I thought it would be informative to have a discussion looking at the various aspects of these rear differentials for a drag car. I figure it basically comes down to weight and cost. Can a CM, back-braced 9" housing with 35 spline axles and your choice of carrier (spool, power lock, etc.) be bought at a comparable cost as, for example, a Strange S60?

I am getting ready to put a new rear under my Charger and was pretty set on a Dana 60 for simplicity's sake until a thread recently made me consider a 9". I am pretty confident that a spruced up 35 spline power lock in a S60 can live in a moderately heavy (say 3400-3600 lb car) around the 10.0-ish 1/4 mile ET.

Do any of you guys running 9" rears in door cars care to chime in? How about those heavy E and B body cars running into the high 9's with a Dana? Are you running a spool? What kind of axles? Any info you have to contribute would be greatly appreciated.

For laughs let's say the high side of the budget sans brakes is $3K.