Dana 60 UCA mount

[Israel]

I'm building a three link suspension with the single upper on the drivers side. I originally planned on putting the link bracket on the truss I welded on, but there turned out to be a clearance issue with the motor mount. I moved the bracket on top of the diff, and braced it to the truss. Does this look sturdy enough for a three link?

 

[shortxjdoug]

yup just inspect those welds at the cast really closely to ensure there was no cracking..... having it tied to the truss will provide sufficient bracing to keep it home if it stuck to the cast

 

[Seiler]

How did you weld it to the pumpkin, MIG? Did you post/pre heat at all?

Scott

 

[Israel]

yup just inspect those welds at the cast really closely to ensure there was no cracking..... having it tied to the truss will provide sufficient bracing to keep it home if it stuck to the cast

Sounds great. Thanks!

How did you weld it to the pumpkin, MIG? Did you post/pre heat at all?

Scott

Yes, yes, and yes. The preheating and postheating were done with a small propane torch like what you would use for plumbing with copper tubing. Not the best torch by far, but from what I've read, some people don't even bother with pre/post heating.

 

[MoparManiac]

I've found pre-heat to be more necessary than post heat (at least on my D60s and the one D30 I did).

If the weld didn't immediately crack as soon as you stopped welding, you're probably good.

This is all from my own limited experience (four welded tubes to housing, one LCA mount half welded to cast).

 

[foxwar71]

I'd trust it. The truss will also take alot of the push/pull effort from the link and twisting effort of the axle.


I've found 60's to be pretty easy to weld. They're supposed to be nodular iron which is more accepting of a weld. The issues of welding cast stuff comes for the different rates the materials cool at after being welded. I welded the truss to my 60 with a TIG and just regular filler rod with pre/post fine. Done the tubes on 60's/14b/8.8 just fine with a MIG. Also MIGed the shave job on the bottom of my 14b.

 

[knucklehead 61]

how hot are you pre heating it?
i just mig'ed the tubes on my front 60 after pre heating with a mapp gas torch & the welds look like shit.

 

[MoparManiac]

I use oxy/acy until it's just about red hot.

It takes forever with MAPP/propane since they don't put out enough heat. The cast dissipates it pretty fast.