Internal dimensions of all Dana 60 housings are the same. I would stay away from 60 HD housing cores, however. They have extra casting webs, thicker tubes and are unnecessarily heavy.

Make sure you don't buy a Dana 61 either. These are most often found in late '70s-early'80s Ford trucks and vans. Although they look like common Dana 60s, gear ratios higher than 3.54, or (conical looking) offset carriers are dead give-aways.

DrDiff....thanks for the info. by the way, how can i tell by looking at it if its a 60, a 60 HD, or a 61?? is the number cast into the webbing on the top or bottom side of the rearend?? thanks, CHIP

A Dana 60 HD has extra ribs running around the top of the casting. A Dana 61 is hard to identify externally. It does not have a 60 or 61 cast anywhere. Not all Dana 60s have a "60" casting either. Try to get a mid-late '60s casting Dana 60. They are a sure bet. The good 4-pinion Power-lock sure-grips were fairly common back then too.

If you want to retain a stock Mopar pinion offset, one axle must be 1 1/2" shorter than the other.

Doc....thanks for the info man, i preciate it!! one thing i am unsure of.....how can i identify the 61????

the owner pulls the parts at this junkyard, not myself. is there any particular year or model truck i can tell him to get the rear from and be certain itll be a Dana 60?? thanks, CHIP

If you find an unmarked housing, you must either decode the BOM number stamped on the housing or take it apart, to detrermine if it is a Dana 60 or 61. Of course, Any ratios faster than 3.54 are give-aways. Unfortunately, there are 3.54 and 4.10 geared Dana 61s also.

Any housing with a "60" cast into the bottom right side web will be a Dana 60.

I recommend late 60's International, Dodge and Ford 3/4 ton pickups. Make sure the housing you choose is wide enough to be cut to your desired dimension and offset.

Chip, I don't know if this helps you out but i crawled under a few at the local JY and a couple (ford and gmc) both were 3/4 tons and both had a "60" casted on the center section,i believe on the lower right hand side(on the web).Let's see if Dr. Diff can concour with this info.

Jeff
Ps they had no older Mopar trucks,Kinda funny HUH.
EDIT* there is also a "C 30255 on the upper right hand side*

Yes, look for the "60" cast in the lower right hand corner.