Which rear end would I be better off with?

fastmachone · 03-19-2015, 08:06 PM

which rear end would I be better off with, an 8 3/4 or a Dana 60?

Bill Baer · 03-19-2015, 08:28 PM

Well that depends if weight is no problem, the Dana 60 is more durable but it's pretty heavy and it's unsprung weight which means the type of suspension you run can be affected.
The 8-3/4 is lighter but not as durable and probably cheaper.
I guess it boils down to this, big tires, manual trans, heavy car, big motor
consider the Dana.(I.e super stock, super gas/ comp, top sportsman)
Small tires, auto trans, and or light car , small block use the 8-3/4 (I.e a stocker or bracket car).
That's my two cents worth (Mopar guys opinion's will vary)!

GTX JOHN · 03-19-2015, 09:41 PM

How fast and how heavy a car are you
considering?

Rod Greene · 03-20-2015, 04:17 AM

Dana 60 all the way. The dana I had in my car was only 20lbs heavier than the 8 3/4. It is bullet proof and takes less HP to rotate. It is a no brainer. If you run an auto if you break the rearend it takes the tranny with it. Just one more reason for Dana.

Larry Hill · 03-20-2015, 07:30 AM

Dana 60 is faster than 8 3/4 I back to back them at Indy one year. They last longer than 8 3/4, bought mine in 1991 and still using all the same parts.

fastmachone · 03-20-2015, 09:55 PM

The car is a 1976 Volarie, 360 4 BBL Stocker. I'm thinking 4500 stall and 5.13 gears.

John Dinkel · 03-20-2015, 10:07 PM

You should not have a problem with the 8 3/4 in your car.

GTX JOHN · 03-21-2015, 02:37 AM

We have run 8 3/4 in our Volare / Aspen Stockers for many years with only
a couple of Failures in the Very Heavy Wagon at 3620 to 3850 Weight.

I would consider a looser converter 5200 (360) - 5400(318) to go with the 5:13 Gears which should be right a low elevation.

My Chassis guy said with same amount of lightning the Dana would be
40 to 50 heavier than 8 3/4. Does anyone know if he is right?

older racer · 03-21-2015, 12:23 PM

depends on the dana housing. difference we seen , was 32 #. there's four different dana 60 housings. heavy to lighter. car didn't slow down any.

340Cuda · 03-21-2015, 01:39 PM

My personal experience and that of everyone I have ever talked to is that the Dana 60 will not slow your car down even given the extra weight.

If are running ballast, you might be able to take some out and be ahead.

The biggest drawback is that it is not nearly as easy to swap gears.

Bill Lamb

03-19-2015, 08:06 PM	#1
fastmachone Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Indian Head, MD Posts: 27 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Which rear end would I be better off with? which rear end would I be better off with, an 8 3/4 or a Dana 60?

03-19-2015, 08:28 PM	#2
Bill Baer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nothern IL Posts: 596 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Which rear end would I be better off with? Well that depends if weight is no problem, the Dana 60 is more durable but it's pretty heavy and it's unsprung weight which means the type of suspension you run can be affected. The 8-3/4 is lighter but not as durable and probably cheaper. I guess it boils down to this, big tires, manual trans, heavy car, big motor consider the Dana.(I.e super stock, super gas/ comp, top sportsman) Small tires, auto trans, and or light car , small block use the 8-3/4 (I.e a stocker or bracket car). That's my two cents worth (Mopar guys opinion's will vary)! __________________ Bill Baer 3391 SC, 339B SC, QR

03-19-2015, 09:41 PM	#3
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,528 Likes: 2,220 Liked 1,791 Times in 571 Posts	Re: Which rear end would I be better off with? How fast and how heavy a car are you considering? __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock

03-20-2015, 04:17 AM	#4
Rod Greene Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: TN Posts: 514 Likes: 355 Liked 204 Times in 72 Posts	Re: Which rear end would I be better off with? Dana 60 all the way. The dana I had in my car was only 20lbs heavier than the 8 3/4. It is bullet proof and takes less HP to rotate. It is a no brainer. If you run an auto if you break the rearend it takes the tranny with it. Just one more reason for Dana. __________________ Rod Greene Real men shift for them selves. Slowly working on TA Challenger for D,E/S and a 72 Challenger for SS/K, L as if I don't have enough other projects. Last edited by Rod Greene; 03-20-2015 at 04:27 AM.

03-20-2015, 07:30 AM	#5
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,270 Likes: 1,631 Liked 9,422 Times in 1,951 Posts	Re: Which rear end would I be better off with? Dana 60 is faster than 8 3/4 I back to back them at Indy one year. They last longer than 8 3/4, bought mine in 1991 and still using all the same parts. __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

03-20-2015, 09:55 PM	#6
fastmachone Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Indian Head, MD Posts: 27 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Which rear end would I be better off with? The car is a 1976 Volarie, 360 4 BBL Stocker. I'm thinking 4500 stall and 5.13 gears.

03-20-2015, 10:07 PM	#7
John Dinkel Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pinckney, Michigan Posts: 500 Likes: 348 Liked 233 Times in 62 Posts	Re: Which rear end would I be better off with? You should not have a problem with the 8 3/4 in your car. __________________ John Dinkel 3295 STK

03-21-2015, 02:37 AM	#8
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,528 Likes: 2,220 Liked 1,791 Times in 571 Posts	Re: Which rear end would I be better off with? We have run 8 3/4 in our Volare / Aspen Stockers for many years with only a couple of Failures in the Very Heavy Wagon at 3620 to 3850 Weight. I would consider a looser converter 5200 (360) - 5400(318) to go with the 5:13 Gears which should be right a low elevation. My Chassis guy said with same amount of lightning the Dana would be 40 to 50 heavier than 8 3/4. Does anyone know if he is right? __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock

03-21-2015, 12:23 PM	#9
older racer Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 203 Likes: 2 Liked 57 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Which rear end would I be better off with? depends on the dana housing. difference we seen , was 32 #. there's four different dana 60 housings. heavy to lighter. car didn't slow down any.

03-21-2015, 01:39 PM	#10
340Cuda VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,567 Likes: 3,152 Liked 677 Times in 290 Posts	Re: Which rear end would I be better off with? My personal experience and that of everyone I have ever talked to is that the Dana 60 will not slow your car down even given the extra weight. If are running ballast, you might be able to take some out and be ahead. The biggest drawback is that it is not nearly as easy to swap gears. Bill Lamb

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