Dodge Owner Forums

Dodge Trucks => 2nd Gen Rams => Topic started by: 96GreenMachine on July 08, 2011, 03:10:19 am

Title: 2nd Gen Cummins axles question
Post by: 96GreenMachine on July 08, 2011, 03:10:19 am
I'm dealing with a guy right now and he says that the 97 2500 cummins with an automatic has a 60 rear end. I thought they only came with 70's for the automatics and 80's for the manuals. If someone could clear this up I'd appreciate it.
Title: Re: 2nd Gen Cummins axles question
Post by: ChinookFE on July 08, 2011, 03:42:53 am
The 3/4T's were available with the 60 and the 70 IIRC.
Title: Re: 2nd Gen Cummins axles question
Post by: 96GreenMachine on July 08, 2011, 04:16:17 am
Thanks, I just want to make sure these axles are what I want before I buy them. The guy has the axles out of a 97, and they have 4.10 gears. He's selling them at $500 for the set, and I'm picking them up on Saturday.
Title: Re: 2nd Gen Cummins axles question
Post by: pctgreg on July 08, 2011, 02:51:35 pm
The 3/4T's were available with the 60 and the 70 IIRC.

And SWR 80's.

OP, I don't think this 97 truck will have a 60 in the rear, but I could be wrong.  In 97, the 5.9 GAS came with a D60 rear.  I'd venture to guess when you arrive you will find a D70 in the rear of this cummins.  Want to know for sure?  As long as the rear hasn't been swapped, call your local dodge dealer and say this.  "Can you please tell me what rear is the truck, and how much a replacement ring gear will cost"  Get the quote (for fun), you verify your gear ratio, and get the info you wanted.  They will ask for the last 8 of the vin and hand over the info.  If they don't, call another dealer.
Title: Re: 2nd Gen Cummins axles question
Post by: 96GreenMachine on July 08, 2011, 03:16:53 pm
I figured it'd be a gasser if it had a 60, but he assured me that the truck was a cummins. He said that the motor is still sitting in his shop to prove it, the only things left from the truck are the axles and motor and trans. So a VIN might be a little hard to come by unless i find it on the motor somewhere.
Title: Re: 2nd Gen Cummins axles question
Post by: pctgreg on July 08, 2011, 05:00:26 pm
I figured it'd be a gasser if it had a 60, but he assured me that the truck was a cummins. He said that the motor is still sitting in his shop to prove it, the only things left from the truck are the axles and motor and trans. So a VIN might be a little hard to come by unless i find it on the motor somewhere.

Gotcha.  What are your plans for the leaf spring difference?  Swapping frame mounts?  welding new mounts on axle?
Title: Re: 2nd Gen Cummins axles question
Post by: ChinookFE on July 08, 2011, 08:44:01 pm
For $500 for the pair I'd snatch 'em up.  When I was looking at them for my truck a few years ago they were $1000-$1500 for a pair.
Title: Re: 2nd Gen Cummins axles question
Post by: bran_gun08 on July 10, 2011, 06:19:37 am
sounds like a really good deal
Title: Re: 2nd Gen Cummins axles question
Post by: pctgreg on July 10, 2011, 11:48:20 am
sounds like a really good deal

Maybe a good deal for the axles themselves...., but may cost him more than he wants for install.  Still waiting to hear the OP's plans for the rear.
Title: Re: 2nd Gen Cummins axles question
Post by: ChinookFE on July 10, 2011, 12:57:57 pm
sounds like a really good deal

Maybe a good deal for the axles themselves...., but may cost him more than he wants for install.  Still waiting to hear the OP's plans for the rear.

The beauty of the 2nd Gen axles is they are basically bolt in if they are from similar years.  The biggest thing is the U-joints.
Title: Re: 2nd Gen Cummins axles question
Post by: Batman on July 10, 2011, 01:50:41 pm
For future reference this site has really good info on Dodge truck equipment specs.

http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/specs/Ramspecs.htm
Title: Re: 2nd Gen Cummins axles question
Post by: pctgreg on July 10, 2011, 02:18:16 pm
sounds like a really good deal

Maybe a good deal for the axles themselves...., but may cost him more than he wants for install.  Still waiting to hear the OP's plans for the rear.

The beauty of the 2nd Gen axles is they are basically bolt in if they are from similar years.  The biggest thing is the U-joints.

For the axle he is looking at, it isn't a bolt in affair in the rear, which is why I was asking. 
Title: Re: 2nd Gen Cummins axles question
Post by: 96GreenMachine on July 11, 2011, 06:39:55 am
I just got home from my weekend trip, I went to get the axles, and sadly found out that they are only 3.55 gears and not 4.10s, but being that the front dana 60 is worth about 800 alone, I still bought them. The rear was a 70, the guy was convinced that it was a 60, even though i showed him the stamp on the housing. But it's a done deal. As for the rear, my buddy has the stock 3/4 block and leafs from his old 98 12v. And he said i could have them. So i'm gonna mess around with the idea of stiffening up the rear of the truck with the heavier leafs, or get some 1/2 ton spring pads and weld them onto the new axle. I'm gonna kinda clean them up and get new brakes for them before i put them under the truck, so i have some time to figure out what i want to do with the springs. Now if i could just find a 12v, nv4500, and a transfer case, i'd be all set for the project on the truck.