Dana 60 Gear Ratios

[crusty440]

I've recently got a 69 r/t SE with a 440.  The drive train is all original except the rear end, which I believe to be a4:11 in a Dana 60.  I really enjoy the power off the line but need a more friendly freeway gear that will go into the original 60 housing.  Oh yeah, its a 4-speed car. any help on what to use and where to get it would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks  crusty440

[471_Magnum]

Can't load us up like that without sharing pictures and more details. I believe a formal introduction is in order over in the "General" forum.

3.54s are the numerically lowest common ratio available.

I believe there is a 3.31 ratio (used in some Fords) but that may require a different carrier.

[Brightyellow69rtse]

i got a dana 60 with 4.10s and a 4 speed. i had 26" tires and went up to 28"s huge difference imo. do that before you do a gear swap..........Mike

[Rolling_Thunder]

my boss's superbird has 3.54 gears and it is a sweet thing to drive...     it is a 4-speed as well...       i drove a 4.10 geared car around and hated it...     3.54's are the way to go IMO

[Ghoste]

Of course, there are a few of us sick bastards who like the digger gears but pay no attention to us. 

[BrianShaughnessy]

Factory Spicer 3.73's are available for Danas.   They weren't stock in mopars but they did come in dana's in ferd pickemups.     It's a good compromise between the 4.10 and 3.54.   

[Brightyellow69rtse]

guess im a sick bastard then  those 4.10's are never commin out.............Mike

[Ghoste]

Amen to that brother. 

[firefighter3931]

guess im a sick bastard then  those 4.10's are never commin out.............Mike

Amen to that brother.

Guess i'm a member of that club too ! 



Ron

[crusty440]

Thanks for the help, I think I'll keep it simple for now, keep the 4:10's and go from a 26 " tire to a 28"

[John_Kunkel]

I really enjoy the power off the line but need a more friendly freeway gear that will go into the original 60 housing.  Oh yeah, its a 4-speed car.

Can you say Gear Vendors?

Bolts on to the 833 4-speed and turns those 4.10's into 3.20's.

[Mike DC]

The highest (lowest number) that will fit into a normal Dana 60 casing is the 3.54 gears. 

I can't remember the application off the top of my head, but at one point Dana actually made a small number of "Dana 61" axles to deal with this issue.  It was basically a Dana-60 setup with a different casing.  There was extra clearance for a higher gearset than the D-60 cases would allow.  I think it got them down to like 3.25-ish.

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If you aren't strapped for cash, I'd probably just leave the low gears that are in the rearend and install a GV overdrive into the car.  For $2-3K, it beats any amount of compromising with the axle gears.  The GV setups don't involve any cutting or irreverisble work to the car or the drivetrain.  It's a bolt-on deal.  You end up with an electric switch to choose between the low gears or a somewhat higher ratio at any time.

 

[MOPARHOUND!]

If you decide on overdrive, consider Passon Peformance's overdrive gear setup that fits in the factory 4speed case  .  No addon's, floor cutting/hammering, or driveshaft mods:

http://www.passonperformance.com/NewProducts/Passon%20Overdrive%20Flyer.pdf

[is_it_EVER_done?]

If you decide on overdrive, consider Passon Peformance's overdrive gear setup that fits in the factory 4speed case  .  No addon's, floor cutting/hammering, or driveshaft mods:

http://www.passonperformance.com/NewProducts/Passon%20Overdrive%20Flyer.pdf

I agree that this is your best way to go to keep the off the line performance, yet be able to drive your car around. It's going to be cheaper than buying/changing gears in your Dana, will be a touch quicker in the quarter (unless you're Ronnie Sox) because you eliminate a gear change (third is now 1:1, and 4th is overdriven), and will give you exactly what you are looking for since you will now be able to keep up with traffic at a very reasonable RPM without giving up any of the off the line performance.