Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
#246961
03/08/09 01:55 PM
03/08/09 01:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,894 Weddington, N.C.
Streetwize
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Weddington, N.C.
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Looking for options on my SBM powered Rocky in case I can't get the 8 3/4 4.10 I'm still hoping to get from another Moparts member. I sent a PM saying I've got to get this thing done in the good spring weather while I can still string together a little bit of time. The engineering company I'm working for is closing theri Charlotte office and I'm not hgoing to commute 80 miles to their Greenville office...It's my great fortune (thank you God and my guardian ) I've been offered a slightly better paying position with a new engfineering company so I'm hoping to actually have a couple weeks off in between to on MY OWN STUFF!! 8 3/4 is an obvious choice....however due to the car being light ~2800 pounds and modestly powered (~425hp) I'm looking for alternative options that fall into the ~55-56" flange to flange, 4 1/2" bolt pattern where 4.10 gears and Sure-grip/posis are plentiful. Right now I'm thinking about Dana $$'s from 80's jeeps, and A body 8 1/4 and a friend even suggested an 8.8 or even an old 8" ford out of an early mustang...what other options are out there? I'd love to run a 44 if I could find one the 8 3/4 of course is a great choice but maybe a bit heavier than I really need for an 11 second bracket car. Some guys I know swap in the rears from Toyota and mitsu 1/2 tons (look a lot like an 8 3/4) and the gearing/posis are available due to the 4 x 4 popoularity.. First choice would be an 8 3/4 (preferably A body width) but my second choice is leaning toward a 44....
Last edited by Streetwize; 03/08/09 01:56 PM.
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: Pat7272]
#246963
03/08/09 02:22 PM
03/08/09 02:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,398 Las Vegas
Al_Alguire
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8.8" Fords. They are plenty strong enough same bolt pattern and are plentiful. One from an Explorer will get you disk brakes and is about the same length.
"I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know."
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: Streetwize]
#246968
03/09/09 12:55 AM
03/09/09 12:55 AM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
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Marysville, O-H-I-O
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11 second bracket car...sounds like you'll be using sticky tires then.
I was going to suggest the 8.25 from the Dakota's if you were NOT going to use sticky tires.
I swapped a big block into my dakota making 535 lb torque and 505 hp, with a 5 spd manual transmission, and I've put 3,000 miles on it with an 8.25 axle I kept street tires on it and it lived just fine. I pulled it out to upgrade to a 9.25 since I wanted to take this to a track and shoot for 12s. guys running these trucks with a 100% stock 9.25 have them into the 11s with boost and nitrous, and these trucks weigh at least 4,000 lbs. (mine is 4200 with the big bock)
so, if you kept street tires on it, an 8.25 wouldn't be a bad choice for a small block making around 400 crank Hp.
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: Pat7272]
#246969
03/09/09 12:40 PM
03/09/09 12:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123 Grand Haven, MI
patrick
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width wise, IIRC explorers are closer to 60" wide
a ranger 8.8 is in the 57" ballpark.
another one not to overlook is the 8.5" ring gear 10 bolt GM, your bolt pattern will be wrong though (4.75") if you could find one in 4.3L S-10. there's a number of Impala SS guys who have them (it's the stock rear) in their 11-12 second beasts....
1976 Spinnaker White Plymouth Duster, /6 A833OD 1986 Silver/Twilight Blue Chrysler 5th Ave HotRod **SOLD!*** 2011 Toxic Orange Dodge Charger R/T 2017 Grand Cherokee Overland 2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (holy crap, my daughter is driving)
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: Streetwize]
#246970
03/09/09 12:52 PM
03/09/09 12:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,416 Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
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An 8.8 ford is plenty strong. The 8.8 Explorer rear has disk brakes, but there is not a C clip eliminator kit for that setup that I know of. The calipers will hold the axle in the even of an axle failure though. A friend has an Explorer 8.8 in a 2900# chevy blazer that runs 5.70's in the 1/8 w/ a big block. I know of a high 4/low 5 sec grudge mustang nitrous car around here that had an 8.8 under it for years. Obviously they do have C clip eliminators for the mustang rears. Why not just cut down an 8 3/4 housing and have some axles made for it? CHIP
CHIP '70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60 '69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60 '71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75 '73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75 '90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt '06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: DaytonaTurbo]
#246972
03/09/09 02:49 PM
03/09/09 02:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,131 Amarillo, Texas
BBR
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Amarillo, Texas
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Gen2 Ranger (89-92) with a 4.0L will have an 8.8 that is 56.6" wms to wms. Later trucks get wider and an Explorer axle is several inches.
4x4 versions will more than likely have a trac-lok and 3.73 to 4.10 gears. Axles are 28 spline just like Mustangs.
Spring pads will be on the top of the axle.
Drag Week 2011 - 77th place - DD Drag Week 2012 - 2nd place SRBB N/A Drag Week 2014 - Kapooya RMRW 2018 RMRW 2020
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: EvilB1Dart]
#246975
03/09/09 06:53 PM
03/09/09 06:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,894 Weddington, N.C.
Streetwize
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EB1, You know I have a 9" Versailles rear under my Cobra Kit car... Naaah!!!
