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Dana 36 Upgrade?

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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 03:38 PM
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Default Dana 36 Upgrade?

Hello,

Can I upgrade/rebuild my Dana 36 2:59 to a Dana 36 3:07? Or, do I need to buy a used Dana 36 3:07 differential and replace parts. I have a 96 C4 LT1.
Thanks.
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 04:04 PM
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I built mine from a 2.59 to 3.54 as long as you don't build the engine too much you should be fine. mine increased the fun factor 2 fold
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by jakey1999
Hello,

Can I upgrade/rebuild my Dana 36 2:59 to a Dana 36 3:07? Or, do I need to buy a used Dana 36 3:07 differential and replace parts. I have a 96 C4 LT1.
Thanks.
if you want 3.07, buy a used one from a member (around $400)

if you go 3.54 (like me) then put Richmond gears in your 2.59 ($325 gears + install)
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 04:43 PM
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Yes you can change the gear ratio within the D36 carrier. 3.07, 3.54, 3.73.

On an LT1 car you can do that, or add a higher stall TC and get a similar feel.
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 04:45 PM
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Originally Posted by vader86
Yes you can change the gear ratio within the D36 carrier. 3.07, 3.54, 3.73.

On an LT1 car you can do that, or add a higher stall TC and get a similar feel.
Or both...Giddy Up!
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 05:03 PM
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Originally Posted by jgalfo
I built mine from a 2.59 to 3.54 as long as you don't build the engine too much you should be fine. mine increased the fun factor 2 fold
Thanks. Definitely into the fun factor.
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 05:06 PM
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Originally Posted by vette196
if you want 3.07, buy a used one from a member (around $400)

if you go 3.54 (like me) then put Richmond gears in your 2.59 ($325 gears + install)
Sounds like the best dang for the buck. Is it good for free-way cruising too?

Last edited by jakey1999; Jul 15, 2019 at 05:06 PM.
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by vader86
Yes you can change the gear ratio within the D36 carrier. 3.07, 3.54, 3.73.

On an LT1 car you can do that, or add a higher stall TC and get a similar feel.
Any, idea where to get 3:07 parts?
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by vette196
if you want 3.07, buy a used one from a member (around $400)

if you go 3.54 (like me) then put Richmond gears in your 2.59 ($325 gears + install)
Is it the "3.54 Ratio Differential Ring and Pinion for 7.725 (Inch) (10 Bolt)" app from Richmond?

Last edited by jakey1999; Jul 15, 2019 at 05:20 PM.
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 05:41 PM
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I went from a Dana 36 w/ 2:59 to a Dana 36 w/ 3:54. I purchased the diff complete from Zip corvette. The gear swap is way above my pay-grade.
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by MitchV
I went from a Dana 36 w/ 2:59 to a Dana 36 w/ 3:54. I purchased the diff complete from Zip corvette. The gear swap is way above my pay-grade.
Oh...got it, the easiest solution is to swap out the whole differential as far as the labor goes. All of it is above my pay-grade. Thanks.

Last edited by jakey1999; Jul 15, 2019 at 07:11 PM.
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 06:48 PM
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You cant just switch the 2.59 to a 3.07. The carrier is a different thickness from the factory. You can get an aftermarket 3.54 to fit the thin or thick carrier... Hope this makes sense.
FWIW when mine was stock, it had the 2.59. I went 3.54 and loved it.
Another thing you may want to consider is finding a dana 44 out of a 92-96 6speed. They will be 3.45 ratio. You will need the chunk, the batwing, driveshaft and c-beam. But it will be much stronger then the d36
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by 93 ragtop
You cant just switch the 2.59 to a 3.07. The carrier is a different thickness from the factory. You can get an aftermarket 3.54 to fit the thin or thick carrier... Hope this makes sense.
FWIW when mine was stock, it had the 2.59. I went 3.54 and loved it.
Another thing you may want to consider is finding a dana 44 out of a 92-96 6speed. They will be 3.45 ratio. You will need the chunk, the batwing, driveshaft and c-beam. But it will be much stronger then the d36
Thank you. I think it makes sense. I'll have to get the whole diff if I want the 3.07, otherwise I can upgrade to the thick 3.54. Sounds like I will need to find a differential guy to do the work. I'm in Olympia (Seattle area) if anyone has a recommendation.

