weight savings dana to ford

Jim Hawkins · 11-01-2013, 08:16 PM

How much lighter is a ford 9" over a dana 60? Same width, lightweight steel spool and axles in both and a aluminum center in the ford. Properly braced for a super stock car.

Ed Carpenter · 11-01-2013, 08:37 PM

Jim I asked this question last year. This is an example of the answer I got. Most were in this area. I didn't do it after finding out the cost to do it. The ole Dana is going to have to go a few more years.

Changed my dana to a 9 in this winter. Comparable parts lightened axles , steel spool, new housing from Moser,and an alum case. Total savings 40 lbs.

Jim Hawkins · 11-02-2013, 12:06 PM

Well for 40lbs. that comes out to about $100.00 per pound. I think my old dana will have to be just fine. Just not many gear choices.

Jeff Lee · 11-02-2013, 04:33 PM

When comparing weights, don't forget CM axle tubes are an option for the Dana. Thick wall truck MS tubes are really heavy!

Jim Hawkins · 11-02-2013, 09:27 PM

Yes mine has oem thick tubes, came out of a 1 ton van. Still alot of $$$ to change over. May get a more updated car someday. This car was a modified car built in the seventies with ladder bars and a dana. Even still had the 277" motor and 5 speed when I bought it!

Ed Carpenter · 11-02-2013, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Hawkins

Yes mine has oem thick tubes, came out of a 1 ton van. Still alot of $$$ to change over. May get a more updated car someday. This car was a modified car built in the seventies with ladder bars and a dana. Even still had the 277" motor and 5 speed when I bought it!

Jim mine was done in 79 so I think were in the same boat. On the other hand its still under there in one piece right? ☺

Rory McNeil · 11-03-2013, 02:06 AM

About 2000, when I swapped by bracket car from an automatic to a Jerico 4 speed, I figured my old 9"was borderline without a serious up grade, so my buddy built me a Dana 60 to replace the 9". My old 9" had a non braced earlt style housing, with a factory Ford Nodular iron case and pinion support, and 33 spline Strange spool and axles. The new Dana was narrowed to the same width, and is a thick tube 3/4 ton PU truck housing, and has Strange 35 spline spool & axles, billlet caps, and a T/A aluminum load bolt cover. Using the same brakes, the Dana was only 6 pounds heavier, but if I had upgraded my old 9" to 35 spline guts, braced the housing, and used a cast iron aftermarket case, I think it would be virtually the same weight. Obviously an aluminum case and pinion support would knock off a fair bit of weight, but comparing apples to apples, the Dana was not noticably heavier. Having a bunch of pre assembled 9" chunks would be nice and conveniant, but costy, compared to changing gears in a Dana, and a bigger concern would be the lack of available ratios available for the Dana compared to the Ford. But if the ratios available for the Dana will work for you, it is a pretty stout choice, and cheaper to build than most 9"s. I wish there was a ratio between 4.56 and 4.88 available for the Dana, but overall I have been very happy with my Dana.

Jim Hawkins · 11-03-2013, 01:33 PM

Thanks for the replies. The original dana in the car bent the tubes forward. I had this one built and braced from the outer end of each tube to the front of the housing. New M-W spool and axles. Another question I have for you guys running a dana is pinion shimming. Do you adjust pinion depth with the shims under the race in the housing or some other method? Every time that race is removed it has to lose some of it press fit in the housing. Thought about shims under the pinion bearing like a 12 bolt but could not find any that fit.

Tom Goldman · 11-03-2013, 07:31 PM

I recently refurbished an old Modified 67 Nova with a Dana and changed it to a 9".
Same width housings ,solid 35 spline axles ,same brakes.
Dana was a passenger car housing ,not a truck housing with the heavier webbing, had .195" cm tubes and a Summers Bros. spool ,[heavy!]
9" ,Strange iron center, Strange steel spool ,Chassis engineering mild steel fab housing with back brace, all the same brackets as the Dana , total weight difference ,a whopping 16 pounds.
If you used all the same light weight components in either rear , the difference might be around 22 pounds, due to the additional savings from a 9" aluminum center.

My opinion is if you are building a new car , a SS car that changes ratios often or a car that needs a ratio not offered for a Dana ,then by all means build it with a 9" ,if not leave the Dana in.
If your heavy wall tubes are bent ,have them replaced with CM .195 tubes ,for a fraction of the cost of changing to the 9"
There are a whole lot of competitive race cars out there with Dana's in them !

11-01-2013, 08:16 PM	#1
Jim Hawkins Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 198 Likes: 89 Liked 115 Times in 35 Posts	weight savings dana to ford How much lighter is a ford 9" over a dana 60? Same width, lightweight steel spool and axles in both and a aluminum center in the ford. Properly braced for a super stock car.

