Dana 61 in passenger car?

Currently I have an 8 3/4 in my Charger but the change to a 4-speed and a 500" stroker might warrant an upgrade of the rear axle. I like the 3.23 highway gears I have now but the tallest gears in a Dana 60 are 3.33 (came in some Fords apparently) but they are hard to come by (3.54 being the tallest readily available gears).
Dana 61 axles often have a ratio of 3.07 or 3.31 which theoretically should work well (I'm aware that changing to lower gears is not possible).
Has anyone put a Dana 61 in a passenger car?

Should be pretty straight forward?

I may be wrong, but isn't a Dana 61 used in the front of a 1 ton 4x4 with a Dana 70 in the back? If that is true doesn't that give some compatibility issues when used as a rear axle?

They used them in 1st Gen Diesel Dodge pickups before the 518OD trans was available.

My buddy has a 91 W350 single wheel with a 727 and 3.07 gears.

Kevin

Why not just use a gear vender over drive in the car. How many wheel studs in the Dana 61 axles if more than five you are buying axles or if the bolt pattern is different than what rims you have now. There is also another Dana put in Chryslers in C Bodies that could have lower gear ratios. They are rare but one member has one that might be for sale soon. Also what is wrong with the 8 34 if it is a street car and you can spin the tires. You can put axles in the 8 34 and other goodies to make it a lot stronger than stock. I guess you could be wanting that look of a four speed with a dana.

Much easier to use a 9".......

Ed

As far as I know the Dana 61 where made as rear ends only on 3/4 and maybe some 1 ton pickups with 3.0 and 3.30 ratio
The Dana 60-2 cases where front wheel drives only that used the reverse rotation gear sets for front ends I have been wrong on many things in the past, mainly on stock Mopar production parts

If you are just running street tires I would think the 8_3/4 would survive just fine. If you are running slicks or drag radials it may create issues.

-Jon

I believe you can find Dana 61s under some vans and they do not have full floating axles.
The Dana under some C-bodies isn't as strong as a 60/61. It is probably right there with the 8 3/4.

I've been looking at this for a while now, thinking of larger torquier engines.

Your cheapest alternative would probably be a 9 1/4.

R.






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Dana 61 Rear - 35 Spline - Dana 61 Rear Semi-Float
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Dana 61 Rear - 35 Spline




Dana 61 Rear Semi-Float

•Ring Gear Diameter: 9.750
•Cover Bolts: 10
•Ring Gear Bolts: 12
•Spline Count: 35
•Dropout: False
•Pinion Support: False
•Carrier Breaks: none
•Rear Suspension: Solid
•Pinion Nut Size: 1-5/16



Compatible with Models:

E-250 3/4 Ton: 1981 - 1983 (Rear)
F-250 3/4 Ton: 1980 - 1982 (Rear)
F-250 3/4 Ton: 1980 - 1982 (Rear)
F-350 1 Ton: 1981 - 1983 (Rear)
F-350 1 Ton: 1981 - 1983 (Rear)

Would agree with a Nine Inch. Lots of rear ends out there and lots of after market parts to put in then. Center sections are easy to change for different gear ratios. Resale value will always be good for a built nine inch.

I still like an over drive in the car. Take a look at the Gear Vender Web Site.

http://www.gearvendors.com/index.html

If you want highway gears this is your best choice

Gus