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Old 05-25-2013, 10:38 AM   #1
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Rebuild my D60 FF,or buy D70 SRW and rebuild?

I need to decide if upgrading to a SRW D70 on my 95 E350 is worth it for towing a 8k TT. 15k lbs combined.

Did ford offer a SRW D70 in a E350 with 35 spline axles and bigger bearings? And what differences are there compared to a Dana 60 with upgraded 35 spline axles? The larger case and tubes weight rating? All of the D70's except the HD used the same carrier/gears and bearings the D60 did from what Iv read.
D70U, 70B, 70HD

Which ever Dana I decide to use, if not equipped with, will get a complete overhaul and selectable locker on 35 spline axles.

Thanks

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Old 05-25-2013, 11:01 AM   #2
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Re: Rebuild my D60 FF,or buy D70 SRW and rebuild?

I just got my D70 SRW FF Air Locker installed. D70 Ring Gear is 10.5 compared to 9.75 in the D60. The original Axles were 32 spline in the D70 and I beleive 35 spline in the Semi Floater D60. I upgraded to the 35 spline Chrome Moly as long as I was having to buy the Air Locker. Just shock mounts and it's going in. The D70 came out of an E350 SRW Box Van and is only 1.5" wider than Stock with spacers. Be careful as to the rear clearance as I only have 1.25" clearance behind the cover to the AGM Battery Box. The size of that Ring gear is impressive when you take the Cover off.

Paul
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Old 05-25-2013, 04:11 PM   #3
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Re: Rebuild my D60 FF,or buy D70 SRW and rebuild?

Quote:
Originally Posted by oldbonesclimber
The D70 came out of an E350 SRW Box Van and is only 1.5" wider than Stock with spacers.
Paul
Thanks Paul

I was searching for one of those rare 72" wms-wms D70's and found one for $800 3 hrs away. But after measuring my van, decided I didn't want my wheels sticking out almost 3" more per side (no flairs), so will stick with the stock 66.5" axle width. I wont mess with semi-float.

questioning a D70 swap because the D70U will have the same 9.75 ring and same bearings except for one larger pinion head bearing.
When you get into the 70B, you get the larger pinion head bearing. And then when you get a 70HD, you get the larger pinion head bearing and the Dana 80 sized carrier bearings.
Another problem is finding one. The D70 housing was still listed as a D60 so it has a D60 number. The 60 and 70 sharing the same cover is misleading to someone (junk guy) in a hurry.

So the question I have is did ford equip any SRW E350's with D70HD's ? Maybe only the super duties?
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Old 02-10-2015, 03:49 PM   #4
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Re: Rebuild my D60 FF,or buy D70 SRW and rebuild?

Hey, its been a while, and during that time I completely rebuilt the cummins engine in my E350. I also installed a smaller exhaust housing and eliminated 3 elbows from the hot pipe.. Relocated the egt probe etc etc..

Anyway, thing runs strong, but I'm still missing this D70HD I really want and I could get stuck in wet grass with my tough cummins van.. lol

Seriously though.. Someone please give me a lead on one of these elusive axles please! Or a parts guru who can find me one. Because I need to sit or get off the pot regarding re-gearing and installing a Ox locker in my measly old D60FF namely before august.

Thanks!
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Old 02-10-2015, 05:14 PM   #5
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Re: Rebuild my D60 FF,or buy D70 SRW and rebuild?

I'm in the middle of an axle swap myself. I found a FF D60 in Phoenix using http://www.car-part.com/ which indexes the stock of most major auto-wreckers. And you probably already know this but it's the cutaways that have the D70s. Although Ford apparently put some D70s or at least the housing with D60 internals on some of the axles installed as D70s.

