Dana 60 into 94 explorer pics/info

[68Mercury250Ranger]

I am planning to build a different offroader for this spring.
I have one 4dr xlt explorer that runs great but rotten from the rear doors back.

I have a 79 Dana 60 with 4.09s and a detroit locker already in.
a dana 70 with powerlock and 5.13s , and I have a new set of 5.13 gears 60-7F still in the box. have good 36" belted TSLs for it on 8bolt 16.5s

wondering who has done a solid 60 in front of a ranger or explorer in TTB 35 vintage.

Tips ,opinions from people who have actually done it would be awesome. Opinions from people who haven't not required but may be humourous.

I only have experience with fullsize Fords for offroad trucks, thats why I already have the proven axles.

Thanks in advance

 

[LittleBigFoot]

The TTB to SA swap isn't as bad as a full out IFShit to SA swap.

Check the tech library.

You plannin on leafs or coils?

 

[1badexplorer]

if you plan to run coils, You can use the same set up that was in my 93 eploder. I actually used the whole frame instead of fabbing mounts for both motorand trans also. But mine had 79 bronco 351, 4spd, 205, and 60 rear. For the front I took the wedges off a 76 and older style 44 and welded them to my 60,then i just put it in using the stock raduis arms and track ber from the 79. If every one uses the this ame set of raduis arms, mounts, and brackets to swap in a 44 I don't see why you couldn't use them on a 60. Asfer as steering, I originally had a dana 44 crossover steering just lengthed on both ends of the tierod (a 60 is about 4" wider than a 44) and used it, but astock power steering won't turn 44s so I went full hydo but you shouldn't have a need for that. If you do leafs (which is what I just did on my new wheeler), you may run into problems (like I did) being you must use the cast on spring perch that on the 60. I out my springs halfway under the frame and I had to fab up some new custom hangers and shakels, I can post pics of my new hangers if you decide to run leafs sorry I do not have any pics of my ale when it was coils but thats a pretty straight forward setup.

 

[Evan]

Just a thought - The swap isn't worth it if you're only gonna run 36" rubber. You're better off selling the 60 and 70. With a fraction of the money and a little work you can build the Dana 35 that's in there to turn 36s all day long locked, and flex good enough to net 1000+ on the RTI.

As for the 8.8, that thing is just about bulletproof for turning 36s.

If you still wanna do the swap, look in the Tech library. The overall process is similar to swapping a 44 in, and there are many articles on that. Do you plan on leaves or springs?

 

[68Mercury250Ranger]

I was thinking of using the front axle and brackets from a 78 Bronco, for the front. Reinforced the idea going through the tech section. then welding on radius arm C brackets to the 60 once I'm ready.

the rear would just be leafs .

As for the strength of a 35 and the 8.8 I'm not that convinced that they would take the traction of 36s......

I have the 60 and 70 anyway, and I have never even blown a ujoint out of them even in fullsize Fords

My last offroader was a 77.5 supercab shortbed 60 detroit 70 detroit rear 4.10s, skyjacker 6" leafs drop pitman, drop draglink, and 38/16.5/12.5 belted. tweaked 351m 4spd/205.. It went everywhere the smaller trucks went, but I wasn't really worried about body damage

thanks for the input guys.

1badexplorer: any pics of the 60 coil in that explorer?

cheers for mud and rocks

 

[1badexplorer]

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1badexplorer: any pics of the 60 coil in that explorer?

No sorry I cut all the brackets off and switched back to leafs. It was a pretty easy install though, I cut off the shock mounts and pass spring perch. Then just put the wedges on the axle and set the proper pinion angle with it in the truck. Then I just pulled everything out and welded it all in. If you search on google images, there are a few articles from a fullsize bronco forum that gves details and pics of this instal, thats where I got the idea originally. But after a few years of wheeling it I have realized that stock c bushings, raduis arm bushings and track bar do not hold up to 44s unless ulike to change the bushings every 2rides.

 

[68Mercury250Ranger]

I will have to check out some more install pics.

44s bring a whole new torque and twist to your suspension. I only ever ran 38s before with nothing under 4.10, and I can't say I ever had trail breakage.
One of my buddies had some 42 swampers and that thing was amazing. but never on a coil spring/cbushing front. Trac bar bushings always seem to be a problem.
myself I liked strong axles/shafts/lockers,, and not too much power.

hopefully I can get the explorer into the shop soon, we are burried with snow right now and nothing is mobile. Broken down loader tractor in shop tonite. Dad fried the starter after running it out of fuel clearing snow

I'm the family mechanic

 

[1badexplorer]

Yea I know what you mean, I've got a list of projects a mile long, along with my normal job and school. 44s deffinatly tear up some parts. I've got piles of broken stuff to prove it. But when everything holds together it's basically point and go

 

[4x4junkie]

As for the strength of a 35 and the 8.8 I'm not that convinced that they would take the traction of 36s......

Probably depends on what kind of a driver you are. Pedal-to-the-metal, balls-out romping on it, no, definitely not. Careful driving with some finesse, no problem.

If you have the 60 & 70, no reason not to use 'em. You likely won't break them no matter how you drive on 36s.

Check in the "Xtreme Suspensions" and "RBVs Under Construction" sections, there should be at least a few SAS threads by users here that used a D60 (This one was still on the 1st page in Xtreme).