When we think of “indestructible,” images of Mack trucks, battleships, overcooked Spam, and Baskerville’s feet come to mind. Ask a hot rodder about an indestructible axle, and the Dana 60 is first on the list. Though originally designed for ¾- and 1-ton personnel carriers in WWII, during the supercar ’60s this big-guy axle was beneath all Chrysler Corporation passenger cars equipped with the Street Hemi or 440 wedge and a manual transmission. Since then, racers of every stripe have latched onto the Dana and its huge 9.75-inch ring gear, heavily ribbed cast-iron housing, and numerous extreme-duty features.
But for every hot rodder who swears by his Dana, there are just as many who swear at it. These critics cite difficult assembly, lack of economy-oriented gear ratios, and its inherent porkiness. With Jim Cook at Performance Differential, we took a closer look and explored the myths and realities surrounding the mother of all third members. Rather than outline the step-by-step assembly process, we’ve concentrated on pointers and tips to help you Dana shoppers.
