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Spool. Ok for the street? #946870
03/09/11 02:28 AM
03/09/11 02:28 AM

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I have a friend going through his 489 case 8 3/4 axle and he is tossing around the idea of using a full spool instead of a sure grip differential. He asked my advice, but since I have never driven a car with a spool or had any expereince with them, I didnt have any sound advice to give him. What do you guys think? His car is a 1969 road runner with a potent 500 incher and it sees some drag use and street use. Probably a low 11 second car if he could ever hook it up

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: ] #946871
03/09/11 02:41 AM
03/09/11 02:41 AM
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Back home in PA
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What's he doing with an 8 3/4 and 500 cubes?

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: ] #946872
03/09/11 02:42 AM
03/09/11 02:42 AM
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last 5 or 6 cars ive owned have all had spools, 1 small block all the rest big block. current car a 67 Belvedere with a 440 has a 8 3/4 3.91 with a spool, never a problem even in rain just use your head.

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: ] #946873
03/09/11 04:47 AM
03/09/11 04:47 AM
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Florida STAYcation
dIc dOc Deity ! Offline
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From what I have heard(no personal actual experience) ... the taller the tire with a more flexible sidewall is a better combo with a spool.

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: BulletBob] #946874
03/09/11 05:23 AM
03/09/11 05:23 AM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
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Quote:

What's he doing with an 8 3/4 and 500 cubes?




Hey... I have an 8 3/4 in the Charger... 493, 10.8 to one....The rear end is still holding on!

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: ] #946875
03/09/11 10:39 AM
03/09/11 10:39 AM
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Cincinnati, Ohio
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No, it's not OK imo. Put's a lot stress on the axles and makes for a dangerous ride.

Those who say spool is OK for the street don't drive there car's much. My

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: Challenger 1] #946876
03/09/11 11:14 AM
03/09/11 11:14 AM
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Upper Midwest
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Quote:

No, it's not OK imo. Put's a lot stress on the axles and makes for a dangerous ride.

Those who say spool is OK for the street don't drive there car's much. My



Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: dIc dOc Deity !] #946877
03/09/11 12:03 PM
03/09/11 12:03 PM
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Eau Claire, WI
Charger727 Offline
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Quote:

From what I have heard(no personal actual experience) ... the taller the tire with a more flexible sidewall is a better combo with a spool.




Exactly

My Dana60 with big Hoosiers - no problem

I just bought a car with 8.75, spool with small hard tires - one shaft twisted into a pretzel

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: Charger727] #946878
03/09/11 12:58 PM
03/09/11 12:58 PM
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I drive a spooled jeep on the road, but it has a 14 bolt rear, and 40" tall tires..

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: redmist] #946879
03/09/11 01:12 PM
03/09/11 01:12 PM
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Cincinnati, Ohio
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Quote:

I drive a spooled jeep on the road, but it has a 14 bolt rear, and 40" tall tires..




There's no sense in telling people how foolish you are.

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: Challenger 1] #946880
03/09/11 02:18 PM
03/09/11 02:18 PM
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Puyallup, WA
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The real question is "Why?". If its primarily a race care that's gonna see the street now and then, I'd say okay. But for a street car that's gonna see some track time, I think a properly setup sure-grip is the best way to go.

Either way, A spool should never be used without also upgrading the Axles and wheel studs, as it will put a lot of pressure on these components. A spool with stock axles on the street is a big BANG waiting to happen.


LemonWedge - Street heavy / Strip ready - 11.07 @ 120
Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: StealthWedge67] #946881
03/09/11 02:49 PM
03/09/11 02:49 PM
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Grand Prairie,Texas
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If you don't mind the rearend hopping around corners go for it. I did it on one car and never will again for street use.

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: stumpy] #946882
03/09/11 03:05 PM
03/09/11 03:05 PM
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Upper Midwest
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Quote:

If you don't mind the rearend hopping around corners go for it. I did it on one car and never will again for street use.


