Author Topic: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60  (Read 4586 times)

Offline Topcat

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Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« on: November 14, 2015 - 09:19:33 PM »
I still have my rear sway bar and hardware left from when I had a 8 3/4 rear end.

Has anyone here installed a factory rear sway bar onto a Dana 60 rear end?
Are there any interference issues or any reasons why nobody has one on a Dana 60?

I don't recall ever seeing an E body Dana 60 and have a rear sway bar added.



Mike, Fremont, CA.





Offline KillerBee

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2015 - 09:33:12 PM »
I reused the factory sway bar on my 1971 R/T Challenger when I swapped it's 8 3/4 rear end to a Dana 60.

The Dana was from an original E-body so it was the correct width and the sway bar bolted right in with no issues.

Using a narrower B body width Dana would need some modifications to a factory sway bar.


Offline crash340

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2015 - 09:42:32 PM »
I made offset swaybar connectors when I put a B Body housing into my E body using the factory E Body swaybar, works great no problems at all
Greg

73 Cuda
Brisbane, Australia

Offline Topcat

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2015 - 09:49:25 PM »
I reused the factory sway bar on my 1971 R/T Challenger when I swapped it's 8 3/4 rear end to a Dana 60.

The Dana was from an original E-body so it was the correct width and the sway bar bolted right in with no issues.



thanks

On mounting to the frame, did you do anything different? Bolt thru the frame to other side?
Just wondering if the added weight/stress of the Dana creates a problem of the mounts coming off the frame.


Mike, Fremont, CA.


Offline KillerBee

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2015 - 09:59:52 PM »
thanks

On mounting to the frame, did you do anything different? Bolt thru the frame to other side?
Just wondering if the added weight/stress of the Dana creates a problem of the mounts coming off the frame.

No I removed the sway bar assembly, had it all sandblasted, painted everything then reinstalled with factory hardware including the frame bracket screws.
I was a little nervous as to what I was going to find when I removed the frame brackets but thankfully everything was rock solid.
It's been 2 summers of driving and everything still looks and works great.
The car is a 4 speed with a good running 440 Six Pack engine, I don't abuse the car but I do take the opportunity to open up all 3 carburetors every time I drive it.

Drilling completely through the frame rails to mount the brackets might not be a bad idea if you plan on really driving the car hard as those factory frame bracket screws look a little flimsy.

« Last Edit: November 14, 2015 - 10:04:23 PM by KillerBee »

Offline KillerBee

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2015 - 10:02:16 PM »
I made offset swaybar connectors when I put a B Body housing into my E body using the factory E Body swaybar, works great no problems at all



That is pretty slick :2thumbs:

I'm thinking of installing a B body Dana under the wife's R/T Challenger.
I was just planning on bending the sway bar ends in. :dunno:

Offline Topcat

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2015 - 10:13:06 PM »
No I removed the sway bar assembly, had it all sandblasted, painted everything then reinstalled with factory hardware including the frame bracket screws.
I was a little nervous as to what I was going to find when I removed the frame brackets but thankfully everything was rock solid.
It's been 2 summers of driving and everything still looks and works great.
The car is a 4 speed with a good running 440 Six Pack engine, I don't abuse the car but I do take the opportunity to open up all 3 carburetors every time I drive it.

Drilling completely through the frame rails to mount the brackets might not be a bad idea if you plan on really driving the car hard as those factory frame bracket screws look a little flimsy.

Thanks KillerBee,

I don't plan on hanging this car thru turns hard either.
900+ lb Hemi up front limits my hard cornering.
Mike, Fremont, CA.


Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2015 - 11:41:49 PM »
My factory bar worked with the Dana I upgraded to also with no issues , on one car I just bent the bar for the different width mounts & used std end links .
 drilling through the frame would be weaker IMO as the bolts can move inside the holes eventually elongating the holes , the sheet metal screws are tight in the mount holes at least

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Offline Topcat

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2015 - 11:44:41 PM »

 Drilling through the frame would be weaker IMO as the bolts can move inside the holes eventually elongating the holes , the sheet metal screws are tight in the mount holes at least

Good point. thanks
Mike, Fremont, CA.


Offline crash340

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #9 on: November 15, 2015 - 04:40:16 AM »
That is pretty slick :2thumbs:

I'm thinking of installing a B body Dana under the wife's R/T Challenger.
I was just planning on bending the sway bar ends in. :dunno:


Killerbee, I simply used 5/8" bar (I think from memory), turned the ends to match the standard link ends and then simply bent a 1" offset.
They have been in there now for some time and no issues at all, self centering, all good
Greg

73 Cuda
Brisbane, Australia

Offline Topcat

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #10 on: January 09, 2016 - 04:33:47 PM »
I talked to Roger, a respected opinion on muscle cars.

He felt that putting a rear sway bar on a Hemi car wold sacrifice off the line traction i.e: drag racing.

 :feedback:

Mike, Fremont, CA.


Offline dodj

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #11 on: January 09, 2016 - 10:16:34 PM »
I talked to Roger, a respected opinion on muscle cars.

He felt that putting a rear sway bar on a Hemi car wold sacrifice off the line traction i.e: drag racing.

 :feedback:
I can't see that, but are you interested in drag racing? Like, would it be important to you if it sacrificed a tenth in the quarter?
Scott
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2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

Offline Topcat

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #12 on: January 09, 2016 - 10:42:16 PM »
I can't see that, but are you interested in drag racing? Like, would it be important to you if it sacrificed a tenth in the quarter?

No of course not.

I told him I could always either disco the bar or loosen it.

I was just wondering how much does a rear sway bar affect tire plant on take off.
Mike, Fremont, CA.


Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #13 on: January 10, 2016 - 12:30:25 AM »
the upgrade for 4 link systems for drag racing is adding an anti roll bar to plant the tires evenly , this would work the same on the rear with a dana

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Offline Topcat

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Re: Rear Sway bar on a Dana 60
« Reply #14 on: January 10, 2016 - 01:13:47 AM »
the upgrade for 4 link systems for drag racing is adding an anti roll bar to plant the tires evenly , this would work the same on the rear with a dana

On a scale of 1-10: Sway bar on, vs. no sway bar.
What difference is there in traction off the line?
Mike, Fremont, CA.