Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Spool for Dana 70?

[ThomasLee]

Last pull of season and I broke both axles and shattered the spiders... I started looking into a spool for a 70 and nobody has been able to help me. I checked all the the main differetial shops like Detroit and Eaton Etc. I called Moser Engineering and Mark Williams Enterprises which is pretty well known for dealing with drag car axles etc. . Just wondering if anyone knows of anything or should I not stick any money in the 70 and just get an 80? One more question. Do the 70 and the 80 use the same axle? I know the length is different but Im not sure if the dia. of the axle is different or not. Any help would be appriciated.

 

[zstroken]

Go with an 80. I think some of the 70's used 32 spline axles. The 80's use 35 splines. You will trash the ring and pinion on the 70 pretty easy. If you need a 70 with a spool, just weld your spider gears up. I have a 70 with 3. 54 open carrier ifyou want another 70. I know of two places to get a 70 with 4. 10s Nice thing about the open diffs is they are the one piece design and are usually stronger.

 

[ThomasLee]

As of right now im not having a problem with the ring and pinion. I just would like to find a spool for the 70. I would weld the spiders but I dont trust that with the amount of traction the rear wheels get while pulling. I will probably endup getting an 80 if I can find one with 410s out of a dually for under a grand.

 

[zstroken]

You can put a detroit back there, or an ARB. I would go with the 80. You don't have to get one out of a dually though. The manuals had Dana 80's in them

 

[SChesnut]

They don't make spools for Dana 70's. If it were me I would buy some alloy shafts and a detroit. Randy's Ring and Pinion sells them. I just put that setup in my 70. Seems to be an ok setup. If I never towed anything I would have just welded up the spiders.

 

[99CumminsBoy]

I know this is an old thread, but does anyone run a spool in the rear on the street? or is a locker the way to go? allready putting a locker in the front since i hear that it is nearly impossible to turn with a spool in the front in 4 wheel.

 

[zstroken]

I had a welded carrier in the rear. I figured it wouldn't be that big of deal, with all of the weight on the front end and not having a load in the back. I did not like it. Pulling out of a parking spot required pulling forward and turning, backing up turning the opposite way, and then turning back and going forward again. I figured it would just squeal the inside tire, it chirped it. Broke the welds twice on the welded carrier. I put an ARB back there and totally happy.