Dana 60 front end question

[ddarnell]

Will a 96 Dodge D60 work in my 76 W200? I assume it's a passenger side drop and I figure the steering is the same? Good price on one here locally, thinking about picking it up
Thanks

[dougdodgeman]

That axle is a driver's side drop, so it will not work unless you're transplanting the drivetrain or some other serious remodeling. If the '96 is a typo and you meant '86 then, that will work, bolt in, but I'm not sure about the steering since somewhere around '74 the p.s.gear box was mounted differently, but might have been the same on the axle side. Does your truck have a Dana 44 or a 60 currently? Doug

[ddarnell]

It currently has a D44. Looking to upgrade my GVW and get disc brakes. Thanks for the info, I did not know Dodge had a drivers drop. Is there a set of years I should be looking for?
David

[712edf]

All 94 & later are driver's side drop.

Passenger drop Dana 60F were introduced in 1975. 75-79 were full time with drive flanges. Later 60 fronts had selectable locking hubs, 2 different designs (internal & external). Also dually trucks were configured different than SRW trucks.
All had disc brakes. I'm inclined to say virtually all had power steering/brakes too.
Trucks with Dana 60 used a different master cylinder than Dana 44 equipt trucks.

Bucky

[ddarnell]

So any pre 94 D60 should work with the coresponding master cylinder and proportioning valve?

[KRB64]

A '76 D44 should already have disc brakes.

[712edf]

So any pre 94 D60 should work with the coresponding master cylinder and proportioning valve?

It would still work with your MC, but the 60 did user one with larger bore.
If your truck still has the full time t-case then a Dana 60 from after 79 will necessitate you keep the hubs locked at all times.

Bucky

[rxinhed]

Looking to upgrade my GVW...

Unless you have the vehicle certified by an engineer, go through the necessary Federal tests, etc. you're not going to gain GVW points. With a D60, you'll enhance the vehicle performance, but won't have anything different at the scales. The vehicle rating is pretty much a fixed thing in the world outside the mind of the person fixing it up. Looking out for you and the general public.

[Alxj64]

Unless you have the vehicle certified by an engineer, go through the necessary Federal tests, etc. you're not going to gain GVW points. With a D60, you'll enhance the vehicle performance, but won't have anything different at the scales. The vehicle rating is pretty much a fixed thing in the world outside the mind of the person fixing it up. Looking out for you and the general public.

In Virginia you can request a title change and a scale rating and then up your GVW simply by having a state trooper look at it.

[rxinhed]

In Virginia you can request a title change and a scale rating and then up your GVW simply by having a state trooper look at it.

Given your statement, you can transform a Jeep CJ5 into a 10K pound GVW vehicle by adding 2 D60s? Our state troopers don't have the knowledge for that decision. I just don't see it.

My '74 - '77 W200 and W300 trucks have different frame, different frame modulus designs. The 75 Adventurer Clubcab with 2 D60s had the same GVW as my 76 standard cab W200 with D44/D60 at 8K pounds.

For driver peace of mind, I totally agree with going to the D60 and larger brake set.

[712edf]

I think the OP just meant he wanted the extra weight carrying capacity (or strenght) the 60 offers over the 44. I don't think he intended on an actual certified higher GVW.

Bucky

[rxinhed]

Expressly stated in the third post, second sentence by the OP:

"...looking to upgrade my GVW..."

To me, this implies certification.

[712edf]

Well alrighty then.

Bucky

[ddarnell]

No "certification" sought. Perhaps a poor choice of words on my part. Looking to increase my practical load carrying ability, as well as increase my braking ability.

[Gordon Maney]

How about 1-ton springs?