Dana 60 and 8 3/4 weight difference

[340Challman]

Quick question guys. I've searched and still haven't found exactly what I'm looking for so here goes. What kind of a weight difference are we talking about between a Dana 60 and an 8 3/4 rear? I have a Dana, but am thinking I'd like to reduce my unsprung weight and install an 8 3/4. Also my car originally came with the 8 3/4 3.23 gears. My Dana had 4.10's, but I swapped in 3.54's. So, has anyone weighed them both and have numbers? Thanks.

[floorit426]

I switched out my dana, when I was drag racing my car. I believe the dana is about 75 pounds heavier.

[Chryco Psycho]

1 of the Mopar mags did a very interesting article a number of years ago , they took a Dart to the track & made 3 passes with the 8.75 then swapped in a Dana 60 & made 3 more passes just to see what the difference was . IIRC they were both geared 3.55 / 3.54 
The Result was surprising , the weight difference was only about 60lbs & the car only ran slightly slower with the Dana & Actually had better traction off the starting line due to the extra weight on the tires .
  IMO unless you want a gear ratio that is unavailable in the Dana there is not reason to swap .

[RUNCHARGER]

I weighed them and found the difference to be 50# but it could be 60# depending on brakes and sure grip unit I suppose. I love Dana's and put them in everything that has some HP especially with a clutch in front of the trans. Most Mopars are nose heavy anyway.

[Brads70]

The Strange Dana 60 (S60) is 204lbs  without brakes if that helps...?
https://forum.e-bodies.org/reference-material/18/what-does-it-weigh/1315/msg18340#msg18340

[Skdmark]

Doesn't contain info on 8 3/4, but an interesting article comparing the top of the line Muscle Car rear ends used by the Big 3.

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-0806-chevy-chevelle-rear-axle-swap/

What kind of HP do you have?
I would look to use a Dana with anything over 450HP.

[anlauto]

One is heavy and the other is real frickin heavy 

[Brads70]

The S60 is lighter than a stock Dana 60  and only 17lbs heavier than a 9" according to the posted article.   I'm guessing a Mopar 8 3/4 would be close in weight to a 9" ? 

Neil talked me into getting a Dana and I was sold on Dana's after attending drag week. I took note of how many guys it took to push the car in the staging lanes. The Dana equipped cars took one guy to easily push it, the 9" there was usually 3-4 guys pushing the car. Now I know there are other factors like how the brakes are set up etc... but I can easily push the Challenger up my driveway all by myself. My driveway has a slight incline. The Buick GN clone I built had a 9" ..... couldn't push that car by myself very easily. I do believe there are performance advantages to the Dana even with the extra what, 20lbs? Easy decision to me. 
Also by a Dana buy it once..... the others maybe maybe not? I've seen lots of broken 9" circle track racing.  I just installed a Dana in the Javelin , one,  because I needed to buy a rear end anyhow and a good friend made me a deal on the one he was taking out to put the car back to stock and it was available now, 2 ,I know it's over kill and I'll never have to worry about breaking it.

[7212Mopar]

Uncle Tony in the video stated the 8-3/4 has a track record of handling 1800 to 2000 HP. 500 HP street motor should be no problem with a 3500 lbs street car.

[RUNCHARGER]

Automatic no problem. 4 speed with slicks is a different story. I've seen lots of broken ones. Still better than anything GM offered in their musclecars though.

[340Challman]

1 of the Mopar mags did a very interesting article a number of years ago , they took a Dart to the track & made 3 passes with the 8.75 then swapped in a Dana 60 & made 3 more passes just to see what the difference was . IIRC they were both geared 3.55 / 3.54 
The Result was surprising , the weight difference was only about 60lbs & the car only ran slightly slower with the Dana & Actually had better traction off the starting line due to the extra weight on the tires .
  IMO unless you want a gear ratio that is unavailable in the Dana there is not reason to swap .

My car will probably never see a strip from anywhere other than the parking lot. My 340 is not stock, but doesn't have anywhere near enough torque to hurt an 8 3/4. I was just thinking that reducing the unsprung weight may improve the everyday driving, not that it's bad either.

My Dana currently has 3.54's. In addition to the weight difference, had there been a big one, I wanted to get back to the 3.23 gearing. Strange offers the S60 with 3.23 gears. Just speculating, but I would assume the housing on the S60 is different enough from original to allow for the 3.23 gearing. I don't think I could put the 3.23's in my housing. Does anyone know for sure?

[HP2]

I had an 8.75 in my drag car doing 4200 launches with an auto, on slicks, with a 425 horse small block.  It did have a back brace and a spool built by Mark Williams along with MW axles.   It lived a fine life while I had it.  Was it on borrowed time, don't know. I ran it for 10 years before selling it and annual inspections always looked good inside.  This was back before there was much available for custom Danas. You had to scrounge one, pay through the nose for it, then have it built.   These days, I'd probably just go Dana in a drag car. since there are equivalent aftermarket offerings. My current car is staying with the 8.75 since it will be more autocross and road race oriented than drag launched.

[Morty426]

I had an 8 3/4 in a 74 W100 Power Wagon.  That thing took tons of abuse.   

[340Challman]

Well, according to Cass at Dr. Diff, I can put his 3.23 ring and pinion in the factory 3 series carrier.    So I will most likely keep my Dana and just swap in the 3.23. With only a 50~60lb difference I can't see spending what it would cost to get an 8 3/4.

[Chryco Psycho]

I will not spend the $$ to ever build another 8 3/4 , the Only advantage is gear selection if that .
With my duster I would scatter an 8 3/4 every 2 years , the first pass bent both axles so bad I installed Mark Williams axles , then the center section would fail . When I built my tube chassis Cuda the first launch destroyed the diff , it was the same engine & trans but with a better clutch , much stiffer chassis & 14x32 slicks instead of 10x29 , it tore all 10 teeth from the pinion & 37 of 43 from the ring gear , it never made 1 full rotation under power 
Spend the $ once & just use the Dana 60