CK5
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Dana 20 or 205?
- Thread starter bryanrash
- Start date
resurrected_jimmy
1/2 ton status
205..... way stronger, Dana 20's went behind 70 hp f-head jeeps and the original small bronco, I think they did use them behind 289 V-8's but that is still in a way lighter rig than a full size chevy
89GMCSuburban
1/2 ton status
Why? Never seen a Dana 20 in a 1 ton truck.........
resurrected_jimmy
1/2 ton status
Just to play devil's advocate.... Bob Chandler ran a Dana 20 in the original Bigfoot..... 79 Ford with a 460 
atho
1/2 ton status
resurrected_jimmy said:
another devil's advocate post here...early K/5 blazers, 69-74 or so, could have had the D20 behind either the 3 on the tree or the SM465, usually behind the 250 or 307. but they do exist.
that being said, the 205 is better for a bigger rig with more power. the D20 would be more suitable to a smaller rig, and you can purchase low gear sets for it, unlike the 205 (yet).
resurrected_jimmy said:Just to play devil's advocate.... Bob Chandler ran a Dana 20 in the original Bigfoot..... 79 Ford with a 460
Correction: Bob Chandlers Bigfoot was NOT a '79. It was a '75 with the '79 grille on it.
As for BC running the Dana 20, I've noticed that before from the pictures and still can't figure why he ran that combo.
I do know for fact, Ford ran the Dana 20's in their 4x4 F-series line back in the early 70's. I've even seen a '74 Highboy with the Dana 20 under it. I was amazed to see that case rather than the 205.
Chandler did change over to the 205 later but don't know when.
easy 205 is 10 times easyer to find and fnd parts for.
6.2puller
1/2 ton status
The Dana 20 was available behind a 401 in an Jeep Cherokee in the 70s. It has a bit better low range stock and has 4:1 kits available. There are kits to upgrade the outputs to 32 spline from stock 10spline. The cases themselves tend to crack and their are companies making a "girdle" for them that bolts to the PTO cover.
That is a lot of work to make a D20 compare to a 205 stock. The only thing you would have going for you after spending all that doe would be the 4:1 and you could probably have a doubler for less.
My vote would be for a 205 unless you are building a light jeep or early bronco.
As to the D20 under a Highboy, are you sure that wasn't a D21? They look like a D20 but are single speed basicaly just engaging the front axle. Those I have seen in Highboys. A D20 in a Highboy would be a first if I saw one.
That is a lot of work to make a D20 compare to a 205 stock. The only thing you would have going for you after spending all that doe would be the 4:1 and you could probably have a doubler for less.
My vote would be for a 205 unless you are building a light jeep or early bronco.
As to the D20 under a Highboy, are you sure that wasn't a D21? They look like a D20 but are single speed basicaly just engaging the front axle. Those I have seen in Highboys. A D20 in a Highboy would be a first if I saw one.
atho
1/2 ton status
6.2puller said:
It was probably a Dana 24. Divorced, cast iron gear drive, 1.86:1 low range, comparable in strength to the 205. Definitely not a D20.
Some old Chevy/GMC napco conversions used the Dana 23, which was the pass side drop version of this case. The 24 is ford specific and is (duh) driver drop.
I think that International used the D21 in some of their fullsize trucks in the early 70's, but I could be wrong on that.
atho said:It was probably a Dana 24. Divorced, cast iron gear drive, 1.86:1 low range, comparable in strength to the 205. Definitely not a D20.
Some old Chevy/GMC napco conversions used the Dana 23, which was the pass side drop version of this case. The 24 is ford specific and is (duh) driver drop.
I think that International used the D21 in some of their fullsize trucks in the early 70's, but I could be wrong on that.
It could be what you described. I'm not real familiar with those "smaller" Dana t-cases. I just remember seeing that Dana under the Highboy and knowing it was NOT a 203 or 205.
Now I did have a '76 F150 once and it had some kind of Dana t-case behind the 435 tranny. Certainly was not the 203 or 205 either. Just weird to see those cases used up to '76 as far as I've seen.
Another F100 I had was a '75 model with the 203 full-time unit in which I converted to part-time. Just another food for thought about the years and different configurations of t-cases in the Fords.
6.2puller
1/2 ton status
The Dana 20 was never available behind the 435. The Early Bronco guys have to adapt for run a 435. It was available with a Dana 21 wich is close and some use that adaptor redrilled. My brother runs a 435/20 combo in his jeep but with 42" TSLs he is ready to here it pop at any time. He has a 205 waiting.
3 on the tree
1/2 ton status
I guess the one in my 70K5 is living on borrowed time. It only has 72K on it, so maybe it will live for awhile. 
resurrected_jimmy
1/2 ton status
6.2puller said:
I wonder if it lived for more than a week
Blazer1970
1/2 ton status
3 on the tree said:I guess the one in my 70K5 is living on borrowed time. It only has 72K on it, so maybe it will live for awhile.
The Dana 20 is obviously a smaller case than the NP205, but it is a very strong design, and you do not hear about people breaking them.
