Who was/is Dana? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

JayDubBlazer · 03-03-2004, 07:17 PM

I always here about Dana 30, Dana front axels or Dana 300 tranx. Just who is this Dana guy or girl? Is it an acronym, or a company? Just wanted some history with it if anyone has any.

rickn · 03-03-2004, 07:20 PM

i work for DANA,

71402BB · 03-03-2004, 07:36 PM

DANA is a very large company that makes lots and lots of drive train parts for lots of different companies! like axels, whole rearends, u-joints, ect

cdowns · 03-03-2004, 07:53 PM

i think he's a cousin of spicer and posi

*rage'nrat638* · 03-03-2004, 07:57 PM

DANA IS I MY GARAGE RIGHT NOW

Mechanic · 03-03-2004, 08:12 PM

Ok....here's your history lesson for the day...

"Dana Corporation, nearly a century old, was founded by a devoutly religious mechanical engineer, Clarence Spicer, in 1904 to manufacture universal joints. In 1914, however, Clarence Spicer learned a hard business lesson – by over-expanding his production because his universal joint had become the industry standard, and by competitors imitating his universal joints without permission or compensation, Spicer’s company was pushed near bankruptcy. An attorney, Charles Dana, who was also an excellent business person, loaned Spicer $25,000 and took control of the business. The company was soon back in the black, and expanded overseas in the 1920s. In 1928, the company moved to Toledo, Ohio, as the auto industry by then was centralized near Detroit."

http://www.spicerdriveshaft.com/about/background.html

rickn · 03-03-2004, 08:13 PM

i work for DANA in mitchell, indiana we build a/c lines for ford , chrysler, and navistar

JayDubBlazer · 03-03-2004, 08:55 PM

Thanks, I am reading a book about Ford Motor Company it was cool to see his early competitors were people like the Dodge bothers and Cadillac. I was just wonding if the company was old or if it was some military acronym.

But now I know the rest of the story.

krazy_texan · 03-03-2004, 11:47 PM

what book are you reading about Ford, I have several of them and have read even more of them i find him to be a very interesting person and a role model.

MAC67 · 03-03-2004, 11:53 PM

that is some pretty neat information , nice question jaydub , thanks for the info , ill have to remember that

JayDubBlazer · 03-04-2004, 01:28 PM

World of Wheels by Douglas Brinkley. I am reading it for my management class, it was the only one on the list that had to do with cars. But so far it has been really interesting. It has really started to become a can't put down kind of book. I would recommend it so far.

67chevemall · 03-04-2004, 02:35 PM

What about Hayes Dana that is now just Dana?????
What happen there??????

History of the automoble books are great! There is always something new to learn!

724x4a/cchevy · 03-04-2004, 06:10 PM

There's a dana corp. factory here in columbia. I think they manufacture some toyota and ford explorer rear axles

Blazer1970 · 03-04-2004, 09:47 PM

Excellent info on Clarence Spicer and Charles Dana here:
Napco4x4.org historical info

phestus · 03-04-2004, 11:29 PM

So when someone says "spicer transmission" this was the Spicer guy ..I was told that I had a "spicer" in my old '59 apache..Most of what I remember of that tranny was the "bull low"..

So is a "Dana" another name for a "spicer"?

Blazer1970 · 03-05-2004, 09:41 AM

Spicer gear is a division of Dana Corp. The axle and transfer case businesses were bought out by Dana and added to the Spicer division at different times. Spicer was originally a u-joint company. I believe the axle business was originally Salisbury.

smokekiki · 03-05-2004, 09:53 AM

My Dad retired from the Dana plant in Reading,Pa.They made truck frames.

phestus · 03-05-2004, 11:12 AM

Blazer1970, thanks for the clarification..I figured it was something like that, but no-one seemed very clear..

03-03-2004, 07:17 PM	#1
JayDubBlazer go cyclones Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ames, IA Posts: 1,885	Who was/is Dana? I always here about Dana 30, Dana front axels or Dana 300 tranx. Just who is this Dana guy or girl? Is it an acronym, or a company? Just wanted some history with it if anyone has any. __________________ Wes PROJECT OLE GREEN 1972 Blazer 4X4 350/700R4 2017 Silverado LT

03-03-2004, 07:20 PM	#2
rickn Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: bedford,in Posts: 63	i work for DANA, __________________ http://rick.nicholson.home.insightbb.com

03-03-2004, 07:36 PM	#3
71402BB now thats a true COON DOG Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Franconia, NH Posts: 1,977	DANA is a very large company that makes lots and lots of drive train parts for lots of different companies! like axels, whole rearends, u-joints, ect __________________ current project 67 402BB stout th350 3.08's with a locker. Plan on tubs 18.5's out back! (thanks Burnsman!) 71 SWB Stepside, was a 250, now is a 402 Big Block with 4 speed and 3.73's ( was crushed by a tree, bed sold, motor pulled) was my first truck!... oh well... 72 LWB 4x4 350 4-speed 3.08's posi wearing army olive drab green (SOLD!) 68 BURB 50TH LOOKALIKE work in progress, soon to have 250-I6 with a 3-speed on the tree 4.11's and posi ( currently sitting in back yard tarped awaiting time, $$$, and lots of love!) 67 1 TON- work truck 396 sm 420 4-speed, flat bed 4.57 gears "big red" (my first landscape truck, very rusty and crusty! but still gets the job done when needed!)

