Dana or 8 3/4?!? Need opinions
Well, as some of you know, I've been working on a mini tub/spring relocation/disc brake project on my 67 Dart. Everything was done, and we were mocking up the disc brakes, when my buddy noticed how wide the rear end looked. We took some measurements and sure enough, to run 10 inch wide wheels would require 7 1/2 inches of backspacing. That is not the look I wanted.
I double checked my measurements and decided that I needed to cut off 2 1/2 inches from each end of the housing. That would center a 10 inch wheel with 5 inches of backspacing. I found a local fabricator that would cut the housing and axles down the required width for $300.
Then, I get several people telling me, "don't cut down your A body rear end, they're getting rare, get a B body housing and cut it down". Well, Friday night we pulled the rear end out, and Saturday morning it was SOLD and off to it's new home!!
Now the question is, what do I put in to replace it?!? I will probably have Cass (Dr. Diff) build me a rear end, but I don't know which one. There is only about $300 difference in the Dana and the 8 3/4 packages that he sells. The only thing that is holding me back on the Dana is clearance issues between the cover and my gas tank. A fuel cell is not an option.
I will be building a 408 next winter and am running a 727 with a mild stall. I plan on running 325/50R15 drag radials with Cal tracs. This is for a weekend cruiser with maybe a couple of trips to the strip per year.
Which rear end would you run and why?!?
Well, as some of you know, I've been working on a mini tub/spring relocation/disc brake project on my 67 Dart. Everything was done, and we were mocking up the disc brakes, when my buddy noticed how wide the rear end looked. We took some measurements and sure enough, to run 10 inch wide wheels would require 7 1/2 inches of backspacing. That is not the look I wanted.
I double checked my measurements and decided that I needed to cut off 2 1/2 inches from each end of the housing. That would center a 10 inch wheel with 5 inches of backspacing. I found a local fabricator that would cut the housing and axles down the required width for $300.
Then, I get several people telling me, "don't cut down your A body rear end, they're getting rare, get a B body housing and cut it down". Well, Friday night we pulled the rear end out, and Saturday morning it was SOLD and off to it's new home!!
Now the question is, what do I put in to replace it?!? I will probably have Cass (Dr. Diff) build me a rear end, but I don't know which one. There is only about $300 difference in the Dana and the 8 3/4 packages that he sells. The only thing that is holding me back on the Dana is clearance issues between the cover and my gas tank. A fuel cell is not an option.
I will be building a 408 next winter and am running a 727 with a mild stall. I plan on running 325/50R15 drag radials with Cal tracs. This is for a weekend cruiser with maybe a couple of trips to the strip per year.
Which rear end would you run and why?!?
