Ilikebikes

Would you do it again? Or, if your stock 70 had bad brakes, would you just convert it to discs and be done with it?

I can't decide what to do. My rear brakes are a joke. The seals are leaking, the adjusters are shot and I HATE drum brakes. I was thinking of converting it to discs, but for a little more money I can swap in a D80. I'm not too worried about strength, as I doubt I will break a 70 with a slushbox, but I'm a junkie for upgrades. I guess what I need to know is, do you guys think that the stock drum brakes on a D80 would be better than disc brakes on a D70?

As for the 80 swap, from what I've read it looks like all I will have to do is shorten the driveshaft a bit, but everything else is bolt on. Is this true? Same WMS to WMS as my 70? I know the U joints are the same. Same distance between the spring perches on the 80 and 70?

Thanks for any advice.

PapeCAT

the spring perches are a little wider themselves to accomodate wider spring packs in the 2nd gens, and the axle is overall wider and you'll need to get those 2nd gen wheels to get the correct track again ?

BearKiller

There are some of the Dana 80s that 1st Gen. wheels will not clear the drum.

I know, because when the 70, on a friends truck, had the right side hub, wheels, axle, and all, walk out from under us, with a big load of cattle, he found a Dana 80, from a slightly later model Dodge.

When he got it all together, and started to install his old wheels, NO GO.

He had to go back to the place he got the rear from, and get the wheels that were on it.

From that time on, he had different wheels on the rear than he had on the front, and had to buy a complete set of stainless simulators to fit the other wheels, as the ones that fit the older wheels would not work.

I don't think this is true for all Dana 80s, but is a point worth considering.

GLHS

If your not worried about strength, just convert to discs. The 80 weighs about 100 lbs more; more unsprung weight. Convert your 70 to discs and the weight difference will be closer to 150 lbs. Dana 80s also have 9/16 studs. It is pretty much a direct bolt in. I used the 4-3/4" factory D80 lift blocks in place of the 6" D70 blocks.