Dana 36 ID ?
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2014
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From: Lavon Texas
Dana 36 ID ?
Is there a way to determine what year a Dana 36 rear is? I bought one that I am going to install in a 57 Chevy 2 Door. The seller said it is from a 96 Base Model Vette with Auto Tranny. I did not get the spring or the toe rods(long story--I got stiffed by the guy). It is complete otherwise. It has Parking brake in caliper, not drum parking brake. Based on that and what searches I did here, I think it has to be an 88+, but I really don't know how to tell.
Is there a way to tell, or does it really matter?.
Wayne
Is there a way to tell, or does it really matter?.
Wayne
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Most D44's display that information but likely not a D36. The last 2 D36's that I've had didn't have the information on the differentials. A third empty housing doesn't either.
OP - If it's on the ground you can get all of the information from the ring gear and there's a good chance that there could be a date code on it that could help. The ratio for sure could be confirmed from that information. Does it matter? I'd think maybe. Various aspects of the rear could have labels that could be date coded. The half-shafts should be labeled and matching maybe that information to the ring gear information a person could "assume" it's age.
If it's for a project depending on maybe it's physical appearance a person could do bearings and seals and call it good.
OP - If it's on the ground you can get all of the information from the ring gear and there's a good chance that there could be a date code on it that could help. The ratio for sure could be confirmed from that information. Does it matter? I'd think maybe. Various aspects of the rear could have labels that could be date coded. The half-shafts should be labeled and matching maybe that information to the ring gear information a person could "assume" it's age.
If it's for a project depending on maybe it's physical appearance a person could do bearings and seals and call it good.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2014
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From: Lavon Texas
The whole assembly is really clean. I plan on putting a new pinion seal, both output seals and all new Polygraphite bushings on it. It is supposed to be a 3.07 ratio, but I have not pulled the cover off yet. It was all disassembled when I got it and the guy I bought it from still owes me the spring and the toe rod assembly, and now he will not return my calls. I am 67 years old and trust people to honor their word. Maybe I'll learn some day but I doubt it. I don't know what spring it had in it, but if it really is a 96, it is probably pretty soft. Surprisingly, and 57 Chevy sedan is only about 400 lbs heavier than a stock C4 Vette.
I am having a stock 57 frame converted to accept both front and rear c4 suspension by a guy in Ft Collins, Colorado that has done over 40 of these conversions. I will only be able to get a 275 tire on the rear on a 9.0 or 9.5 inch wheel and plan to run 245's on the front on and 8.5 inch wheel.
Thanks for the info. I will pull the cover off and see what the ring/pinion look like.
I am considering finding an LS motor to put in it. My car currently has the original 283 and an M20 Muncie 4 speed.
Wayne
I am having a stock 57 frame converted to accept both front and rear c4 suspension by a guy in Ft Collins, Colorado that has done over 40 of these conversions. I will only be able to get a 275 tire on the rear on a 9.0 or 9.5 inch wheel and plan to run 245's on the front on and 8.5 inch wheel.
Thanks for the info. I will pull the cover off and see what the ring/pinion look like.
I am considering finding an LS motor to put in it. My car currently has the original 283 and an M20 Muncie 4 speed.
Wayne
Last edited by Wayne Meuir; Jan 10, 2014 at 10:26 PM.
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Remove the cover and let's see what the ring gear information confirms. The 3 seals if it's clean on the inside might just do.
Seldom when conversions are done is the transverse spring used - this fellow uses the transverse spring? If it's actually a '96 and a 3.07 it's likely that it also had a suspension option and the spring might be a "comfortable" option. When you get the spring the spring will have a letter code molded in it. That's easy to document.
Seldom when conversions are done is the transverse spring used - this fellow uses the transverse spring? If it's actually a '96 and a 3.07 it's likely that it also had a suspension option and the spring might be a "comfortable" option. When you get the spring the spring will have a letter code molded in it. That's easy to document.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2014
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From: Lavon Texas
Yea, I need to get the cover off. It may be smarter to put new bearings in it while it is apart. It feels really smooth when you spin it by hand. I don't think I am going to get the stock spring because the guy I bought it from will not answer my e-mails or phone messages. I am assuming that I just got stiffed by the guy. My BAD!
Yea, the guy who does this conversion actually puts shock mount brackets on both the front and rear so that coil-overs can be used, but his opinion, after doing over 40 of these is that the transverse spring works just as good and saves about $1000-1500 that you would have to spend on mid priced coil overs. He recommends trying the transverse spring first and if you can find a spring rate that works well, use it, if not, simply remove the transverse spring and install coil-overs.
