, 2004

I have a D60 rear & HD 44 front I would like to get rid of make me a offer there from a 78 W200

MoparMurdoc

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 20, 2004

What gears are in them Bogie?

Evildriver-3

· #9 · Jan 20, 2004

Probably not 4.88's, why do you need 70's though all you guy's do is get stuck, if i was you guy's i would worry about a winch before i worried about rears or anything else for that matter

Bogie

· #10 · Jan 20, 2004

I will have to check them again as I dont remember either 4.10's or 4.56's

BigT

· #11 · Jan 20, 2004

Evildriver-3 said:
Probably not 4.88's, why do you need 70's though all you guy's do is get stuck, if i was you guy's i would worry about a winch before i worried about rears or anything else for that matter

It never ends!

Evildriver-3

· #12 · Jan 20, 2004

BigT said:
It never ends!

The 70 ain't gonna help him next time he gets stuck, but the winch will

MoparMurdoc

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 20, 2004

Accually the D70 should help me to not get stuck because I'd also be putting locker(s) in and 38 inch swampers. With my 8.25 I can't run bigger tires or a locker because its a /6 axle. But I'm planning to do a winch soon as well so don't worry.

Evildriver-3

· #14 · Jan 20, 2004

Lol glad to hear your getting a winch, but deal with Bogie for the rears he has

RXT

· #15 · Jan 20, 2004

Even with those nasty closed knuckles and drum brakes on a front 70, there are still some advantages to using it;
Stronger housing,
Bigger axleshafts,
Bigger and stronger ring and pinion gears

Even though that axle has drums, with the right brake shoes, they can work just as good as the discs on a Dana 44 because the drums have a big diameter and the shoes are fairly wide.

The worse part is the knuckles. They are not much stronger than a Dana 44 and are more difficult to maintain.

The rear Dana 70 is the gem here. It's very strong and simple.

Ed

BigT

· #16 · Jan 20, 2004

I have a closed knuckle 70 in my truck now, and it works great. But!

I plan on 38's or 40's and it aint happnin with drums and that bullshit tract-joint sheezit....

I have been told by guys that run these in pullin trucks that they can handle 800hp...

But they takeoff the brakes and only go straight...Plus i know a guy who converts them to discs.Cuts off ends and welds on d60 C's and run all 60 hardware.........hes givin me 300 for my 70 when i put in my 60...

phoenix827

· #17 · Jan 20, 2004

Edited for more realism

Murdoc79RC said:
Accually the D70 should help me to not get stuck because I'd also be putting locker(s) in and 38 inch swampers. With the bigger tires and lockers I should be able to get stuck in deeper holes and farther out in the sticks! With my 8.25 I can't run bigger tires or a locker because its a /6 axle. But I'm planning to do a winch soon as well so don't worry. Either that or hire a crane service.

Evildriver-3

· #18 · Jan 20, 2004

phoenix827 said:
Edited for more realism

Murdoc79RC said:

Accually the D70 should help me to not get stuck because I'd also be putting locker(s) in and 38 inch swampers. With the bigger tires and lockers I should be able to get stuck in deeper holes and farther out in the sticks! With my 8.25 I can't run bigger tires or a locker because its a /6 axle. But I'm planning to do a winch soon as well so don't worry. Either that or hire a crane service.

Click to expand...

Lmao

G

· #19 · Jan 20, 2004

umm those front dana 70's are strong....... but they dont umm turn? or uhh stop? which you dont really care about for a pulling truck but... yea i like turning and stopping

BigT

· #20 · Jan 20, 2004

Bill...........well that was my point!

They have superior ring gear strength, 10.500 but are whimpy with the tracta joint setup. I was just saying they can handle alot but have there faults.

1 - 20 of 64 Posts

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