Next Step Up From Dana 60?

[geardaddy]

The main advantage the Dana 61 had was for people wanting the 3.00 or 3.07 gears although 3.33, 3.55, 3.73 and 4.10 are available for it. They are usually a lot cheaper than the 60 because of a lot of unknowns about gearing, but with some Mr. Gasket spacers and other tricks you can use Dana 60 gears 4.56 and higher.

the posi carrier used in a dana 61 3.54 is the same one used for a dana 60-4.56 up (numerically)....remember, if you are trying to I.D. a gear set, always check the ring gear #. the 60 and 61 did share the same pinion # on the common ratios....confused yet? sorry.. **the spicer XGI books have several misprints concerning the gear set numbers on the dana 61***

 

[rikkitik]

Since nobody mentioned it (or asked.....lol), I'll bring up the Strange S60/Dana.
Nodular iron housing (lighter, as well as stronger), and comes with 35 spline axles. I have a B width S60 on a pallet in the garage, but unfortunately, no shipping weight on the tag.
Anyway, Strange claims they're only 15lbs heavier than a 9", just as strong, and more efficient.

 

[Runcharger]

Yup and easily adjusted side adjusters.

 

[Phantomx]

Guys claiming weight on their cars like a woman on her driver's license.

Look buddy, it’s only 115lbs!
Travis..

 

[F4R/T]

Ever seen a 9” with the snout twisted out? I have a friends that runs NSS and his buddy was running a BB Buick and it ate it ... pretty impressive and disappointing.

 

[6PKRTSE]

Funny thing is I have numerous buddies that have all gone with a 9" for the simplicity of the center section, but none of them swap out any gear ratios ever. Once set up the cars run good as is.

 

[Cranky]

I also used a similarly modified truck Dana 60 in my Cuda. There was no provision for a pinion snubber.
Some consider a ford 9” to be the next step up from a Dana.

A stock 60 vs a stock 9? No way the 9 is a step up. Have to modify the 9 just to bring it up to snuff. The main thing about the 9 is it's a drop out rear but someone still has to set up all the gears at one time or another.

 

[Cranky]

Ever seen a 9” with the snout twisted out? I have a friends that runs NSS and his buddy was running a BB Buick and it ate it ... pretty impressive and disappointing.

A buddy of mine did that to an 8" with a 289 and 3 speed lol. The 8" is no more than a smaller version of the 9.

 

[toolmanmike]

Ever seen a 9” with the snout twisted out? I have a friends that runs NSS and his buddy was running a BB Buick and it ate it ... pretty impressive and disappointing.

Ford 9's are strong by size but not by design. There's a reason

A buddy of mine did that to an 8" with a 289 and 3 speed lol. The 8" is no more than a smaller version of the 9.

Those 8.8's are the hot ticket for the A body guys. They are fairly easy to modify and have disc brakes. They are easy to find and fairly cheap.

 

[dvw]

My truck Dana with, ladder bar, shock, wheelie bar brackets, 35 spline axles, spool, 5/8" studs, and the heavy cast LTR cover (6.5lb), w/o brakes weighed 172lbs. The solid rotor Willwoods can't weigh 20 lbs. The sure grip makes a Dana heavy. Spool saves a bunch
Doug

 

[Moparfever65]

Ford 9" does seem to be the industry standard for racing., but I kept my Coronet pedigree with a Dana 60. There is something about the Ford 9" pinion offset that's a weak point. I managed to break the pinion support in a nodular iron 9" in my Cougar with a fairly stock 351W, standard trans. Hard hits are where it matters, standard trans or trans brake can find your weak spot.

 

[4406bbl]

For the average guy with a heavy street/drag car the dana 60 is the best choice by far. A strange 60 or a 90s van light housing is only a 40-50# weight increase, in the right place, and you most likelywill not have to work on it. Gear swaps are simple with a set of slip bearings or just set up 2 gearsets when you build the dana, that is still cheaper than a comparable strength 9", and a spare pumpkin. Once you go real fast the 9" wins mainly because you can get a stronger housing either aftermarket or backbraced.

 

[Geoff 2]

Something stronger than a Dana? Something out of a Kenworth?

 

[Photon440]

I've been curious as to the type of rear end used in a 10,000 hp. top fuel dragster.

 

[Cranky]

I've been curious as to the type of rear end used in a 10,000 hp. top fuel dragster.

Been a few years since even being close to one but it sure ain't no 9!

 

[Hemirunner]

For the average guy with a heavy street/drag car the dana 60 is the best choice by far. A strange 60 or a 90s van light housing is only a 40-50# weight increase, in the right place, and you most likelywill not have to work on it. Gear swaps are simple with a set of slip bearings or just set up 2 gearsets when you build the dana, that is still cheaper than a comparable strength 9", and a spare pumpkin. Once you go real fast the 9" wins mainly because you can get a stronger housing either aftermarket or backbraced.

This pretty much sums it up. The 9” needs aftermarket housings and pinion support to handle the same power a stock Dana will take. If you build an aftermarket 9” housing with heavy wall axle tubes and back brace it, the weight difference isn’t as drastic. I’m pushing 1200+ whp through a stock Dana housing, rebuilt sure grip and factory gear set. The axles are 23 spline Mosers. It’s been sub 5.50 at 3950lbs. You can build a really nice Dana for $1500. I’ll have $4000 in my built 9” before it’s done just because the center section is so expensive.