Dana 36 will it survive
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 379
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From: NEWCASTLE
Dana 36 will it survive
Howdee,new here so bear with me ,I am planning new heads,intake,cam,injectors,1.6 RR,headers,computer reprogram and a couple of go faster mods when my engine gets rebuilt in a a month or so .I am looking at 350-375 rwhp.I want to put 3.73 gears in my dana 36 will it survive?I do not plan any trips to the track it is purely for the street and daily driving.Opinions please and thanks all
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 17,103
Likes: 39
From: stop the fun suckers
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (JAYK)
I think the general consesus around here is the D36 is hit or miss.. some last with 450 rwhp and some crap the bed with 350rwhp.. I would say if its just on the street, without slicks.. it should be ok (the TC picks up most fo teh shock anyways)..
good luck! :auto:
good luck! :auto:
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,653
Likes: 428
From: Melbourne Florida
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (JAYK)
As long as the rear wheels spin you'll be OK....if you get a good hook you are on thin ice...the 36 will not hold up long with sticky tires out back...you're going to be in the same "catch 22" I am...you won't be able to put the power you have to the ground effectively by using sticky tires out back cause you'll tear up the 36...start saving for a Dana 44 swap...good luck
Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (BluByU)
BluByU wrote:
"some last with 450 rwhp and some crap the bed with 350rwhp" :lol:
:iagree: I asked the same question and went through a LOT of old threads in the archives and what BluByU says is accurate. Someone is sure to suggest that for a chunk more of money, you can swap in a Dana 44 rear and not worry about it at all and they would be correct as well. How much is a chunk? Again, I haven't done this myself but I've done a lot of homework and it seems that the Dana 36 gear upgrade will probably cost $1000-1200 for new parts and labor and a used Dana 44 professionally installed will cost around $2000+. Of course, if you can do the Dana 44 swap yourself (a lot of folks here have), you'll save the labor costs but most feel to actually swap out gears properly requires real experience and expertise. For a daily driver, some feel 3.73s are a bit too high for the street and suggest 3.31 or 3.54s, instead. Also, it will probably be suggested that you install a higher stall speed torque converter. Again, there are drivability ramifications for street only cars with high stall speed TCs. I've got the Dana 36 3.07 in mine and am giving serious thought to some kind of rear end upgrade, too...
"some last with 450 rwhp and some crap the bed with 350rwhp" :lol:
:iagree: I asked the same question and went through a LOT of old threads in the archives and what BluByU says is accurate. Someone is sure to suggest that for a chunk more of money, you can swap in a Dana 44 rear and not worry about it at all and they would be correct as well. How much is a chunk? Again, I haven't done this myself but I've done a lot of homework and it seems that the Dana 36 gear upgrade will probably cost $1000-1200 for new parts and labor and a used Dana 44 professionally installed will cost around $2000+. Of course, if you can do the Dana 44 swap yourself (a lot of folks here have), you'll save the labor costs but most feel to actually swap out gears properly requires real experience and expertise. For a daily driver, some feel 3.73s are a bit too high for the street and suggest 3.31 or 3.54s, instead. Also, it will probably be suggested that you install a higher stall speed torque converter. Again, there are drivability ramifications for street only cars with high stall speed TCs. I've got the Dana 36 3.07 in mine and am giving serious thought to some kind of rear end upgrade, too...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (tobijohn)
BluByU wrote:
"some last with 450 rwhp and some crap the bed with 350rwhp" :lol:
:iagree: I asked the same question and went through a LOT of old threads in the archives and what BluByU says is accurate. Someone is sure to suggest that for a chunk more of money, you can swap in a Dana 44 rear and not worry about it at all and they would be correct as well. How much is a chunk? Again, I haven't done this myself but I've done a lot of homework and it seems that the Dana 36 gear upgrade will probably cost $1000-1200 for new parts and labor and a used Dana 44 professionally installed will cost around $2000+. Of course, if you can do the Dana 44 swap yourself (a lot of folks here have), you'll save the labor costs but most feel to actually swap out gears properly requires real experience and expertise. For a daily driver, some feel 3.73s are a bit too high for the street and suggest 3.31 or 3.54s, instead. Also, it will probably be suggested that you install a higher stall speed torque converter. Again, there are drivability ramifications for street only cars with high stall speed TCs. I've got the Dana 36 3.07 in mine and am giving serious thought to some kind of rear end upgrade, too...
"some last with 450 rwhp and some crap the bed with 350rwhp" :lol:
:iagree: I asked the same question and went through a LOT of old threads in the archives and what BluByU says is accurate. Someone is sure to suggest that for a chunk more of money, you can swap in a Dana 44 rear and not worry about it at all and they would be correct as well. How much is a chunk? Again, I haven't done this myself but I've done a lot of homework and it seems that the Dana 36 gear upgrade will probably cost $1000-1200 for new parts and labor and a used Dana 44 professionally installed will cost around $2000+. Of course, if you can do the Dana 44 swap yourself (a lot of folks here have), you'll save the labor costs but most feel to actually swap out gears properly requires real experience and expertise. For a daily driver, some feel 3.73s are a bit too high for the street and suggest 3.31 or 3.54s, instead. Also, it will probably be suggested that you install a higher stall speed torque converter. Again, there are drivability ramifications for street only cars with high stall speed TCs. I've got the Dana 36 3.07 in mine and am giving serious thought to some kind of rear end upgrade, too...
