Mopar Muscle Association UK

Clivey.

You don't need or want one. So don't fret about it.

They are big heavy things that slow you down.

you could get a dana 44

much smaller and lighter

but you could say i've got a dana rear end.

or stick an AMC20 in it thats 8.89 inch but with axles like twigs

dare to be different

only messin

Dave

Clivey wrote:In effect, if you layed a brand new Dana 60 next to an original Dana from a 1970 Hemi Cuda for example, would there be a noticeable difference in appearance?

In a nutshell - no. The Dana 60 was the rear offered on the real hipo cars (Hemis, manuals, etc - yes I know there were exceptions anoraks!). So when anyone Mopar talks about a Dana rear they are always talking about a Dana 60. Yes they made other Danas but they were not the classic 60 used on Mopars.

Generally reckoned to be THE strongest rear end used on ANY musclecar - stronger than a Ford 9" for sure........but as Dave said, the HEAVIEST too!! So Dave is right - you don't need one! unless you are making more than, say, 600-700HP on an 8 3/4 (that's my guess others feel free to chip in).

MrNorm wrote:

Generally reckoned to be THE strongest rear end used on ANY musclecar - stronger than a Ford 9" for sure........but as Dave said, the HEAVIEST too!! So Dave is right - you don't need one! unless you are making more than, say, 600-700HP on an 8 3/4 [/quote]

Good thing i changed over then.

MrNorm wrote: Generally reckoned to be THE strongest rear end used on ANY musclecar - stronger than a Ford 9" for sure........but as Dave said, the HEAVIEST too!! So Dave is right - you don't need one! unless you are making more than, say, 600-700HP on an 8 3/4

Can you please answer me why nearly 90-95% of the people decided to run a 9" over a Dana.

I understand a lerge percentage switched to a Ford because of the larger range of gear ratios.

If it was the strongest out there,then the others would of followed, as would the market, so the gear ratio options would of increased ?

How does the Dana compare to the 9" when comparing to driveline forces ? centre line of crown wheel to pinion, rotaional forces, etc, etc....

If the Dana was the best axle out there, then everybody would be using them !

How many people running Danas in Pro Stock, Pro Mod, etc, etc !

Going by the comments on other forums , they seem to lean towards the Dana for strength over the ford , gearsets for the dana range between 3.77s to 7:17s , large choice. 9 inch ring gear as opposed to 9 3/4 for dana.



Regardless of which axle your using , think yerself lucky you have either a ford 9 or dana 60 (35 spline).

Both axles have their weak spots & any motors running high HP/torque will have the axles modified anyhow , as you well know Mark.

A stock Dana 60 is stronger than a stock 9" Ford, but is heavier too.
In the past lots of people used the Ford as they were still very strong (strong enough for their purpose) but lighter. I'll venture to guess they were more plentiful as well (certainly if you disregard the van Dana 60's which really needed work to convert them for car use).

So, the 9" became the rear of choice and so aftermarket support was boosted, which now made it plentiful and cheaper.

When it comes to racing, well you will not find a single Pro Mod or Pro Stock running a stock 9" (or a Dana for that matter), there are so many aftermarket housings that it's like a Top fuel Hemi - technically still based on a 426 but not a single part is original.

So with modifications or aftemarket additions you can make either a lot stronger, and the Ford is much more popular, but the stock Dana is a stronger and heavier rear.

Yep, no stock parts left in a high HP 9", not even the case. Another reason the 9" is popular is the argument that due to the placement of the pinion it uses up less HP to turn it. Another reason is the fact that it has a separate pumpkin, easy to swap out at the track if it fails or you want to change ratio. No doubt about it, the Dana is the stronger axle, it just doesn't suit every ones purposes.

Blue wrote:Yep, no stock parts left in a high HP 9", not even the case. Another reason the 9" is popular is the argument that due to the placement of the pinion it uses up less HP to turn it. Another reason is the fact that it has a separate pumpkin, easy to swap out at the track if it fails or you want to change ratio. No doubt about it, the Dana is the stronger axle, it just doesn't suit every ones purposes.

no stock parts left in a high HP 9", not even the case.

Yep, just goin through that route again ! Only thing left original now is the case & even that has been fully braced.

Would of liked an aftermarket case, but spent enough recently

Another reason the 9" is popular is the argument that due to the placement of the pinion it uses up less HP to turn it

Thats what I was trying to say in my jibberin stuper

100% agree with you about easy centre section removal


Cheers, Mark...

There was a time when some Top fuel dragsters had 8-3/4's, i think it all depends on what car they're in, if it's fitted to a 2 ton Charger, faster than 12's would probably break it but in a lightened A body, you could probably run at least low 10's, also manual is harder on rear end, as is a trans brake.
Aftermarket shafts and a back brace helps.

Here's some pics of Johnny Mental's 742 centre section which was behind a Blown Nitro Chevy small block in The Happening slingshot...........(Running in the 7s)

Point taken but the 8-3/4, is probably as strong as a stock 9" ford, although the Dana is the daddy of stock axles.

http://www.moparts.com/Tech/Archive/axle/1.html

A dana is 70 thats 70 pounds heavier than a Ford 9 inch
and an inch less ground clearance and inch and a half longer pinion shaft
70 pounds i'll take a passenger then

Yes, but the weight is in the right place - over the rear tyres