Last edited by jakey1999; Jul 15, 2019 at 07:01 PM.
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Old Jul 16, 2019 | 12:18 AM
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You'll have to get a 3-series case for the D36 if yours came with 2.59s (2-series case), or you want the right gearset to fit the 2-series case and the right shop to do it, because if done wrong it will whine.

It doesnt require swapping out the entire diff and batwing, just all the guts.

Swapping to a D44 isnt something you seem to need from what you've said, but it is an option.

Last edited by vader86; Jul 16, 2019 at 12:19 AM.
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Old Jul 16, 2019 | 02:16 AM
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There were thousands of LT1 C4s that came with the $50.00 upgrade to the 3.07 ratio. It's really a great step up from the 2.59 almost like going from a V6 to a V8. They are relatively easy to find for sale as many D36 3.07s get upgraded to D44 3.45s. The nice thing about the 3.07 is it still gives you reasonable highway mileage as well as better acceleration.
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Old Jul 16, 2019 | 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by vader86
You'll have to get a 3-series case for the D36 if yours came with 2.59s (2-series case), or you want the right gearset to fit the 2-series case and the right shop to do it, because if done wrong it will whine..
What is the downside to the whine? Premature wear?

would a set of headers cancel out the whine?

I have a 3.07 I bought and 2.59 on the car. I was hoping to sell the 3.07 rear to finance the gears (Richmond $325 for 3.54). The money to check out/rebuild the 3.07 would go towards installing the Ricmond gears in the 2.59 rear....and all would be great.

Zip wants $1K for their rear and they want the 3.07 as a core....too much $$

Between the cost of the car and the mods, I stopped counting once I went over $15K. So I was hoping to save on the rear.

I was hoping to get away with the 3.07 on my LE2 build, but Lloyd was concerned the 3.07s would cause "lugging" at certain speeds/RPM....so I was hoping the Richmond 3.54s in my 2.59 carrier would work out

Last edited by vette196; Jul 16, 2019 at 11:12 AM.
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Old Jul 16, 2019 | 01:31 PM
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Originally Posted by vader86
You'll have to get a 3-series case for the D36 if yours came with 2.59s (2-series case), or you want the right gearset to fit the 2-series case and the right shop to do it, because if done wrong it will whine.

It doesnt require swapping out the entire diff and batwing, just all the guts.

Swapping to a D44 isnt something you seem to need from what you've said, but it is an option.
Yes, I think the D44 is overkill for me. I found a shop in Everett, WA that will swap the gears for me for around $1,800. It's a bit much, so I'm thinking about a used Dana 36 3:07 diff to replace the 2:59. Thanks. Not planning any other performance improvements.
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Old Jul 16, 2019 | 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Peabody
There were thousands of LT1 C4s that came with the $50.00 upgrade to the 3.07 ratio. It's really a great step up from the 2.59 almost like going from a V6 to a V8. They are relatively easy to find for sale as many D36 3.07s get upgraded to D44 3.45s. The nice thing about the 3.07 is it still gives you reasonable highway mileage as well as better acceleration.
Yes, probably the best solution for me, thanks. I have seen a few on ebay from around $400 to $500. I think most shops can do the swap for me. Assuming the labor to swap would be around $800.00
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Old Jul 16, 2019 | 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by jakey1999
Yes, I think the D44 is overkill for me. I found a shop in Everett, WA that will swap the gears for me for around $1,800. It's a bit much, so I'm thinking about a used Dana 36 3:07 diff to replace the 2:59. Thanks. Not planning any other performance improvements.
$1800 is steep to me. remove the c-beam, remove the driveshaft, unbolt the rear from the batwing....reverse the process. Now if the installed a new torque converter as well then $1800 wouldn't be that bad.

As I mentioned above I have a 3.07 rear that I'm (eventually) going to sell, but I'm not sure if will work with your time line
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Old Jul 16, 2019 | 04:14 PM
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Originally Posted by vette196
$1800 is steep to me. remove the c-beam, remove the driveshaft, unbolt the rear from the batwing....reverse the process. Now if the installed a new torque converter as well then $1800 wouldn't be that bad.

As I mentioned above I have a 3.07 rear that I'm (eventually) going to sell, but I'm not sure if will work with your time line
I'm not in a big hurry, probably some time this winter. Let me know when you sell. Thanks.
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