by Mark Nixon » Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:13 am
It entails cutting the housing up and installing custom axles.
I believe the 8-3/4 or Dana 60 Housing ends will work.
Brakes will be mediocre compared to the 3/4 ton pieces, but then, 5 lug stuff isn't the biggest, anyway.
You could always do disc brakes on the rear, which add a new step to the whole idea.
There are 2 routes you can go on the axle bearings, sealed (referred to as "Green") bearings or A-7 tapered roller axle bearings, as stock on the 8-3/4, or Mopar Car Dana 60.
The A-7s require a spacer pin (Powerlock Diff) or block (Open or Trac-Lock) to be installed that pass through the spider shafts on a (4 pinion) powerlock differential.
The spacer is to allow bearing preload adjustment on semi-floating axles with tapered roller bearings.
If you really wanted to go BIG on the splines, I believe it is possible to put Dana 80 37 spline internals into a Dana 70 carrier, and since you will likely have to go custom axles, the cost won't be any more than if you go 35 spline, 32 spline or 30 spline.
If you have ever been into an 8-3/4 Mopar rear end, or a Dana, you'll understand the things I mentioned here, otherwise it's probably Greek to you.
Mark.