Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ?

Posted By: The Duster

Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 02:41 AM

I think I should switch to the Dana 60 from the 9" that I have (not modified yet), for my build. It looks like my rear frame width will be about 22 inches or maybe even 20. This will put the brackets up on the tapered area instead of the axle tubes, and I don't really like that idea. Besides letting my Chevy buddies talk me into the 9"! lol What are your opinions on this? Are there particular Dana's I need to look for?

About the build:

65 Dart
back half four link (probably) ladder?
14 point cage
500 stroker
RPM's or Victors depending on $$ at the time
727 trans
plan to move firewall back about 3"
possibly move rear axle forward 3" or so
I'm guessing around 2900 lbs or so.
Have 15 x 14 7.5 bk sp. Draglites 32 x 14+ slicks
4.30 gear?

Thanks guys.

Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 03:04 AM

Dana 60 come with at least three different tube thicknesses, cars where three inch diameter along with some 3/4 ton van and pick up rear ends, some of the 3/4 ton trucks came with 3.125 diameter tubes and some came with 3.250 tube diameters. Any of them will work for what your wanting to do. Tell your Chevy buds that the Dana 60 has a lot less parasitic drag stock than any of the Ford nine production rear ends did, including the famous "Daytona support" rear ends

As far as building yours use the 35 or 40 spline axles and spool with the apropriate axle ends for the brakes you want to run

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 03:15 AM

That is pretty narrow... I wouldnt worry about being
on the taper other than its more work just got to make
them square and parallel... myself, if I had the 9"
thats what I would use instead of buying more stuff...
Also I would go 4-link now and not even think ladder
bars... look at the lengths of the different anti roll
bars before you go any farther... try to keep the
shocks out as far as possible for better stability...JMO

Posted By: Monte_Smith

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 05:46 AM

No way, no how, would I have my suspension brackets welded to cast...but thats just me. Use the 9" you have, or if it must be a Mopar rear, use an 8.75.

Look at it this way...axles are axles, brakes are brakes, spools, gears, etc..they cost the same for either rear. You have the 9". Yes, you will need to buy a decent center and an alum pinion support for the Ford. Both of these will cost you about $500 if you shop around, but you won't have your main suspension components welded to cast.

Monte

Posted By: SG duster

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 07:28 AM

my frame rails are 23" I use a 9" with a 40" wide flange base, currently rolling on 32x16w tyres in a duster, pm me you email if you want photos of my 9" four link brackets

Posted By: Super Scamp

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 10:55 AM

Put a Dana 60 in it and never look back. Mr. P is correct again 4-link coil overs and anti roll. You have it apart and now is the time to install the bullit proof Mopar equipment.

I will post a few pics of the dana 4-link system that I installed just this year.

Attached picture 6082863-Picturebaseball006.jpg

Posted By: Super Scamp

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 10:57 AM

Another...

Attached picture 6082864-Picturebaseball004.jpg

Posted By: Super Scamp

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 10:59 AM

yet another pic...

Attached picture 6082865-DSCN08390014.JPG

Posted By: Monte_Smith

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 04:52 PM

The issue here, is not whethert he DANA will work, because we all know it will. The issue is the frame rail width in an early A body. If the rails are narrow enough, that the brackets will need to be placed on the web and not the tubes, that would immediately rule out the DANA for me. The DANA vs 9" argument is a useless waste of time and I can't believe I got involved in it, but in this instance, the 9" is the obvious better choice

Monte

Posted By: BBLM23

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 05:01 PM

This is in the K. 14x32 tires. The upper wheelie bar tabs are welded to the housing. Everything else is on the tubes. That was the first thing we measured before we ordered the dana. Is a 65 Dart narrower?

Posted By: Monte_Smith

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 05:09 PM

He says in the first post, that the brackets will be on the web.

Monte

Posted By: theclutcher

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 06:20 PM

you can get around that width issue.
with a removable lower shock mount that spans below the housing.
Dont have pics but have done one.

Posted By: BBLM23

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 06:47 PM

Quote:

He says in the first post, that the brackets will be on the web.

Monte

He said "looks like" and "about." I was questioning the need to be that narrow...

Posted By: Monte_Smith

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 07:49 PM

Quote:

you can get around that width issue.
with a removable lower shock mount that spans below the housing.
Dont have pics but have done one.

How does that help the area where the suspension brackets attach. I don't have a Dana handy to measure, but with a 20 or 22 frame rail center and a center pinion, I can be pretty sure that one or both brackets would have to be on the webbing and not the tubing.

Never having built a K-car, I can't comment on if the rails need to narrower on the early A body, but I am betting yes. The early A bodies were some of the narrowest cars I have ever worked with.

