Dana 70 swap

[tbone1004]

So a guy relatively local is selling a set of dana 70's from a 69 w300 for next to nothing. They appear to have warn locking hubs on them and are in good shape aside from needing a brake job. I've been trying to research this but it either has never been done or the searches are killing me with removing 70 and showing 60's everywhere...
So M37 track width is 62", the W300 I think is 65" track width for the 1969 where these are out of, which isn't too much of a change, especially considering you can play with the rim a bit. I wish it was one of the newer 70's. He's unsure of the gear ratio, but it should be 4.89 and I'm thinking it's probably worth massaging them in. Going to do the restomod bit to this truck since the fire dept. I bought it from has already done some questionable things to it and doing a full restore isn't feasible.

Any comments/suggestions would be welcome. I'm not against keeping the Budd rims, but I'm also not going to argue being able to go to a normal tire shop and have tires balanced and what not, as well as the common 8 bolt rims. Thanks all

[JimC]

Sounds like an easy swap.
What engine?

[k8icu]

I'm not sure on how the front axle on a Dana 70 hooks up to the springs. On a Dana 44F and 60 the passenger side spring perch is caste into the pumpkin housing. This causes the axle to sit off center to the frame with the stock leaf springs. (one side sticks out farther than the other.)
Most of us who have changed to the 60 style axle have had to move the passenger side leaf spring out to the outside of the frame. Again I don't know if that is true with the Dana 70 or not. If lucky you just may have to move the spring perches and that will be all. If it is like the the 60's then you'll have more work involved. I've never seen it be a simple bolt in swap before.

Also the rear axle if the diff is centered mounted that may affect your transfer case as the M37s diff is offset to the passenger side. So you will want to look at that also.

Not saying don't do it, just look at everything measure bunches to make sure everything lines up.

Joe

[tbone1004]

http://maine.craigslist.org/pts/3900395956.html

There's the axles in question.
Thanks for the suggestions

[k8icu]

From what I can see it is the same issue as any other Dana axle. Sits on the edge of diff. Most likely you will need to modify the front passenger leaf spring in order to get the axle centered and the truck tracking right. If you are going to do that why not look for a more modern front and rear dana 60 setup like from a CUCV that will give you front disk brakes?