'Seen our 505-inch RB Mopar mill? We gave you a look-see back in May and announced we were going to build it large with a stroker crank and huge cam. That got us thinking about the 831/44 rearend in the '63 Plymouth Belvedere that the engine will someday end up in-and the likelihood that it would detonate during a nice hard launch.
Well, the guys at Strange Engineering thought about that too and have released a brand-new bolt-in rearend for your A-, B-, or E-Body Mopar called the S-60. It may look much like an original Dana 60, but it's double-beefed. For about $1,850, the S-60 assembly includes Strange 35-spline S/T Street and Track axles, a 9.75-inch ring gear, a Trak-Lok posi unit, your choice of gear ratios from 3.54:1 to 5.87:1, a steel pinion yoke, and a machined pad to accept a pinion snubber. And for you hard-core guys, Strange offers plenty of extra-cost options like Pro Race axles, spools, Power Loks, and Detroit Lockers. Best of all, each S-60 comes delivered in a crate ready to bolt right in. Just order the one already sized and fitted for your popular Mopar.
Since Strange Engineering's listings only go back to '66-'67 B-bodies, we first wanted to measure our Belvedere to verify the existing 831/44 rearend's dimensions matched the new S-60's measurements of 44 inches on the leaf-spring centers and 5411/44 inches on the outer housing ends. Years ago we installed a '65 B-Body 831/44-inch rearend with flanged axles into our Belvedere and axed the '63's original, user-unfriendly 831/44 with press-fit hub/brake drums.
Our first rear-suspension calculation confirmed that the '63's underpinnings (as well as those on '62-'65 B-Bodies) share the same 44-inch center-to-center leaf-spring mounting span found on '66-'67 B-Bodies. Next, we measured the outer housing end to end (not the axle flanges) and discovered the '65 831/44 totaled 5411/44 inches just like the Strange S-60.
From the gear ratio choices offered, we selected a 3.54:1 cog 'cause we are really not going to need much more torque multiplication. Each S-60 also features big 3-inch axletubes that are fully welded 360 degrees into the iron centersection. The massive axles ride on 3.150-inch Timken axle bearings for additional strength. Strange Engineering also has a choice of housing ends to accept almost any brake configuration. If your budget allows, Strange offers a full line of rear-disc-brake conversions kits and Ford-style rear drums. Since we already had a complete set of 11-inch Mopar drum brakes confiscated from a '70 wagon, we opted for the Mopar housing ends. To maximize our Belvedere's factory brake performance, we ordered a full set of Raybestos brake shoes, drums, and spring kits, as well as all-new OE-style hard brake lines from Classic Tube.
With a floor jack, some jackstands, and an air gun, we pulled the 831/44 rearend out and swapped the newly delivered Strange Engineering S-60 in its place. With that completed, we added our 11-inch backing plates and Raybestos brake parts and then installed the new Classic Tube hard lines.
The new S-60 install went great and looks pretty cool too with its Dana 60 chrome cover. As we get closer to having our 505-inch Mopar off the dyno, we're looking forward to churning the horsepower through this new S-60. To use one of these in your Mopar, all you have to do is bolt it in, add gear oil, and fire up your motor. Think of it as a crate engine for your rearend.
By The Numbers
For just $1,849, the bolt-in Strange S-60 includes: A completely new and assembled S-60 rearend for your A-, B-, or E-Body Mopar; Strange 35-spline S/T Street and Track axles; your choice of a 3.54-5.87 gear ratio, 1350 pinion yoke, drain plug, 3-inch axletubes fully welded into the centersection, 3.150-inch axle bearings and more.
The chart below is based on the dimensions and styles of '62 to '67 B-Body 831/44-inch rearends. Remember, before you order any rearend, it's best to take a few minutes and make your own measurements to ensure proper rearend and wheel and tire fitment.
Leaf-Spring Span Axle Flange-to- Year Body Style Center-to-Center Flange Width '{{{62}}}-'63 B-Body 44 inches 5211/44 inches '64 B-Body 44 inches 5411/44 inches '65-'67 B-Body 44 inches 5411/44 inches