03-03-2004, 07:53 PM	#4
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	i think he's a cousin of spicer and posi __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

03-03-2004, 08:12 PM	#6
Mechanic Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Seattle Posts: 77	Ok....here's your history lesson for the day... "Dana Corporation, nearly a century old, was founded by a devoutly religious mechanical engineer, Clarence Spicer, in 1904 to manufacture universal joints. In 1914, however, Clarence Spicer learned a hard business lesson – by over-expanding his production because his universal joint had become the industry standard, and by competitors imitating his universal joints without permission or compensation, Spicer’s company was pushed near bankruptcy. An attorney, Charles Dana, who was also an excellent business person, loaned Spicer $25,000 and took control of the business. The company was soon back in the black, and expanded overseas in the 1920s. In 1928, the company moved to Toledo, Ohio, as the auto industry by then was centralized near Detroit." http://www.spicerdriveshaft.com/about/background.html __________________ Shop Labor $75, if you watch $100, if you help $125, Wisecracks-$25, Boxjobs-don't even think about it. Yes,Cash. Last edited by Mechanic; 03-03-2004 at 08:54 PM.

03-03-2004, 07:57 PM	#5
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	DANA IS I MY GARAGE RIGHT NOW

03-03-2004, 08:13 PM	#7
rickn Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: bedford,in Posts: 63	i work for DANA in mitchell, indiana we build a/c lines for ford , chrysler, and navistar __________________ http://rick.nicholson.home.insightbb.com

03-03-2004, 08:55 PM	#8
JayDubBlazer go cyclones Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ames, IA Posts: 1,885	Thanks, I am reading a book about Ford Motor Company it was cool to see his early competitors were people like the Dodge bothers and Cadillac. I was just wonding if the company was old or if it was some military acronym. But now I know the rest of the story. __________________ Wes PROJECT OLE GREEN 1972 Blazer 4X4 350/700R4 2017 Silverado LT

03-03-2004, 11:47 PM	#9
krazy_texan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Des Moines, Ia Posts: 3,233	what book are you reading about Ford, I have several of them and have read even more of them i find him to be a very interesting person and a role model. __________________ Krazy Texan My Trucks are made with Wrenches not Chop Sticks 1967 GMC 3/4 ton "Johnny Cash" 1990 v1500 suburban 1967 Ford f100 Swb 4x4 "green bean" GOD BLESS JESUS, JOHN WAYNE, AND THE ALAMO

03-03-2004, 11:53 PM	#10
MAC67 " SHOW ME" Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: shelbyville illinois Posts: 2,624	that is some pretty neat information , nice question jaydub , thanks for the info , ill have to remember that

03-04-2004, 01:28 PM	#11
JayDubBlazer go cyclones Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ames, IA Posts: 1,885	World of Wheels by Douglas Brinkley. I am reading it for my management class, it was the only one on the list that had to do with cars. But so far it has been really interesting. It has really started to become a can't put down kind of book. I would recommend it so far. __________________ Wes PROJECT OLE GREEN 1972 Blazer 4X4 350/700R4 2017 Silverado LT

03-04-2004, 02:35 PM	#12
67chevemall Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NB Posts: 3,367	What about Hayes Dana that is now just Dana????? What happen there?????? History of the automoble books are great! There is always something new to learn! __________________ 1968 Chevy C10 307 3ott fleetside 1967 Chevy C/10 V8, 3spd, fleetside lwb.Sold 1967 Chev C/10 step, 383, M21. SOLD

03-04-2004, 06:10 PM	#13
724x4a/cchevy Self-proclaimed LED man Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrisburg, Missouri Posts: 1,021	There's a dana corp. factory here in columbia. I think they manufacture some toyota and ford explorer rear axles __________________ My LED Website My Photobucket Album of LED's Ask me about hand-made custom L.E.D brake and reverse lights. <- LINK I also do LED: -Third Brake/Cargo -Brake (truck and burb) -Reverse (truck and burb) -67-68 Front Turn Signals -69-70 Front Turn Signals -71-72 Front Turn Signals -GMC Front Turn Signals I can also do custom lights for other vehicles....i did a set for a AMC Gremlin once Norwood Survivor

03-04-2004, 09:47 PM	#14
Blazer1970 Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Old Mission, MI, USA Posts: 2,510	Excellent info on Clarence Spicer and Charles Dana here: Napco4x4.org historical info __________________ Tim

03-04-2004, 11:29 PM	#15
phestus Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: In a snowdrift in Manitoba Posts: 39	So when someone says "spicer transmission" this was the Spicer guy ..I was told that I had a "spicer" in my old '59 apache..Most of what I remember of that tranny was the "bull low".. So is a "Dana" another name for a "spicer"? __________________ '70 C-10, mostly rust n' dust '74 BMW R90/6 "The quickest way to get yourself out of a hole, is to stop digging..."



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03-05-2004, 09:41 AM	#16
Blazer1970 Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Old Mission, MI, USA Posts: 2,510	Spicer gear is a division of Dana Corp. The axle and transfer case businesses were bought out by Dana and added to the Spicer division at different times. Spicer was originally a u-joint company. I believe the axle business was originally Salisbury. __________________ Tim

03-05-2004, 09:53 AM	#17
smokekiki Mike Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: west chester pa Posts: 2,474	My Dad retired from the Dana plant in Reading,Pa.They made truck frames. __________________ 70'c/10, 71 suburban4x4 402bb, 72suburban 4/6 drop, 72k/5 4x4 blazer 4" lift 35 tires

03-05-2004, 11:12 AM	#18
phestus Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: In a snowdrift in Manitoba Posts: 39	Blazer1970, thanks for the clarification..I figured it was something like that, but no-one seemed very clear.. __________________ '70 C-10, mostly rust n' dust '74 BMW R90/6 "The quickest way to get yourself out of a hole, is to stop digging..."

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