What width Dana 60 for a 70 Dart?

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JoeDragster

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Working on putting together a Dana 60 for a 70 Dart with stock wheel wells and stock leaf suspension.

I want to measure twice and cut once.
I’m sure someone has gone thru this and knows what will work or not
 
I don't know what brakes you have so I can't say positively how wide the housing should be but the total wheel to wheel width should be 57-1/8" and the spring perches should be 43" center to center
 
It also depends on what wheel offset ur gonna use. Factory a body 8.75 width is 52 5/8s flange to flange (outside)plus or minus 1/16 inch. Kim
 
It also depends on what wheel offset ur gonna use. Factory a body 8.75 width is 52 5/8s flange to flange (outside)plus or minus 1/16 inch. Kim

That 52 5/8 is for 1 7/8 brakes. The big bolt pattern axles sticks out more and uses 2 1/2 brakes.
The dana housing I'm building now for my duster will be about 51 1/2 housing flange to flange.
 
housing flange or axle flange?

Exactly. I never understand including axle flange to flange width. I would much rather have housing flange to flange. Lemmie run whatever brakes I want. lol Housing flange measure is much more accurate, to me.
 
I don't know what brakes you have so I can't say positively how wide the housing should be but the total wheel to wheel width should be 57-1/8" and the spring perches should be 43" center to center

It also depends on what wheel offset ur gonna use. Factory a body 8.75 width is 52 5/8s flange to flange (outside)plus or minus 1/16 inch. Kim

That 52 5/8 is for 1 7/8 brakes. The big bolt pattern axles sticks out more and uses 2 1/2 brakes.
The dana housing I'm building now for my duster will be about 51 1/2 housing flange to flange.

A-body 8 3/4 axle housings are all 52 5/8” wide. That’s just the width of the housing.

A-body 8 3/4’s with small bolt pattern axles and brakes are 57 1/8” drum to drum, or more specifically, wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface.

If you install BBP axles and brakes, the drum to drum is more like 57 13/16”.
Working on putting together a Dana 60 for a 70 Dart with stock wheel wells and stock leaf suspension.

I want to measure twice and cut once.
I’m sure someone has gone thru this and knows what will work or not

It really depends. You could just make it A-body width, so, the housing would be 52 5/8”. But what I would do it pick the wheels you want first, because they may not be available in a backspace that works with a stock width A body axle. Then you just make the axle the right width to use those wheels.

And if I was narrowing an axle, I’d do the 1/2” spring offset. You’ve got to weld on new perches anyway, might as well gain some tire space.

Exactly. I never understand including axle flange to flange width. I would much rather have housing flange to flange. Lemmie run whatever brakes I want. lol Housing flange measure is much more accurate, to me.

Yeah but you don’t bolt your wheels to the housing
 
That 52 5/8 is for 1 7/8 brakes. The big bolt pattern axles sticks out more and uses 2 1/2 brakes.
The dana housing I'm building now for my duster will be about 51 1/2 housing flange to flange.
Since the Dana was never used in any A-body except the 68 SS cars there really isn't a spec to go by so if your cutting a housing down you can cut it the length it takes to end up with 52-5/8" drum to drum. Same for an 8-3/4
 
A-body 8 3/4 axle housings are all 52 5/8” wide. That’s just the width of the housing.

A-body 8 3/4’s with small bolt pattern axles and brakes are 57 1/8” drum to drum.

If you install BBP axles and brakes, the drum to drum is more like 57 13/16”.


It really depends. You could just make it A-body width, so, the housing would be 52 5/8”. But what I would do it pick the wheels you want first, because they may not be available in a backspace that works with a stock width A body axle. Then you just make the axle the right width to use those wheels.

And if I was narrowing an axle, I’d do the 1/2” spring offset. You’ve got to weld on new perches anyway, might as well gain some tire space.



Yeah but you don’t bolt your wheels to the housing

Yeah I get that. But I can figure out brakes later. I want measurements to determine which HOUSING I actually HAVE. Or am looking at. You know......in case the brakes "aren't there"?
 
I was thinking someone that already had an a Body Dana 60 would chime in. Might get lucky and see what someone else may have.
 
A-body 8 3/4 axle housings are all 52 5/8” wide. That’s just the width of the housing.

A-body 8 3/4’s with small bolt pattern axles and brakes are 57 1/8” drum to drum, or more specifically, wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface.

If you install BBP axles and brakes, the drum to drum is more like 57 13/16”.


It really depends. You could just make it A-body width, so, the housing would be 52 5/8”. But what I would do it pick the wheels you want first, because they may not be available in a backspace that works with a stock width A body axle. Then you just make the axle the right width to use those wheels.

And if I was narrowing an axle, I’d do the 1/2” spring offset. You’ve got to weld on new perches anyway, might as well gain some tire space.



Yeah but you don’t bolt your wheels to the housing

If your tring to have the tire in the stock wheel well in the stock location. The dana housing will be slightly narrower than the 8 3/4 housing because of the brakes and the outside of the axle length.
As for the spring pad movement it's not allowed in stock class racing. Otherwise go for it if you need 1/2 in more room.
 
Dr Diff has a nice calculator on his site.

You can pick brakes, mopar offset or not, plenty of options!

You need to know the wheel you plan to run and that will determine overall length.
 
I have a Strange S60 in my ‘70 Dart. With the common mini tub and springs relocated, my axle was 49 5/8, wheel mounting flange to wheel mounting flange, using willwood 12.19 brakes and 4 piston dynalite calipers.

I’m using American Racing Torq Thrust D wheels 15x10 with 3.75” of backspace with a 295/50/15.

I later went to a 17x11 with 4.25” of backspace with a 315/35/17 tire.

The 17” wheels had to be custom made with that backspace to fit my axle, as it’s not a standard size wheel like the American Racing wheel.
 
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