Anyhow, if you don't already know this as well you can use the Dana catalog to ID which years the vans or cutaways had a D70 and then search the link above for the BOM (Bill of Materials) #s that might be a D70. http://www2.dana.com/pdf/X510-2.pdf

Many of the 4x4 guys actually prefer the D60 because of the smaller and smooth bottom differential housing. Less likely to get rock strikes and the true enthusiasts that care about such things will install a D70 ring and internals by doing a little grinding.
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Old 02-10-2015, 07:31 PM   #6
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Re: Rebuild my D60 FF,or buy D70 SRW and rebuild?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeH
Anyhow, if you don't already know this as well you can use the Dana catalog to ID which years the vans or cutaways had a D70 and then search the link above for the BOM (Bill of Materials) #s that might be a D70. http://www2.dana.com/pdf/X510-2.pdf

Many of the 4x4 guys actually prefer the D60 because of the smaller and smooth bottom differential housing. Less likely to get rock strikes and the true enthusiasts that care about such things will install a D70 ring and internals by doing a little grinding.
Thanks!

I'm not sure why I would need the possible BOM's of D70's or how that would help my search. I'm guessing when I finally do find one, the search engine will tell me but Im not sure if it would tell me which D70.

Installing D70 gears in my D60 perked my ears, but I'm not sure how to find those parts. Do you have a link to a project like that?

And if I decided to get a Ox locker for my D60FF. Could I install a D70 ox locker and gears?
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Old 02-10-2015, 08:45 PM   #7
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Re: Rebuild my D60 FF,or buy D70 SRW and rebuild?

Quote:
Originally Posted by rebar
Installing D70 gears in my D60 perked my ears, but I'm not sure how to find those parts. Do you have a link to a project like that?

And if I decided to get a Ox locker for my D60FF. Could I install a D70 ox locker and gears?
I'm not sure about the Ox but here's the vendor for the D70 ring gear and pinion fitted in a D60. http://www.jantz4x4.com//jantz.php?p=detail&pro=jana_76

Here's a write-up on the install. http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/axles-ti ... -60-a.html
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Old 02-11-2015, 11:54 AM   #8
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Re: Rebuild my D60 FF,or buy D70 SRW and rebuild?

http://www.drivingline.com/2013/08/jant ... tial-kits/
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Old 02-15-2015, 01:41 PM   #9
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Re: Rebuild my D60 FF,or buy D70 SRW and rebuild?

I appreciate that..

One other question..

How high of a lift does a 95 E350 need for a centered truck axle to clear the gas tank? I'm pretty sure the sterling's Chris sells are centered but work with the lift.
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Old 03-02-2015, 05:55 PM   #10
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Re: Rebuild my D60 FF,or buy D70 SRW and rebuild?

I went the SRW Dana 70 route on Fat Gal. She routinely tows a 12,000 flat bed trailer w/ tractor. This load destroyed the original differential. It appears that the limited slip components failed first and the resulting steel bits took out the differential gears.

The Dana 70 is rated for 7800 pounds load vs. 6600 pounds for the originally installed semi-floating Dana 60. The axle that I found was off of a box van. It measured 72-3/4" WMS to WMS. This results in a track 2-3/4" wider than the original Dana 60 with the "Correct Track" spacers. With fender flares installed it looks fine under the van. The semi-floating Dana 60 with the wheel spacers was a horrible idea as witnessed by members that have suffered snapped axles. The wheels are already cantilevered out on the axles away from the bearings with the semi-floating design. Adding the spacers almost doubles the bending arm. The switch to the full-floating Dana 70 eliminates the entire problem.

Installation was simple. One of the parking brake cables had to be replaced since the wrecking yard cut them. One of the Dana 60 cables was transferable. Everything else just bolted in.

While at the project I also swapped out the springs. I bought the spring set off of the same donor van that provided the axle. A local spring shop added one full length leaf and re-arched the pack. This allowed elimination of the 4" lift block and wedge that Sportsmobile had installed. The van now sits level and doesn't need any band-aids to correct the drive shaft angle.

Searching http://www.partshotlines.com or http://www.automotix.com ought to turn up a suitable axle. There are enough dead cube vans around by now that finding a donor shouldn't be too hard. Expect to pay $700 to $800 for the axle and springs.

This was one modification that I have been totally satisfied with.

Terry
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