I agree all the way down to the part about changing gears in the Dana 36, you said gear upgrade will probably cost $1,000-1,200.
Gears = $200
Labor = not more than $300
Texas-Speed does gears and bearings for $500 including parts :cheers:
Dana 44 will cost you like $1,200-1,900 plus the additional parts that need to be changed or modified. I couldn't quote labor prices though.
[Modified by BowTieBlood, 2:34 PM 10/19/2003]
Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (BowTieBlood)
Wow, if you can get the Dana 36 gears done for $500, that's a deal! I checked at least three places on line and they wanted approxmately $350 for the gears and $100 for the rebuild kit (below is a link to one of them). I also had IMed a few members who had done this and I got a range of approximately $900-1200 for the whole Dana 36 deal, complete with labor included...
http://www.drivetrainsuperstores.com...e2.asp?axle=21
[Modified by tobijohn, 3:59 PM 10/19/2003]
http://www.drivetrainsuperstores.com...e2.asp?axle=21
[Modified by tobijohn, 3:59 PM 10/19/2003]
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces NM
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (tobijohn)
I agree that it's hit or miss on the D36. I had a good friend with a very built up '95 that ran 3.73's in a D36 and he never had any problems with a whole lot of drag and road racing.
On the other hand, I had the D36 in my old iron head '86 shed the teeth off the pinion gear and it had nothing more done to it than a few bolt ons.
Chris
On the other hand, I had the D36 in my old iron head '86 shed the teeth off the pinion gear and it had nothing more done to it than a few bolt ons.
Chris
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (BowTieBlood)
I paid $900 at Pile brothers in Baytown, TX. Complete gear change to 373 with bearings. Best money spent, good shop, no problems. I still have the Dana 36. :steering:
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Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (JAYK)
A 36 won't last :nonod:
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Glendale Az
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (JAYK)
Friend bought a complete 3:73 from a mail order company. Swapped out, small converter, drag radials, now missing 4 teeth from pinion. Car runs high 12s normally. Dana 36 is weak to say the least.. :chevy
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 11
From: Savannah Ga.
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (69vetteracer)
Quote: ----------------------------------------------------------------
Swapped out, small converter, drag radials, now missing 4 teeth from pinion. Car runs high 12s normally. Dana 36 is weak to say the least..
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DRAG RADIALS :eek: :nono: :confused: :( :conehead :nonod:
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: NEWCASTLE
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (redcorvettedave)
Thanks for the replies ,I forgot to mention I will also be installing a 2800 stall convertor.Will this help or will it quicken the demise of the 36.I will most like never race the car just use it as a daily driver
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (JAYK)
My wife's '85 with a 383 killed the ring gear. I rebuilt the D36 and cryo-treated everything and it's got a lot of passes (with ET Streets) on it now. It's NOT as good as a D44 but you can get them to live behind a pretty good amount of power...
-Jeb
-Jeb
Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (jburnett)
What would be the approximate cost of crypto-treating everything? And what exactly consitutes "everything"? And how many hours are involved in the actual R&R? I ask the hours involved rather than the labor cost because I realize rates vary regionally. Thanks...
[Modified by tobijohn, 11:59 AM 10/20/2003]
[Modified by tobijohn, 11:59 AM 10/20/2003]
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (tobijohn)
Cryoing the entire assembled diff (the case, r&p, bearings, stub axles, posi-unit) plus the halfshafts and drive spindles would be $300.00... Now, go to my topic that's asking for someone with a D36 and a lot of power and apply and you might get it for free...
As for the R&R, it's hard to say because like you said it varies regionally. But I would expect a complete R&R of a D36 (or a D44) would probably approach $400-600 in labor, parts not included...
-Jeb
As for the R&R, it's hard to say because like you said it varies regionally. But I would expect a complete R&R of a D36 (or a D44) would probably approach $400-600 in labor, parts not included...
-Jeb
Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (jburnett)
Thanks Jeb, how many hours of work do you figure that $400-600 represents? I know you have a lot of experience with this so how may hours do you figure it would take you personally to remove the rear end and then re-install it? Out of curiosity, as I know nothing about the process, is the rear assembly cryoed as a unit or does it have to be broken down into individual pieces (U-jonts removed from half-shafts, gears and bearings removed from dif, etc)? Thanks...
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Re: Dana 36 will it survive (tobijohn)
It can be cryoed as a complete unit...In fact I do complete engines, trannys, and diffs routinely.
I don't have a shop "hour" book in front of me to know exactly what it calls for to R&R a C4 rear. I would say that at $50 per hour (typical of most shops) you'd be looking at around 6 to 12 hours...I just don't know for sure... Me, myself??? I can have a C4 diff out in about 40 minutes but you have to understand that I'm probably more intimate with a C4 Corvette than with my wife (sorry babe)...
-Jeb
I don't have a shop "hour" book in front of me to know exactly what it calls for to R&R a C4 rear. I would say that at $50 per hour (typical of most shops) you'd be looking at around 6 to 12 hours...I just don't know for sure... Me, myself??? I can have a C4 diff out in about 40 minutes but you have to understand that I'm probably more intimate with a C4 Corvette than with my wife (sorry babe)...
-Jeb