Super 60's

[Huckit36]

Curious if anyone knows or has a set of super 60's. Looking to pick up a set for my next winter mods. Ive checked pick n pull with no luck. Thanks for any help and advice. -Aaron

 

[DirtDonk]

Just out of curiosity (and to figure out why I can't place it) just what is a Super-60?
Presumably a Dana 60, but is it out of a certain vehicle only?

Paul

 

[BUCKWILD]

Look at Car-Part.com, should be able to find some. You looking for the true super 60 f450-550 front ends or 250-350's.
Paul they are 05 up ford superduty front 60's

 

[1sicbronconut]

Just out of curiosity (and to figure out why I can't place it) just what is a Super-60?
Presumably a Dana 60, but is it out of a certain vehicle only?

Paul

F450/F550 size axles.

 

[DirtDonk]

Thanks guys. Thought it might be something like that.
Do people usually use them with the 8-on-170 bolt pattern wheels, or are there conversions to 8-on-6.5? Or are the 450 and up axles using the old bolt pattern (or even bigger?) still?

Thanks again.

Paul

 

[Huckit36]

From my understanding they are 05-16 f450/550 housings. Bigger shafts and brakes. Better knuckles I believe with a better turn radius. Should be damn near indestructible without spending a bunch more money on them as I understand it. I’m sure there’s more to it though. Bolt pattern is a good question Paul, I’ll have to look into that some more.

 

[nvrstuk]

Paul knows I'd ask this question... lol How much does a Super 60 weigh? I'm guessing from what little I know about them maybe close to another 80+ lbs over a typical D60.

I've seen them and they make my KP D60 look like a D30. lol

 

[Yeller]

Paul knows I'd ask this question... lol How much does a Super 60 weigh? I'm guessing from what little I know about them maybe close to another 80+ lbs over a typical D60.

I've seen them and they make my KP D60 look like a D30. lol

Enough to make your babies be born naked

They are heavy but easy to build. I forget which year they all changed to be the same design, the 450/550 is wider than the 230/350 but the external parts are interchangeable. so 8x170 is easy but unit bearings are available in 8x6.5 or the originals can be redrilled. Nice part is pick your gear, pick your locker and you are good to go with no need for aftermarket axles, as long as you can live with the width, they are 35 spline and 1580 ujoints. They are also all good to turn 50 degrees so you can turn on a dime.

 

[jamesroney]

Just out of curiosity (and to figure out why I can't place it) just what is a Super-60?
Presumably a Dana 60, but is it out of a certain vehicle only?

Paul

Trying to answer the question above:

The Super 60 is a marketing term from Dana Spicer and generally applies to OEM applications using a 256mm ring gear, which is 10.07 inches in diameter. (nominally 10")

The 10 inch ring and pinion has the same pinion depth and carrier offset as the 9-3/4 ring and pinion. It uses the same carrier. (So it is analogous to the old Ford 8-3/4 gears in a 9 inch housing.) Someone at Dana figured out that they can get a slightly larger ring gear into the same housing. They moved the contact patch forward on the pinion by 1/8 inch, and that allows for a 1/4 inch bigger ring gear. That reduces the loads on the gear tooth and makes the gear set stronger. Then it got a new name, called the 256.

I THINK that the brand name of "Super 60" came shortly after the 256mm ring gear was released. So there is a LOT of confusion about what is a Super 60, and what is not. The owner of the trade name is Dana Spicer...so they get to apply it any way that they want to.

Unfortunately, there is no other single attribute that seems to coincide with the "Super 60" name. You can get a Super 60 in a rear, low pinion axle, an a front drive axle. You can get 33 spline, or 35 spline. You can get 1450 joints, or 1580 joints. You can get big tubes, and bigger tubes.

I think you can find the rear Super 60 in the 2003-2010 Chevy semi float vans.

 

[LSharpNM]

Here are the specs to the best of my knowledge:

-4" Dia. 1/2" wall tubes (Normal '05-'16 Dana 60s are 3.75" Dia. 1/2" wall, Pre-'99 Dana 60s are 3.125" Dia. 1/2" wall)​

-Wider Ball joint spread and bigger ball joints (Normal '05-'16 Dana 60s already have wider ball joint spacing than earlier ball joint knuckles)

-10" Ring gear vs. 9.75" ring gear as previously mentioned, but the 10" gear sets will fit in any Dana 60 housing and were phased into the normal '05-'16 F250/350 Dana 60s (at least the 4.30s were 10", not 100% sure about other ratios)​

-1550 axle joints versus 1480 in the earlier '05-'16 F250/350 Dana 60s, although 1550 axle shafts were phased into the F250/350 axles around 2013 I believe and are available as a direct interchange for the earlier F250/350 axles​

-84" WMS width with the factory 10 lug unit bearings, but can be brought down to 74" with the 8 lug SRW unit bearings (SRW F250/350 '05-'16 Dana 60s are 72" WMS width)​

I don't think a Super 60 is worthwhile unless you are putting it in something really heavy since the 10" ring gears and 1550 axle shafts can be put in a standard '05-'16 F250/350 housing. It is just a bunch of unnecessary weight and it's really wide. The F250/350 ball joints and knuckles are plenty strong for the vast majority of trail rigs.

