So I have all this money set aside for the engine work I was about to start. It didnt even occur to me about all the supporting factors behind it. With everything else dealt with im now stuck with the rear end. I wanna go from my 8 to a 9 I dont wanna pull a used rear end out but I cant find a new rear end that will install easily. Im not skilled with a welder so I want this to be simple.
http://www.quickperformance.com/Products/housings.htm If you scroll down, there is a 9 inch that they say fits a 72 comet? Is this a full rear end? minus the diff and gears. ITs the Quick performance 9inch leaf spring housing.
There is a member on here that sells 9" housings that you can re-use 5 lug 8" axles in, all you would need is a 28 spline center section.
what features you get for your 9" really depend on what your doing with your car. how much power does your motor make? what are you using the car for? is it an auto or stick? the quick performance housing is a strong piece. im personally not a fan of moser axles. you can get better axles for the same price from currie, strange or mark williams. currie has housings at a comparable price to quick also. the strange housing are really nice and not that much more cost.
Well im in the process of building a 347 that will push around 350-400 horse, thats why i figured the 8 wouldnt be enough anymore. I have the original auto, which is being rebuilt and having a shift kit put in as well. The car will be a street strip car, lots of car shows, strip about once a month. Bryant will that housing bolt right up with no problems? no welding and such?
Now, knowing full well that we all get tired of mild'ish builds after a while(350-400 is easy from a well matched and prepared 347) and want to squeeze even more out of it later on down the road when the shiny new wears off.. the 9 will allow room for growth and margin. But I do know firsthand that 8 will hold such power levels with ease on a light car like this one. On the other hand.. if you don't have trac-lok and have to throw parts at it to make it worthy anyways?.. you may as well spend it on something that will take nearly anything you'll likely ever throw at it if you decide to crank it up a notch or two later on.. and the 9 will certainly give you that. Pretty easy to over-spec that 9 and end up throwing too much cash into it though when you consider that a stock setup will easily tolerate those power levels. I know more than a few guys running around with $2,500 rearends behind $4,000 motors. lol
all the company's i listed will build you a housing to what ever dimensions you ask for. they will bolt right in with no welding. groberst101 is right. if your at the 400hp level, you will be right at the edge of being able to brake a 8". you need to consider a few things. a 9" consumes a measurable amount of power over an 8" due to being a heavier diff and having a lower pinion from the ring gear centerline which creates greater power consumption. this is one of the differences that really makes the 9" able to handle higher power. most cars that i see braking 8"s are using transbrakes or encountering really bad wheel hop. usually they will brake an axle or a carrier cap. you can get a complete 8" thirdmember with a limited slip and what ever gear ration you want on ebay for around 700. to switch to a 9" your going to spend 1600-2000 if you buy the new housing new axles and a ebay thirdmember. also you will most likely need new brakes. that depends on if you have 4 lug or 5 lug and what housing ends you have on your new housing.
Will you be running street tires at the strip? I have 347 with 350-400 FWHP, Broader Perf C4, original 3.00 8" rear with ebay Traction Loc. About $400 for the TL, bearings, seals and longer bolts and $100 to install it. Ran it at the strip with drag radials and no problems. You'll want limited slip differential and drag radials at the strip.
Try and look for a Drum Brake 9" from a late 70's (1980 was the last year for this rear) Granada or Monarch. This one's a direct bolt in. As for having to spend 2-3 thousand dollars for what you want, that simply isn't necessary. I started with a $150 (ebay) 9" housing that was already narrowed. Then bought a $150 81 Bronco 9" rear for the third member (31 spline with traction loc), then spent $400 on a set of Strange axles, with the installation costs, I've got about $800 in it (new U bolts, gaskets, etc) There's no one around you that narrows rear ends ?
Jsarnold no I will not be running street tires, radials with LSD and 3.8 gears or right around there, not sure exactly what I want to go with yet. What were your times at the strip?
Best was 8.2XX in the 1/8th which, according to the calculators, should put it just into the 12s in the 1/4 mile. We were looking for a cool day in the Fall to try a 1/4 mile but didn't get it done. Expect you'll do better with the 3.8 gears. I probably don't need 3rd gear in the 1/8th mile.