Monte

Posted By: mopowers

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 08:03 PM

Early A bodies have just about the same width rear frame rails as later model A's.

Also, I believe Dana center sections are about 17.5". Thats going off memory though.

Posted By: The Duster

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 09:04 PM

The issue is that the brackets would be on the tapered part of the 9" rear. I believe they would be on the tubes of a Dana. I don't know for a fact because I don't have one to measure. The tapered part of the 9" rear is 24" wide. Plus centering the pinion shifts it a little more to one side. I have just a little more trimming around the wheel well before I can get a more accurate measurement. The slicks I'm using for mock up are 1.5 inches (section width) wider than what I will be using. Axle hub to axle hub approx 45".

What is the center width of a Dana 60? Would the brackets be on the tubes of the Dana at 22" frame width?

Thanks again.

Posted By: Flite_727

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 09:16 PM

Quote:

What is the center width of a Dana 60?

mine came in @ 17-7/16" (17.437")

Posted By: The Duster

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/13/10 09:31 PM

A friend of mine just offered me a FREE Dana 60, no guts or ends from a 71 Dodge 3/4 ton truck. Is this the way I should go? Moser is who I will probably be using to narrow, and get axles, etc from as I can drive there in about two hours.

It looks like most anti roll bars adjust from 16" to 24". At least the ones from A.R.T. do

Posted By: The Duster

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/14/10 12:30 AM

Hey Super Scamp. Nice! What is your frame width outside to outside? Yours looks like it's as close as you can get it and still be on the tubes. Thanks to the fast measurement from Flite727, I would think I will still be on the tubes at 22" maybe even 20". 1 3/8" offset?

I really appreciate all the help guys.

Posted By: Super Scamp

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/14/10 01:45 AM

The C/M Frame rails are 21" outside to outside.

4-link brackets are 21" outside to outside.

With the Dana 38" flange to flange, It's the most you can get under the car with 33x 16.5x 15 tires rims are 4" b/s. So you have 20" centers and everything lines up. Wheelie bars have room as well.. All parts fore the 4-link are from RJ Race Cars inc. (Quarter-Max) It's very tight with the anti-roll made custom brackets for it to fit centered on the 4-link.

Moser spool,axles/bearings and housing ends. I ordered the axles and moser was very helpful with the measurement.

Posted By: Monte_Smith

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/14/10 06:29 AM

Quote:

Early A bodies have just about the same width rear frame rails as later model A's.

Also, I believe Dana center sections are about 17.5". Thats going off memory though.

Factory frame rails may indeed be the same, but the car itself is much narrower. So to put the same tire under and early A body, requires the rails to be closer together................But no matter, it appears he has it figured out and the brackets will be on the tubes of the Dana. I personally would rather have the 9", but to each their own.

Monte

Posted By: gregsdart

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/14/10 02:24 PM

Truck Dana, 29 inch outside to outside, too little room but run 2079-1 Goodyears with 17.8 section width.

Attached picture 6085183-small44.JPG

Posted By: mopowers

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/14/10 02:27 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Early A bodies have just about the same width rear frame rails as later model A's.

Also, I believe Dana center sections are about 17.5". Thats going off memory though.

Factory frame rails may indeed be the same, but the car itself is much narrower. So to put the same tire under and early A body, requires the rails to be closer together................

Monte

Not so sure of that. Having had both, I know that the max tire I could fit was equal with both my 66 A body and 72 A body.

You made me curious though because I never measured the difference. According to this site, the 66 Dart is actually wider than the 70 swinger. Maybe Valiants are different?

http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/dart.html

I think the only thing narrower about early A's is the width of the factory front frame rails.

Posted By: The Duster

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/15/10 08:37 PM

Quote:

Truck Dana, 29 inch outside to outside, too little room but run 2079-1 Goodyears with 17.8 section width.

Hey Greg. What's your frame dimensions since yours is also a 65 Dart? Also, did you open up the size of your rear wheel openings? How about the fronts to run bigger front tires for better roll out?

Thanks

Attached picture 6087776-Dart014.JPG

Posted By: gregsdart

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/15/10 09:34 PM

My rails are 2x3 mounted with a 29 inch outside of rail to outside of rail demension. This gives me enough room for a 17 inch section width.
Like I said, that is less that optimum, and I would go 24 inch os to os next time to be able to run any tire I want. Fronts are an issue. I run a 25 inch tall tire, and that is all that will fit. I can't remember what fit well when the front was stock, but it wasn't very big! I can't remember if I had to trim the front lips of the fenders for stock suspension and the 25 inch tires or If I did that after the chassis upgrade.