That along with it being a bear to park, and the back end trying to pass you if it is slightly wet on the street. It is a dangerous thing to do but if you have good insurance and don't give a rip for any ones safety - go for it.
Just because some say that they do it and that it isn't a problem doesn't mean that it is a real smart move.

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: MoparforLife] #946883
03/09/11 03:45 PM
03/09/11 03:45 PM
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Montana
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Yancy Derringer Offline
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All you need to do is see this ONCE.


Fairly hard launch (stop light), broken axle, and lots of tire.

Result? INSTANT turn to one side or the other.

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: Yancy Derringer] #946884
03/10/11 06:00 AM
03/10/11 06:00 AM
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Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana
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Drove my 71 Charger on the street for years/many miles with a spool and 18.5" Hoosier QTP's. The car was driven often and raced when possible.

However, the ladder bar bracket fatigued and broke off the housing (not at the weld). Replaced and then boxed the brackets, also repaired/repainted both 1/4 panels.

About a year later, the tire broke off with the flange from the Mark Williams axle still attached. Replaced axle, wheel and brakes.

Anther two years later, the ladder bar cross member cracked and broke loose from the frame. New lader bars, and cross member, along with new 1/4 panel paint and repairs.

Were all of these problems due to the spool? Maybe not, but after changing to an electric locker, there were no more problems.

I will no longer run a spool regularly on the street with "sticky" tires.


Scott

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: Challenger 1] #946885
03/10/11 01:08 PM
03/10/11 01:08 PM
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Lethbridge, AB, Canada
dangina Offline
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Quote:

No, it's not OK imo. Put's a lot stress on the axles and makes for a dangerous ride.

Those who say spool is OK for the street don't drive there car's much. My




you wouldnt belive how many kids do it with thier imports nowadays - except they weld up the open diff which esentially like driving with a spool - easily 50 of them on the one forum im on - all daily drivers...

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: dangina] #946886
03/10/11 01:22 PM
03/10/11 01:22 PM
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Cincinnati, Ohio
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Quote:

Quote:

No, it's not OK imo. Put's a lot stress on the axles and makes for a dangerous ride.

Those who say spool is OK for the street don't drive there car's much. My




you wouldnt belive how many kids do it with thier imports nowadays - except they weld up the open diff which esentially like driving with a spool - easily 50 of them on the one forum im on - all daily drivers...




Well I really can't blame them, I'm glad there working on there cars and not computers.
I did the same thing one time, welded up my spider gears. I was about 20 years old and didn't have any money and wanted a sure grip.

This was after watching my mentor while I was learning mechanics from him, weldup many jeeps for sand racing. That's differnt than the street, but I bet plenty of them were used on the street.

But now that I know better and thought I would express my experience and recomend against it.

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: Challenger 1] #946887
03/10/11 01:27 PM
03/10/11 01:27 PM
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Today? Who Knows?
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I just looked & couldn't find the video of a beautiful 70 Torino Cobra at the track.. It's running a spool & breaks an axleat the launch... Talk about a violent left turn....


"The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."
Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: 1_WILD_RT] #946888
03/10/11 04:22 PM
03/10/11 04:22 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,194
Harrisburg, Pa.
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I have'nt seen it much the past few years but I always had to check for the welded up gears at the boneyard... The 8 3/4 was tough...Always exciting to find the sure-grip only to ... ...After you've spent the time to yank it out and find the welds...

Re: Spool. Ok for the street? [Re: screamindriver] #946889
03/10/11 06:17 PM
03/10/11 06:17 PM
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Missouri
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galen Offline
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Missouri
I am running a 9" 40 spline axles and a spool. I do not drive in wet weather and it wears out tires fast. I am chewing up MT drag radials every 2000 miles. I am swapping the center section and going with some type of posi unit before summer. They have some very nice units out now. Not to mention having to use a steering knob to park it.

Last edited by galen; 03/10/11 06:56 PM.
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