Ok guys, im getting ready to order my new rear and im on the fence between a 12 bolt and a dana 60.

the dana 60 has the efficiency advantage and strength advantage over the 9" and the 12 bolt. however, its also a little more money.

i also kinda like the idea of the dana 60 cause not very many people have done it. Anyone have one? if so how is it. id like to hear some opinions.

383

 

I run Dana 60's in my jeep. They are great axles with many parts available. They are extremely strong but you have to remember how heavy they are. I don't have exact figures but I beleive they are quite a bit heavier than the 12 and 9". Are you tubbed with a big block? Otherwise they may be overkill, just my thoughts
Tyler

 

Used to have a Dana 60 in my old racecar ( S/G '67 Camaro)
with a spool, 5.13 gears and 14x32 Slicks.
Was never able to hurt it (ran mid 10's).
They are a heavy sob, but are about as indestructable a rear as you can get in a passenger car.
It's overkill for most any street driven application, but it's nice to know you can hammer on something and have it hold up.
For me it's always a 12 bolt or Dana (don't want no Ford rears)
Most folks like the 9" mainly for it's ease of swapping whole setup third members with different ratios, but how often are you really gonna change gear ratios?

I say get the Dana.
You'll never need another rear.
-Rich-

 

ya the weight was the only thing that really worried me.....car craft put one in one of their cars a few months back i think i cant remember which one it was though. i like the idea of something that i cant kill though

 

Two hevier axles quickly come to mind.... the Dana 70 which is basically a 60 with a 10.5" ring gear and the GM 14 bolt which is equivelent to the 70. The 14 bolts are neat because many of them come with detroit lockers and if not they only cost about $200. If you decide to go with a 60 stay away from the early 16 spline versions. While 31 splinse are stronger they are still only 1.31" diameter shafts. The 35 spline shafts step up to 1.5" diameter for a big strength differance. Of course you have all the custome shafts too but I usually adapt an existing axle to save money. All in all I still feel these axles are to heavy. I have all of these laying around my shop but I am looking at Ford 8.8, Ford 9, 12 bolt, and Dana 44s instead for my 11 second GTA. If you need specific weights and info 4 wheeling sights are usually the best because they are far tougher on axles than we will ever be. Good luck,
Tyler

 

The reason most people don't like to use a Dana 60 is that it takes forever to get the gears set up.

For your application a 12 bolt or 9" is all you need. They're both strong enough to take any abuse you throw at them. The Dana 60 is a huge overkill. I wouldn't even consider using a Dana 60 in my race car although many do.

 

ya i know i dont NEED it, the 12 bolt (well built) will handle the abuse, but you can still break them. The appeal of the dana 60 is that its different, and not too many people run them as opposed to the 12 bolt and 9".

it would be cool to not have to worry about breaking it under any normal circumstances though....the weight is a killer though

 

If you are going for something unique you may want to consider the dana 44. It has a 8.5 " ring gear and 33 spline 1.31" axles. Most consider these stronger than a 12 bolt and comparible to a lightly built 9". You can also get lots of parts, lockers, axles, etc. for the 44. I see 44's that would be great beginings go for $50 every year at the 4x4 swapmeets. Hope I could help,
Tyler

 

How much abuse can the ford 8.8s take? I think that is what is in a t-bird turbocoupe I have. I doubt I will use it because I have a 3.45 9 bolt in my car and I think it will take anything I will have in the car for a while but I was still curious. Also, how much do parts for these cost?

Ben

 

8.8's can easilly live into the 10's in the quarter mile, and thats with 6G launch on 10 in slicks.
John

 

I wonder how the width on the rear I have compares to the f body rears? Well, if that car ends up getting junked down the road I will have to look into keeping the rear.

Ben

 

too heavy, you will probably go slower. Consider the rotating inertia of having everything heavier, besides the case weight. Also, ride quality and handling will suffer, if you intend to go round any corners. I'd go 12 bolt, maybe 9inch but supposedly less efficient and noisier

 

I have heard some good things about the 8.8's. They are almost as strong as a 9" with many of the same parts available. They are also more efficient like the 12 bolt. Best bet would be to find one in a Mustang or Explorer. Both already come with disk brakes. You would have to drill for a different bolt pattern and shorten the axles although it may be possible to buy new rear rims with the ford pattern and the correct offset. Next time I am in the junkyard I will measure these axles unless someone here knows the widths? The torque arm mount that currie sells to weld on to the 9" would also probably work with the 8.8". The other brakets are simple swapovers. This is one of the best axle posts on here for a while so lets keep the ideas and information rolling,
Tyler

 

Well, I cant even guarantee its an 8.8 but thats what my cousin said it should be because he said he used one out of a turbo thunderbird in his mustang. It is a 88 thunderbird turbocoupe 5 speed if anyone knows. I was wondering about the width of it if it is actually an 8.8. How would I tell for sure if it is an 8.8? It also has disk brakes but has a stupid 4 bolt lug pattern. I mean who uses 16" wheels and a 4 bolt lug pattern.

Ben

 

im not positive about the dimensions of the 'stang 8.8......but im willing to bet it would be narrow. camaros are alot wider than mustangs

 

The 8.8 swap has been done by a couple of guys over at LS1tech.com.

http://www.ls1tech.com/ubb/ultimateb...c;f=2;t=005416

 

Interesting info, I didn't know that the 8.8" centersection was cast. That will make it very hard to weld the torque arm mount without heat treating and hydrogen embritlment. Still may be worth a try although I disagree with the way the guy on the Ls1 site was doing it (welding tube to tube). Anyone know the width of a mustang rear or a explorer rear? Thanks,
Tyler