Posted By: The Duster

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/16/10 01:22 AM

Quote:

My rails are 2x3 mounted with a 29 inch outside of rail to outside of rail demension. This gives me enough room for a 17 inch section width.
Like I said, that is less that optimum, and I would go 24 inch os to os next time to be able to run any tire I want. Fronts are an issue. I run a 25 inch tall tire, and that is all that will fit. I can't remember what fit well when the front was stock, but it wasn't very big! I can't remember if I had to trim the front lips of the fenders for stock suspension and the 25 inch tires or If I did that after the chassis upgrade.

Wow that's tight! With my mock up slicks 18.4" (spec, not actual) section width against the quarter panels, there is only 29 1/2 inches between them!

I measured 65" between quarters. 1 inch clearance each side of tire = 4

65 - (18.4 x 2) - 4 = 24.2 or 24 inch frame width
or 65 - (17 x 2) -4 = 27 or 26 inch frame width

I plan on using slightly narrower slicks 32 x 14 that will have between 16.5 to 17" section width depending on brand, but thought extra room would be nice encase I wanted to go faster down the road and needed more tire.

wedgie over on forabodiesonly stretched his front wheel openings to run a 28 inch front.

Posted By: mopowers

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/16/10 02:18 AM

FWIW- I've got 205/75/15s on the front of my 66 and they fit fine.

Posted By: The Duster

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/16/10 02:27 AM

Quote:

FWIW- I've got 205/75/15s on the front of my 66 and they fit fine.

What is that, about 27 inches? I don't think it would be worth it to me to do all that work on the fender for one more inch.

Is that a stock front suspension?

Posted By: gregsdart

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/16/10 03:31 AM

Quote:

Quote:

My rails are 2x3 mounted with a 29 inch outside of rail to outside of rail demension. This gives me enough room for a 17 inch section width.
Like I said, that is less that optimum, and I would go 24 inch os to os next time to be able to run any tire I want. Fronts are an issue. I run a 25 inch tall tire, and that is all that will fit. I can't remember what fit well when the front was stock, but it wasn't very big! I can't remember if I had to trim the front lips of the fenders for stock suspension and the 25 inch tires or If I did that after the chassis upgrade.

Wow that's tight! With my mock up slicks 18.4" (spec, not actual) section width against the quarter panels, there is only 29 1/2 inches between them!

I measured 65" between quarters. 1 inch clearance each side of tire = 4

65 - (18.4 x 2) - 4 = 24.2 or 24 inch frame width
or 65 - (17 x 2) -4 = 27 or 26 inch frame width

I plan on using slightly narrower slicks 32 x 14 that will have between 16.5 to 17" section width depending on brand, but thought extra room would be nice encase I wanted to go faster down the road and needed more tire.

wedgie over on forabodiesonly stretched his front wheel openings to run a 28 inch front.

I have less than 1/2 inch anywhere tire to frame or fenders. I did remove the fender lip, and with very careful monitoring, get away with it, but I don't recommend it!

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/16/10 05:14 AM

Quote:

Quote:

My rails are 2x3 mounted with a 29 inch outside of rail to outside of rail demension. This gives me enough room for a 17 inch section width.
Like I said, that is less that optimum, and I would go 24 inch os to os next time to be able to run any tire I want. Fronts are an issue. I run a 25 inch tall tire, and that is all that will fit. I can't remember what fit well when the front was stock, but it wasn't very big! I can't remember if I had to trim the front lips of the fenders for stock suspension and the 25 inch tires or If I did that after the chassis upgrade.

Wow that's tight! With my mock up slicks 18.4" (spec, not actual) section width against the quarter panels, there is only 29 1/2 inches between them!

I measured 65" between quarters. 1 inch clearance each side of tire = 4

65 - (18.4 x 2) - 4 = 24.2 or 24 inch frame width
or 65 - (17 x 2) -4 = 27 or 26 inch frame width

I plan on using slightly narrower slicks 32 x 14 that will have between 16.5 to 17" section width depending on brand, but thought extra room would be nice encase I wanted to go faster down the road and needed more tire.

wedgie over on forabodiesonly stretched his front wheel openings to run a 28 inch front.

32x14s will take you as fast as you will ever want to go, look at how fast some of those 10.5 outlaw cars go. Just crazy!

Posted By: mopowers

Re: Yet another Dana 60 post! Need help w/ ? - 07/16/10 02:43 PM

Quote:

Quote:

FWIW- I've got 205/75/15s on the front of my 66 and they fit fine.

What is that, about 27 inches? I don't think it would be worth it to me to do all that work on the fender for one more inch.

Is that a stock front suspension?

Yeah, they are about 27". The wheel openings on a 65 must be smaller. Strange... Mine is converted to coilovers in front, but the wheels are in the stock position.

I would think the first place it would rub would be on the front lip. You could just trim the front edge a little I guess.