2001 Excursion Shop Truck / Family Hauler

[KensAuto]

They used military axles, just not rockwells. Built a whole subframe and turbo'd it.

Mrap I believe. Modern 2.5 tons.

[Nate]

They used military axles, just not rockwells. Built a whole subframe and turbo'd it.

Mrap I believe. Modern 2.5 tons.

I believe the old 5 ton like ken has is/was the last vehicle in the military to use those axles?

[swbhobie16]

big sucker



gears







can anyone do anything with these numbers??

[stlaser]

I’m sure Tate can

[EL TATE]

should be a 60xxxx-x formatted number on there somewhere, usually passenger side axle tube. I haven't gotten anywhere yet with what you've got posted, I'll let you know, but see if you can find the BOM#

[rpar86]

Stumped me for a moment there with the pinion stuck into the ring/whatever.


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[swbhobie16]

Stumped me for a moment there with the pinion stuck into the ring/whatever.


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hahah. yea. looks alittle odd i know. seemed to be the best way to store it and not have it knicked up

[EL TATE]

did it actually spline into the side gear? if so, you have a 37 spline tracklock d80 most likely f450 application pre 2005. any luck w/ the BOM number?

[stlaser]

Slight update and thinking out loud, I changed rear brakes a couple weeks back and that went smooth (rotors and pads) then decided to swap shocks. Only to find out the vendor sent me 4 front 5100’s and bilstein after some digging does not make a 5100 for the rear, only the front. So I ordered a couple lesser quality bilsteins for the rear.

A prior someone had swapped shock on rear drivers side at some point. Lost hardware and used regular bolts and nuts in the top mount. They had since seized and I spent several hours with an air operated jab saw trying to get that old shock out.

Fast forward to this morning. I have a passenger side front inner seal leaking like that’s it’s job. I have an 04 front 60 in my possession along with a set of reverse cut 60 gears in 4.56 (can’t recall if they are thick cut or not as I need to check again) but I’m pretty sure with the oem 4.30’s they run a thick cut gear and 4.10 / numerically lower carrier? My plan is to regear / rebuild the front with Yukon lock outs and 35 spline stubs. I’m leaning towards a spartan lunch box locker just to keep costs down. It will see minimal 4x use and with lock outs I don’t see a reason to buy a grizzly for few hundred more.

Any thoughts? Tate, feel free to voice your opinion as well if you see this. Thanks

Edit: after further thought and with spare parts galore I’m Thinking about keeping the outer 30 spline stuff and running oem lockouts even

[EL TATE]

for what you're going to be doing, there's nothing wrong with the spartan and you've got ample misc parts to maintain 30 spline. this isn't going to be some zombie apocalypse vehicle, so just K.I.S.S.

[Bigdave_185]

Hell it still get better mpg than the burb lol


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[stlaser]

Ok, so short update. Spoke with Tate at Randy’s Ring and Pinion. I now have gears coming for the sterling, front and rear install kits and a spartan locker for up front. Located a complete sterling 10.5 with Detroit for fair price locally. Trying to acquire it and then use Detroit for rear. If not I guess I’ll do a rebuild kit on limited slip in the truck now when I do gears.  Pics of the 60 front tear down coming soon.

[stlaser]

With the cost of everything skyrocketing I decide to keep excursion. So I ordered new springs from alcan today. 4” lift in the rear while removing oem 2.5” block and upgrading to 3k# springs back there. Up front 4” lift oem weight which after taking rear block out should get me close to level. Dana 60 will go in up front as well as a regear and carrier upgrade in rear. Thinking newer oem electric locker.

[stlaser]

So after further research I can buy the oem 2011-2019 sterling electric locker for sub $500 I’ll have to wire it in but I think that’s a plan.

[stlaser]

Stripped this 2004 F350 Dana 60 down last night and removed knuckles / ball joints. I plugged the outer tubes with used shop rags and put cover back on then took it to sand blaster w/ fummins wheels this morning.