Wayne
Yea, the guy who does this conversion actually puts shock mount brackets on both the front and rear so that coil-overs can be used, but his opinion, after doing over 40 of these is that the transverse spring works just as good and saves about $1000-1500 that you would have to spend on mid priced coil overs. He recommends trying the transverse spring first and if you can find a spring rate that works well, use it, if not, simply remove the transverse spring and install coil-overs.
Wayne
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Yea, I need to get the cover off. It may be smarter to put new bearings in it while it is apart. It feels really smooth when you spin it by hand. I don't think I am going to get the stock spring because the guy I bought it from will not answer my e-mails or phone messages. I am assuming that I just got stiffed by the guy. My BAD!
Yea, the guy who does this conversion actually puts shock mount brackets on both the front and rear so that coil-overs can be used, but his opinion, after doing over 40 of these is that the transverse spring works just as good and saves about $1000-1500 that you would have to spend on mid priced coil overs. He recommends trying the transverse spring first and if you can find a spring rate that works well, use it, if not, simply remove the transverse spring and install coil-overs.
Wayne
Yea, the guy who does this conversion actually puts shock mount brackets on both the front and rear so that coil-overs can be used, but his opinion, after doing over 40 of these is that the transverse spring works just as good and saves about $1000-1500 that you would have to spend on mid priced coil overs. He recommends trying the transverse spring first and if you can find a spring rate that works well, use it, if not, simply remove the transverse spring and install coil-overs.
Wayne
Is the car a "roller" now or maybe drive-able? You might consider just going ahead and scaling it before you start. Front and rear weights, then you can just compare what's removed vs. what's going to be used.
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BMH Code (87.5 N/mm = 499.975/lbf/in)
1984
Z51
That's for the rear and since the OP had mentioned rear I assumed that was your interest. The rear will do all years '84 - '96
Heaviest front '88 - '90 Z51, '91 Z07 BUT will only do '88+ suspension builds using '88+ components. FHB code (115.5 N/mm = 659.967 lbf/in)
Heaviest front for '84 - '87 suspension builds using earlier components '84 Z51 BMB code (102 N/mm = 582.828 lbf/in)
1984
Z51
That's for the rear and since the OP had mentioned rear I assumed that was your interest. The rear will do all years '84 - '96
Heaviest front '88 - '90 Z51, '91 Z07 BUT will only do '88+ suspension builds using '88+ components. FHB code (115.5 N/mm = 659.967 lbf/in)
Heaviest front for '84 - '87 suspension builds using earlier components '84 Z51 BMB code (102 N/mm = 582.828 lbf/in)
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From: was 95926, now its 75602 for the last 6 years
BMH Code (87.5 N/mm = 499.975/lbf/in)
1984
Z51
That's for the rear and since the OP had mentioned rear I assumed that was your interest. The rear will do all years '84 - '96
Heaviest front '88 - '90 Z51, '91 Z07 BUT will only do '88+ suspension builds using '88+ components. FHB code (115.5 N/mm = 659.967 lbf/in)
Heaviest front for '84 - '87 suspension builds using earlier components '84 Z51 BMB code (102 N/mm = 582.828 lbf/in)
1984
Z51
That's for the rear and since the OP had mentioned rear I assumed that was your interest. The rear will do all years '84 - '96
Heaviest front '88 - '90 Z51, '91 Z07 BUT will only do '88+ suspension builds using '88+ components. FHB code (115.5 N/mm = 659.967 lbf/in)
Heaviest front for '84 - '87 suspension builds using earlier components '84 Z51 BMB code (102 N/mm = 582.828 lbf/in)
and since my rig is about 1800 in the rear it should wokr great.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Lavon Texas
Mine has no marking of any kind on it. Still have not taken the cover off, probably won't get to that until Monday.
The 57 Sedan I have is complete and running, but I have all the interior out in preparation for moving the body to the new frame.
I think the 57 weighs about 3800 lbs. compared to the C4 at 3300-3400, so the 96 Spring may be little soft.
The guy who is doing the frame is putting late C4 front Suspension in it.
Here is the only pic of the car that I have right now.
http://s126.photobucket.com/user/way...tml?sort=3&o=0
The 57 Sedan I have is complete and running, but I have all the interior out in preparation for moving the body to the new frame.
I think the 57 weighs about 3800 lbs. compared to the C4 at 3300-3400, so the 96 Spring may be little soft.
The guy who is doing the frame is putting late C4 front Suspension in it.
Here is the only pic of the car that I have right now.
http://s126.photobucket.com/user/way...tml?sort=3&o=0
Last edited by Wayne Meuir; Jan 11, 2014 at 04:45 PM.