Dana 70 Swap

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89D150LE440

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Location
Ontario
Ram Year
1989
Engine
318
Hello everyone,

I have an 89LE 318 / 500A I'm looking to eventually swap a 440 into. Been offered a Dana 70 rear and am not sure if it would be overkill for me or what else I would need to swap for it to work? I don't mind keeping 5 lugs up front and having the 8 in rear. Just want everything to work together. Will the Dana 70 bolt up to my long box 89? Truck currently is still all original but will be swapping with the kit from bouchillion (spelling).

Is the Dana 70 a good idea or is the existing open 9 1/4 good enough? Sorry if this has been done I didn't find anything specific enough to my scenario.

Edit: I have the matching heavy duty 727 for my 440 from a 78 pacearrow motorhime i am not trying to use the 500a with my 440.
 

PaPitt

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Location
Stephenville TEXAS 76401
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1989
Engine
5.9L
Can we start over .. I'm lost on what you have & may be trying to do.
But i Kind of think I'm wanting to do about the same things your talking about . SO LET WORK ON THIS TOGETHER & see what the others think.
.... NOW ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO I had a 1975 dodge pickup 1/2ton . I pulled the 318 & it's automatic out & put in a 440cid & the big block 727 . Loved it but It was already a custom built flat bed & I FARM. So I then pulled a 3/4 ton 8 hole rear axle I'm really thinking it was a Dana 60 not your 70. But I installed it under the half ton. After a new set of brakes I loved it.
I mounted chrome spoke 5 hole wheels up front & found a set of 16.5 by 10's Chrome spoke 8 holes for the rear. H/D Monroes shocks on the rear. & a 1 inch sway bar on the rear it really worked out great .
..........
 
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89D150LE440

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I have an 89 TBI 318 truck.

Can get a free dana 70.

Will it fit?
 

PaPitt

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Engine
5.9L
Now this year I have 2 more I'm working on .
1st one is a 1988 5.2L D250 & I'M wanting to swap in a 1998 O/D trans .
......
...& my 2nd one is a 1989, Very 1st 12V & AUTO ''BAD''. & It has single wheels under it but has a Dually Flat Bed on it . I have a 1978 one ton dual wheel rear axle under another old truck out back . My plan is to put that dual wheel axle under the D250. IT'S A 4:11 AXLE..
& SINCE THE 727 is bad in this truck getting another O/D 94 TRANS & PUTTING in this 89 to go with the 4;11'S .
also I'm planning on taking the cab & front fenders off 89 & Replacing them with a 1951 Ford F2 CAB & FRONT FENDERS & HOOD . I've found a F6 1947 FORD Truck that I like better but it's out in New Mexico an 1100 mile trip to pick up & bring home . While the the 1951 or 2 in is Okla. & only about a 450 mile round trip. But I like the dash in the 1947 much better .
............
........ Please anyone reading my post feel free to tell me if you know something that won't work in putting the old Ford F2 or F6 onto the Dodge D250 chassis.
... Or if the Cummins is too long to place whee the Flat head was ..
My 12v DOES NOT have an intercooler . I'll look again . Not sure if this one even has a turbo.
It's the very 1st diesel that came from the Lampasas Texas dealership in 1988/9.
 

u2slow

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Location
BC, Canada
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1993
Engine
Cummins 6BTA
I have an 89 TBI 318 truck.

Can get a free dana 70.

Will it fit?

It can fit.

It needs to be from a similar D/W 250/350 truck. The driveshaft needs to be shortened, and you need the u-bolt plates (shock mounts) for the fatter axle tube.

I have put the D70 in both my ramchargers.
 

reek

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Sacramento
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2015 RAM 2500 CC 4x4, 72 D100, 73 D100, 01 RAM 2500 field truck
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6.4 Hemi
if I remember correctly, the 9 1/4 rear end was the successor for the 8 3/4 rearend. And those were put behind big blocks.

I know the 9 1/4 have a reputation for being pretty tough although the axle bearings are the weak point. I would think you'd be fine with the 9 1/4 behind a 440 unless the thing is really built. I have 8 3/4 rear ends with sure-grip on one truck and a Detroit truetrac in another truck. I swapped out a 9 1/4 for the 8 3/4 on my sure grip truck only because I'm a big fan of the 8 3/4. I wouldn't hesistate putting either behind a mild 440 but would insist on adding a LSD vs an open rear end.
 

u2slow

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Cummins 6BTA
Some of the other dodge boards bash the 9.25" pretty hard. I've noticed parts cost a lot.

The 70 should have 32 or 35 spline shafts already. Consider the ratio though... if it's not well-suited, you're no further ahead on budget. Best to find a diff in the ratio you want/need.
 
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89D150LE440

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2021
Posts
5
Reaction score
0
Location
Ontario
Ram Year
1989
Engine
318
Some of the other dodge boards bash the 9.25" pretty hard. I've noticed parts cost a lot.

The 70 should have 32 or 35 spline shafts already. Consider the ratio though... if it's not well-suited, you're no further ahead on budget. Best to find a diff in the ratio you want/need.

Haven't started yet, I'm trying to determine the plan first. Have no horsepower goal but I'd like to get as close to 600 ft lbs as possible on pump gas but have it still work like a regular truck. Not drag racing just a periodic smoke show. Not sure what combustion chamber size or head gaskets to go with. Undecided on pistons, probably some KB hypers. Not a huge deal if I have to replace a ring/pinion when I get there. Just had the opportunity to get the axle super super cheap.
 
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