I then ordered the remaining parts to freshen up this axle and steering on the excursion. That came in around $1k and I already had on hand the Spartan locker, the gears (4.56 reverse rotation courtesy of Big D “thanks again” left over from some build he didn’t complete or build took different directions) master bearing / seal install kit, new spicer ujoints for shafts and Yukon HD lockouts. Obviously it goes without saying our own Tate @ Randy’s has been the go to for the upgrade components.

I’ll be keeping the stock 30 spline stubs, because I have plenty of spares. The new unit bearings coming are Timken and I’ll rob the new skf passenger side unit I just put on the Dana 50 a couple months back as the backup.

Tomorrow I buzz across the Rockies to pickup the new leaf springs for the excursion courtesy of Alcan Springs in Grand Junction, CO.

I spoke with Tate this morning and he should be assembling the grizzly locker next week that is currently out of stock for the Sterling 10.5 rear axle. The 35” bfg all terrains and 18” wheels I originally bought for fummins will be getting stuffed under the excursion.

I recently serviced transmission at 165K and flushed coolant. Only a couple specs of something in the trans pan. The front Dana 50 has seen better days though. It has a passenger side inner axle seal leak, worn out everything on steering and driver upper ball joint is a tad loose. The rebuilt Dana 60 should cure all of this.


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[stlaser]

So I put the front axle shafts back together with new spicer u-joints this morning and added a Spartan lunchbox locker into a spare Dana 60 open carrier to be used in the front 60. Went shopping in loft only to realize I’m short a Dana 60 master install kit currently. However, I did find a NOS set of reverse cut Yukon 4.56 Dana 60 gears Big D sent me several years ago after a project changed directions & he had them left over. Just what I needed for the DD upgrade!




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[stlaser]

So as I’m waiting so impatiently for the final couple of parts to arrive so I can assemble my axles it dawned on me. I have a Yukon air operated zip locker for a front 60 as well as a Yukon air compressor kit. I already installed the Spartan in a 60 carrier but thinking maybe I should use the zip locker instead? What do you all think, of course that doesn’t include you Ken…….

[JR]

For a DD i would go with the air locker. I've used the drop in lockers (rear) and the manors can be odd, not good for steering IMHO.

[stlaser]

For a DD i would go with the air locker. I've used the drop in lockers (rear) and the manors can be odd, not good for steering IMHO.

My thought was it doesn’t matter, Yukon hd lockouts & part time transfer case.

[JR]

I've had the drop in catch, then let got at odd times depending on power and turning. Sure with PT TC you know when you in and locked, but the air woun't let go oe snap on/off.

Just what happen to me in my younger years, maybe they have improved?

[stlaser]

I've had the drop in catch, then let got at odd times depending on power and turning. Sure with PT TC you know when you in and locked, but the air woun't let go oe snap on/off.

Just what happen to me in my younger years, maybe they have improved?

Copy, I personally wouldn’t run a Spartan in anything smaller than a d60. I like the idea of putting it in and forgetting about it. With air it can and will leak at some point…..

[EL TATE]

d60 spartan is nearly the size of a 14t grizzly. I wouldn't sweat it at all. with lockouts you'll be just fine. just make sure your driveline is well balanced.

[cj7ox]

And be prepared for an "interesting" ride if you ever have the need to limp it home in front wheel drive. ;-)

[Flyin6]

And be prepared for an "interesting" ride if you ever have the need to limp it home in front wheel drive. ;-)

^^^ Sounds like experience talking ;-)

[JR]

 

[EL TATE]

And be prepared for an "interesting" ride if you ever have the need to limp it home in front wheel drive. ;-)

I have that T-shirt too

[stlaser]

There was a t-shirt? All I ended up with was a long night/early morning on a trail ironically call damnation in the SE Tuck……

[cj7ox]

There was a t-shirt? All I ended up with was a long night/early morning on a trail ironically call damnation in the SE Tuck……