9 inch or Dana 60 ?

[VintageMusclecar]

As much as I loathe quoting magazine articles...

A few years ago Steve Magnante (sp?) did a back-to-back test between a Dana 60 and a Chrysler 8 3/4 rear end (very similar to a 9" Ford) in a Dart with, if memory serves correct, a 528 crate Hemi.

(I searched the HRM and CC sites for the article but came up dry)

Anyhow...long story, short version; despite the fact that the Dana was considerably heavier than the 8 3/4", track testing showed no significant difference in e.t., although I believe the article stated that the car was much more stable down-track, which the author credited towards a better posi unit in the Dana.

IMO, in a Pro-Touring build, I would use a 9" and not lose a moments sleep over it. For a serious drag car, I'll say this...I've seen a lot of broken 9" Fords, but I can count on one hand the number of broken Dana 60's I've seen.

FWIW, YMMV.

Eric

[budnate]

[ QUOTE ]
As much as I loathe quoting magazine articles...

A few years ago Steve Magnante (sp?) did a back-to-back test between a Dana 60 and a Chrysler 8 3/4 rear end (very similar to a 9" Ford) in a Dart with, if memory serves correct, a 528 crate Hemi.

(I searched the HRM and CC sites for the article but came up dry)

Anyhow...long story, short version; despite the fact that the Dana was considerably heavier than the 8 3/4", track testing showed no significant difference in e.t., although I believe the article stated that the car was much more stable down-track, which the author credited towards a better posi unit in the Dana.

IMO, in a Pro-Touring build, I would use a 9" and not lose a moments sleep over it. For a serious drag car, I'll say this...I've seen a lot of broken 9" Fords, but I can count on one hand the number of broken Dana 60's I've seen.

FWIW, YMMV.

Eric

[/ QUOTE ]

he did the test at the track and Hot Rod did the vid on it, car ran the same numbers with both rears...

[Kim_Howie]

My old 427 Nova had a ford 9" 500HP left the line at 5,500 with a trannie break and never hurt it in 10 years. 14.00 by 32 slicks

[3macs1]

[ QUOTE ]
My old 427 Nova had a ford 9" 500HP left the line at 5,500 with a trannie break and never hurt it in 10 years. 14.00 by 32 slicks

[/ QUOTE ]

I would bet Kim your set up was upgraded with a nodular iron carrier and special pinion retainer.The original gray iron set up and caps would explode with 500hp.Also the original traction lock are so thin they would fail catastropicly.
The old bogger was a shade over 500 Hp and she would eat them even after we did the upgrades.We are talking spinning 18.5 wide by 44 tires also with lockers in the front and rear. Something will break eventually.

[Kim_Howie]

The car had a mini spool in it for years And ford N case.

[Kim_Howie]

I ran 5:67 gears in the 1/8 mile tracks and 4:88 in the 1/4 mile tracks.

[3macs1]

[ QUOTE ]
The car had a mini spool in it for years And ford N case.

[/ QUOTE ]

I figured it could not be stock. Spools are a bit crazy on the street however.

[Kim_Howie]

The pin came loose in the mini spool hit bottom of case BOOM. I went to MW spool and 31 spline axles then.

[Supergas990]

We ran a 9" in our Super Gas car for years, without ever having a failure. The car weighed 3,750lbs and put out 1,000hp on the motor.

Just don't skimp when it comes to gears, axles, bearings, etc... when it comes to building it.

Blair

[Mr BB Chevy]

for a pro-touring car, a good 10bolt or 12bolt would be fine.

9" or dana for high horse power / heavy car.

---------
Dana 60, 557 gears, 14.5x32's ,3700lb car, same rear for over 20 years.. and a few thousand 1/4 mile passes.


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