12 bolt vs Dana 60

[Ed McLawhorn Jr.]

Been thinking about taking very heavy dana out and replacing with 12 bolt. Its known the Dana is bullet proof and takes more energy to rotate than 12 bolt. Car is a 283 ss/gt auto in 3430lb wagon with a 6:20 gear and 30" radial tire. There was a 12 bolt with 6:14 and 28.5" bias tire dad ran in the car in the 80's before rules changed on heads. Besides more hp to run dana, I'm looking at the difference in weight. With dana, I'm pretty much locked into one gt class due to not getting light enough. Would the oem 12 bolt hold up or do I need to think more about an aftermarket housing and is a good 6:14 still available? Thanks.

[Jeff Stout]

12 bolt with aftermarket goods will hold up. I'm 3360 10 flat ET with trans brake and around 170 passes. No noise yet. Did break a 4.56 street gear. Went pro gear and that's been it. Also used 4.10 gear with 9 tooth pinion and no problem. If I remember I think 85 lbs lighter then dana

[Mark Yacavone]

I wouldn't carry a Dana 60 , unless it was for the 6.50 ratio.
Come to think of it, there's your real answer ;-)

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

I wouldn't carry a Dana 60 , unless it was for the 6.50 ratio.
Come to think of it, there's your real answer ;-)

...or a 7.17 ratio...

[Dragsinger]

with the ratios of 5.86 - 6.14 the 12 bolt pinion is very small. It may have been an isolated case but with the 5.86 in my Super 10 it did not hold up. Even with a Cryo treated gear set. Installing a 5.57 gear gained one more tooth on the pinion and gear life was much better. This was with a SS 327 running 10.30s at 8400 - 8600 RPM at around 3250 pounds

[340Cuda]

Isn't the 12 bolt about the only rear end that is more efficient than a Dana 60?

its a couple of dollars, but an aluminum spool, gun drilled lightweight axles, and if you dare ceramic bearings i think the Dana will be just as fast as the 12 bolt and not have the gear trouble either, + 6.50 and a 7.17 option is nice as well. it will also last forever. you already have it in the car as well

[Bench Racer]

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

...or a 7.17 ratio...

My Brother ran a Dana with 6:83 and a 2:75 low gear in IHRA Production with a 283c.i. 1958 wagon . The car was a tank at #3839 and low gear was a short ride lol, he shifted at 10,500 rpm. Never broke a gear in the Dana.

[ImBack]

My cousin has a '71 Chevelle it's a bracket car, weighs 2920 with a 555 CI,runs 550s in the eighth mile with a 12 bolt. He was only getting about a hundred runs out of a ring and pinion but switched to a 488 I believe has a larger pinion? It has a t a girdle on it and good axles and spool but it's nothing special.

[Ed McLawhorn Jr.]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

I wouldn't carry a Dana 60 , unless it was for the 6.50 ratio.

Mark, don't think I will need a 6:50 for this combination. If for some strange reason I do, I will try a shorter tire to add some gear.