Rear End Swap

[BBillyC]

What would be best. If I took out my 8-3/4 and wanted to put in a Dana. Instead of buying new which would be the best vehicle to seek out at a salvage yard to pull a Dana out of and set it up for the RR. Probably a truck of some kind??

 

[sixgunrunner68]

Probably a truck is all you'll find that rear in recently, but I would weigh out the numbers first. Chances are whatever rear you find you'll have to refurbished with new gears, bearings, brakes. I'm sure there will be some welding work invoved with spring perches, shock mounts and axle tubes. I'm not sure how cost effective it would be than just buying a turn key unit either new or used. I think George had a Dana 60 for sale, check the for sale forum.

 

[george68hemirr]

Probably a truck is all you'll find that rear in recently, but I would weigh out the numbers first. Chances are whatever rear you find you'll have to refurbished with new gears, bearings, brakes. I'm sure there will be some welding work invoved with spring perches, shock mounts and axle tubes. I'm not sure how cost effective it would be than just buying a turn key unit either new or used. I think George had a Dana 60 for sale, check the for sale forum.

no George has a 8 3/4 housing for sale

 

[sixgunrunner68]

Probably a truck is all you'll find that rear in recently, but I would weigh out the numbers first. Chances are whatever rear you find you'll have to refurbished with new gears, bearings, brakes. I'm sure there will be some welding work invoved with spring perches, shock mounts and axle tubes. I'm not sure how cost effective it would be than just buying a turn key unit either new or used. I think George had a Dana 60 for sale, check the for sale forum.

no George has a 8 3/4 housing for sale

Sorry,
My reading comprehension lacks. I realize now it's just the gears you're getting rid of.

 

[george68hemirr]

yep.....dana 60 4.88 gears/8 3/4 housing and 2 hoods

 

[moparchris]

Any truck that has the Dana in it would be fine. They have "60" cast into one of the webs. You will have to gut the housing and throw away everything. New axles, perches, carrier, gears, and housing ends cut to the length you desire. I have done a couple of them, but one thing to remember is that they dont have a provision for the pinion snubber. If you go with Cal-Tracs you wont need a snubber. Overall not much cheaper than buying a new rear that has the provision. :cents:

 

[BBillyC]

Great info guys. I have the standard 8-3/4 with 4:10 gear set now but am going to narrow it by 3" per side. All I really need to do is get new axles but they're around $600.00, so hence my question?

 

[droptop]

How much HP are you producing? The 8 3/4 will hold well over 450 HP with out any problems.

 

[BBillyC]

About 520

 

[moparchris]

I sold my 69 Dart Race car to a friend with a 750hp 440 (572 stroker) in it and the 8 3/4 held up for many years after that. It finally did die but only after 3 or 4 years of wheels up racing with no maintenance.