 

[jamesroney]

Thanks LSharpMN, good pics, and great advice.

From a practical perspective, you are spot on. But from a Branding perspective...Spicer has made it horribly complicated. I'm posting the Spicer BOM parts list, and as you can see...they name the 2005-2007 F250 Monobeam 6K axle as the Super 60.

The aftermarket has never usually associated the axle series with the load capacity. If you had a rear dana 60 in a 1966 F100...no one listed tube size, bearing configuration, or spline count. But Spicer has added the S60 name to all kinds of variants. So the only way to know if you have a Super 60 is to decode the BOM.

At the end of the day...as you correctly point out, the Super 60 with the 4 inch tube, 1550 joint, big knuckles and ball joints and 10 inch ring gear is what we all want the Super 60 to be. But for the next few years, it will be confusing. Because someone is going to advertise a 2006 F250 Monobeam Axle as a Super 60...and they will be factually accurate, but totally wrong.

I'm with you, and I wouldn't put one in a Bronco.

 

[Huckit36]

Awesome info guys Thank you! Let me ask one more question real quick, I know Broncos are heavy, but it sound like this will be overkill. I am taking a serious look at putting a 7.3L in my rig after moving off of my home built 347stroker idea, and that's what led me to the super 60s after talking to other folks who are a lot more experienced than myself. If I went the way of the dana 60s out of a 250/350, are there any particular one (years etc) that I should be looking for? Thanks again

 

[nvrstuk]

A 7.3l rather than a gas stroker.

Disadvantages:

Heavy, enough so that your rear tires won't have more than 1000 lbs on them lol

500lbs more weight up frt. Thats the equivalent of putting two, yes two 5.0 liter engines over the front axle.

My .02? From a driving/recreational standpoint this is probably the worst engine choice available and Im 100% serious here.

7.3 Power sucks. Unless you have tuned the 7.3 and then its not that great. Did I mention that it weighs double what a stroker weighs.

Packaging it will be tough and then for 220 HP and 425 torque you have more than that with a stroker!!

Weight alone makes it a terrible choice but its YOUR project. That's whats important but if youveever wheeled a Bronco you should be able to make upbyour mind in less than a SECOND that adding another 500# lbs over the frt axle is the worst performance modification you could ever make.

My .02, your rig.

 

[forrest36]

I think he is talking about the 7.3L Godzilla (new gas engine) not the 7.3L Powerstroke. The Godzilla is about 580lbs.
https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-6007-73

A 7.3l rather than a gas stroker.

Disadvantages:

Heavy, enough so that your rear tires won't have more than 1000 lbs on them lol

500lbs more weight up frt. Thats the equivalent of putting two, yes two 5.0 liter engines over the front axle.

My .02? From a driving/recreational standpoint this is probably the worst engine choice available and Im 100% serious here.

7.3 Power sucks. Unless you have tuned the 7.3 and then its not that great. Did I mention that it weighs double what a stroker weighs.

Packaging it will be tough and then for 220 HP and 425 torque you have more than that with a stroker!!

Weight alone makes it a terrible choice but its YOUR project. That's whats important but if youveever wheeled a Bronco you should be able to make upbyour mind in less than a SECOND that adding another 500# lbs over the frt axle is the worst performance modification you could ever make.

My .02, your rig.

 

[Huckit36]

Sorry I should have specified that. I am looking at the 7.3L Godzilla gas motor. You do raise good points about the weight of it though. It looks like the Godzilla is about 538 lbs. 7.3 powerstroke is 920 lbs. It will definitely be heavier than a 302 or 351, but i think the HP and torque out of the box will be worth it.

But I also need a drivetrain that can handle it all. Hence the original thread.

 

[Huckit36]

And thank you for the input nvrstuk, i always appreciate your insight! Ive done a fair amount of off roading/crawling, but im sure much less than all you guys here.

 

[nvrstuk]

HAHAHA!!! I was kinda hoping you weren't thinking a real 7.3 whew!

I can't remember the height of the Godzilla. I believe it is around 1.5+ inches taller than a 351W. I'd have to look it up. Couple inches wider too.

Torque kills drivetrain parts. I have experienced this phenomenom personally. lol

You can easily generate 550HP and 600 ft lbs or toque with a 427 stroker. Go with an aftermarket block for cam brg casting issues and cooling.

You will be fine up front with a typcial D60 and not need the weight of a Super60. Go with Reid knuckles, RCV's and you're good. No sense having a 84" wms frt end. Cutting it down would then be needed and posted above it says 74" is the narrowest? I am at 65 1/2" wms up front and about half my tire hangs out with 4.25" BS throwing crap everywhere when it's sloppy out. Add another 5" EACH side after narrowing it and you've got a trail only rig almost.

Beef up the tcase and rear end for sure. 9" rear with that torque and tall tires eats rear ends. I can send you pics of all my broken gears, tcases, axles, etc. lol

 

[nvrstuk]

All good. Just hoping you weren't putting a 7.3 diesel in there and still hoping to enjoy driving it. lol


Sounds like you're doing some great research. Parts can break when you're having fun.