11-01-2013, 08:37 PM	#2
Ed Carpenter Live Reporter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dripping Springs, Tx Posts: 2,709 Likes: 186 Liked 520 Times in 132 Posts	Re: weight savings dana to ford Jim I asked this question last year. This is an example of the answer I got. Most were in this area. I didn't do it after finding out the cost to do it. The ole Dana is going to have to go a few more years. Changed my dana to a 9 in this winter. Comparable parts lightened axles , steel spool, new housing from Moser,and an alum case. Total savings 40 lbs. __________________ Ed Carpenter 2005 Chevy Cobalt A/SM Race Engine Development

11-02-2013, 12:06 PM	#3
Jim Hawkins Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 198 Likes: 89 Liked 115 Times in 35 Posts	Re: weight savings dana to ford Well for 40lbs. that comes out to about $100.00 per pound. I think my old dana will have to be just fine. Just not many gear choices.

11-02-2013, 04:33 PM	#4
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: weight savings dana to ford When comparing weights, don't forget CM axle tubes are an option for the Dana. Thick wall truck MS tubes are really heavy! __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

11-02-2013, 09:27 PM	#5
Jim Hawkins Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 198 Likes: 89 Liked 115 Times in 35 Posts	Re: weight savings dana to ford Yes mine has oem thick tubes, came out of a 1 ton van. Still alot of $$$ to change over. May get a more updated car someday. This car was a modified car built in the seventies with ladder bars and a dana. Even still had the 277" motor and 5 speed when I bought it!

11-03-2013, 02:06 AM	#7
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,311 Likes: 316 Liked 1,103 Times in 301 Posts	Re: weight savings dana to ford About 2000, when I swapped by bracket car from an automatic to a Jerico 4 speed, I figured my old 9"was borderline without a serious up grade, so my buddy built me a Dana 60 to replace the 9". My old 9" had a non braced earlt style housing, with a factory Ford Nodular iron case and pinion support, and 33 spline Strange spool and axles. The new Dana was narrowed to the same width, and is a thick tube 3/4 ton PU truck housing, and has Strange 35 spline spool & axles, billlet caps, and a T/A aluminum load bolt cover. Using the same brakes, the Dana was only 6 pounds heavier, but if I had upgraded my old 9" to 35 spline guts, braced the housing, and used a cast iron aftermarket case, I think it would be virtually the same weight. Obviously an aluminum case and pinion support would knock off a fair bit of weight, but comparing apples to apples, the Dana was not noticably heavier. Having a bunch of pre assembled 9" chunks would be nice and conveniant, but costy, compared to changing gears in a Dana, and a bigger concern would be the lack of available ratios available for the Dana compared to the Ford. But if the ratios available for the Dana will work for you, it is a pretty stout choice, and cheaper to build than most 9"s. I wish there was a ratio between 4.56 and 4.88 available for the Dana, but overall I have been very happy with my Dana. __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

11-03-2013, 01:33 PM	#8
Jim Hawkins Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 198 Likes: 89 Liked 115 Times in 35 Posts	Re: weight savings dana to ford Thanks for the replies. The original dana in the car bent the tubes forward. I had this one built and braced from the outer end of each tube to the front of the housing. New M-W spool and axles. Another question I have for you guys running a dana is pinion shimming. Do you adjust pinion depth with the shims under the race in the housing or some other method? Every time that race is removed it has to lose some of it press fit in the housing. Thought about shims under the pinion bearing like a 12 bolt but could not find any that fit.

11-03-2013, 07:31 PM	#9
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,475 Likes: 886 Liked 864 Times in 235 Posts	Re: weight savings dana to ford I recently refurbished an old Modified 67 Nova with a Dana and changed it to a 9". Same width housings ,solid 35 spline axles ,same brakes. Dana was a passenger car housing ,not a truck housing with the heavier webbing, had .195" cm tubes and a Summers Bros. spool ,[heavy!] 9" ,Strange iron center, Strange steel spool ,Chassis engineering mild steel fab housing with back brace, all the same brackets as the Dana , total weight difference ,a whopping 16 pounds. If you used all the same light weight components in either rear , the difference might be around 22 pounds, due to the additional savings from a 9" aluminum center. My opinion is if you are building a new car , a SS car that changes ratios often or a car that needs a ratio not offered for a Dana ,then by all means build it with a 9" ,if not leave the Dana in. If your heavy wall tubes are bent ,have them replaced with CM .195 tubes ,for a fraction of the cost of changing to the 9" There are a whole lot of competitive race cars out there with Dana's in them ! __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK