Calling all Internet know-it-alls!! SD Dana 50vs60

Eddyj · Jan 4, 2017

So a recent for sale thread got hijacked.
The seller posted what he had and proved it by posting a pic of the tag. Even though he did that multiple people still had the need to tell him he was wrong "cause they read it on the internets" or they had been fooled before.
So here is your time to shine... please enlighten us with you knowledge.

no really how do you tell the difference in an 02 SD 60?

Feel free to share any other things that "a guy on Facebook said it" so it must be true.

fabricator1 · Jan 4, 2017

I always measure the housing from where the cover bolts on to where the pinion seal is. Or every superduty 60 I have seen has a 1 5/16 pinion nut and all the 50s I have seen are a 1 1/8 nut

blugreenformula · Jan 4, 2017

1 5/16 pinion nut is a 60, or reading the diff tag. I didn't see the **** show, but I was the first to let him know there were a lot of 50's in those trucks. If others piled on that's on them, but to bring up a question regarding a part that is for sale is pretty smart in my opinion. Sure as **** wasn't a smack at the seller, there are a lot of people who can't tell the difference between the two. I just didn't want to see a post next week from somebody who bought it, got it home and then realized it's a 50. Yes I have seen that too.

BLGXJ · Jan 4, 2017

Pinion nut or Popping the diff cover would be easiest to me. I think the problem comes in where people have gotten burned on 50's thinking they were 60's and for a long time there wasn't a lot of info out there on which trucks came with what.

lowbudgetjunk · Jan 4, 2017

Why not post up the BOM numbers list while we are at it.....confusion sorted ????

pholmann · Jan 4, 2017

It's the buyer or potential buyers responsibility to do their due diligence to verify what they are buying, but with that said, if you buy from reputable folks you won't have that problem. That particular seller is reputable folk. He's a respected member here and wouldn't screw anyone over. If there was an issue I'm sure he would make it right anyway. That's the big difference. It's how you handle a situation once it goes to full **** up. I have absolutely no doubts he would handle such hypothetical situation properly. He posted up the necessary proof and that was the proper way to go about it. While we do appreciate you "looking out" for folks, such claims, allegations, and questions truly should be made over private message.

rocfun · Jan 4, 2017

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/transmission-drivetrain/1309-ford-super-duty-dana-50-to-60-front-axle-swap/
Is a decent artcle
The stamped tag on the axle and cross reference with ford axle numbers is a pretty good way as well
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www2.dana.com/pdf/X510-2.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjCzaDa4qjRAhUDfiYKHd1FAN0QFggbMAE&usg=AFQjCNEwayIJoIS3NO8jgwtAnJh22rPTqQ

TBItoy · Jan 4, 2017

I just look at the damn thing.

The 60 looks like a 60.

The 50 looks like someone stuck a D44 pig head on a D60 cover flange casting.

There is a good pic of this in the link that rocfun posted

Markrobinson · Jan 4, 2017

Pretty sure the pumpkin has a "248" stamped on it somewhere if it's a 60 - as in 248mm ring gear (248mm=9.76").

money_pit_yj · Jan 4, 2017

fabricator1 said:
I always measure the housing from where the cover bolts on to where the pinion seal is. Or every superduty 60 I have seen has a 1 5/16 pinion nut and all the 50s I have seen are a 1 1/8 nut

Me too. Has worked every time I have done it and has never given me any issues ;D

Bebop · Jan 4, 2017

Pinion nut is the sure way to check.
That's waht I use.

Bronco72 · Jan 4, 2017

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EF8GhC-T_Mo

Proper way to look at it.

blacksheep10 · Jan 4, 2017

Bronco72 said:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EF8GhC-T_Mo

Proper way to look at it.

Yes, pretty foolproof, as is this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

Markrobinson · Jan 4, 2017

I thought about the 2:00 I just wasted clicking that link and said "oh would you look at this"

doubleud · Jan 29, 2017

Bringing this one back up with facts, high pinion Dana 60 has 248 cast in the housing on the long tube side as you can see in the upper right of this pic

Dana 50 does look like a dana 44 modified to use a dana 60 cover, notice the 1" lip all the way around the top and bottom of the chunk

And comparison shots

Dana 50

Dana 60, notice the much smaller lip around the top of the chunk.

And thanks Rocfun for the definately Dana 60 you had for sale! Soon as I get some spare time it's going in my Buggy.

BUG-E J · Jan 29, 2017

So the biggest question now is what's the pinion nut size differences ? :stir:

grcthird · Feb 2, 2017

Is the ridge the runs down the top of the housing a good identifier? Where the 50 is square close to the pinion flange and the 60 tapers? If so that is probably the easiest way to tell from pictures anyways. Are they all like this?

RustyC · Feb 2, 2017

grcthird said:
Is the ridge the runs down the top of the housing a good identifier? Where the 50 is square close to the pinion flange and the 60 tapers? If so that is probably the easiest way to tell from pictures anyways. Are they all like this?

YES from the ones I have seen. By looking at pics and in person
My 609 was built using a 50 donor.