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: Streetwize]
#246976
03/09/09 10:32 PM
03/09/09 10:32 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
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I have some experience with customers running 8 1/4s . Seem almost indestructable. Seen one behind a hot 360 in a Duster with 3.91s I was surprised it never gave a seconds trouble even with slicks.Then he put a paxton on the engine. Still no trouble and i mean years of running. My nephew in law married to my niece has a hot 383 installed in a 94 Dakota. (10 to 1s) Erson cam. 750 holley, Schumacher conversion mounts and headers , hi stall converter etc. Despite all the nonsense young lads put their cars through including tire torture also no problems. They are a betterrear then we realize i think. Don
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
#246977
03/09/09 11:16 PM
03/09/09 11:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,591 Canton, Ohio
Sport440
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Quote:
I have some experience with customers running 8 1/4s . Seem almost indestructable. Seen one behind a hot 360 in a Duster with 3.91s I was surprised it never gave a seconds trouble even with slicks.Then he put a paxton on the engine. Still no trouble and i mean years of running. My nephew in law married to my niece has a hot 383 installed in a 94 Dakota. (10 to 1s) Erson cam. 750 holley, Schumacher conversion mounts and headers , hi stall converter etc. Despite all the nonsense young lads put their cars through including tire torture also no problems.
They are a betterrear then we realize i think. Don
From the MP Chassis manuel the 8 1/4 was a HD axel! Better then the 8 3/4 stock.
From my experience they are Better then most realize too.! But the axels are retained by C clips, and I dont think there are any after market kits to fix that. Not, that one couldent find a fix/fab for that. mike
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: Sport440]
#246978
03/10/09 12:35 AM
03/10/09 12:35 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,038 Tulsa OK
Bad340fish
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All of the explorer 8.8s have 31 spline axles. I have run one in my jeep for close to 4 years now and its held up well. I probably only have 250HP but my gear ratio is 45:1 when off the pavement. Not sure how much they wiegh, the 8.8 housing was heavier than the complete dana 35 that came out of my jeep. The 97+ Jeep Cherokees came with 29 spline 8.25 axles which was an upgrade from the earlier 27 spline units.
Dana 44s can be found in cherokees but get picked from the yards pretty quick. They can be found in 87-89 models with the 4.0 but its hit and miss, more likely in 87 than other years. If its behind a 4.0 it will have 3.55s for an auto and 3.07s for a manual trans. Those gear ratios apply to any cherokee with the 4.0 inline 6 as well.
Isuzu trooper or amigo(forgot which) came with a dana 44 with disc brakes. Most had 4.56 gears and a posi of some sort. However you get a 6 lug pattern and expensive wierd hard to find brake parts.
Thats my short list aquired from jeep stuff.
68 Barracuda Formula S 340
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: Bad340fish]
#246979
05/08/09 01:57 PM
05/08/09 01:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 945 La Vernia, Texas
Pat7272
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I just picked up this 8.8 out of a 99 explorer for $275. It has 31 spline axles, trak-lok limited slip diff, 3.73 gears and disc brakes. I plan on swapping it into my Duster, but first I'll have it narrowed (probably end up around 50") and change the housing ends to 9" style (better than c-clip eliminators as I understand it). Moving the spring perches and changing the pinion yoke will then be all thats left to do and I'll have a very strong rear end, custom set up for my car, disc brake equipped for 40% of the cost of an S60 swap and cheaper than rebuilding my current 8.75. And you could do it for less than what I plan if you wanted! Pat
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: Streetwize]
#246981
05/08/09 04:43 PM
05/08/09 04:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 226 lino lakes,MN
onebaddakota
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lino lakes,MN
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For the weight and power I would absolutely have no problem with a 8 1/4. It's what I'm running on my 3500lb mid 11s Dakota. I've even run N2O on it out of the whole. On motor, 1.5s 60s are the norm. I've got a 105,000 miles on it and been threw 3 motors with it. Did I mention it was a 27 spliner? The aftermarket has cheap 29 spline axles. A trutrac will eliminate the spider gears. There are aftermarket diff cover supports if you really want to get carried away. There are no c-clip eliminators that I know of but you can do a relatively cheap rear disc conversion from a grand cherokee or buy a new kit for as little as $500. This is a popular with the jeep crowd with the XJs(regular cherokees) Tom
10.56 at 125.6, with a 1.43 60 ft.
E85, Hyd. Roller 410 magnum,full exhaust, 3500 race weight.
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: BBR]
#246983
05/08/09 06:39 PM
05/08/09 06:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,894 Weddington, N.C.
Streetwize
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gThanks guys, motors coming out rear has to be picked soon. i'm still thinking B body 8 3/4...it's about the same width as what's in there now......I still like the idea of the 4.09 geared posi Dana 44 out of a Jeep Cherokee. I like the dana "look" reminds me of the big brother 60 in my Charger.
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: BBR]
#246984
05/08/09 06:53 PM
05/08/09 06:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 945 La Vernia, Texas
Pat7272
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super stock
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La Vernia, Texas
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Quote:
Nice score! I don't think you need c-clip eliminators with disk brakes as the caliper will not let the axle come out.
Thanks!
I understand the axle wont physically come out due to the discs, but do you think there would be any appreciable benefit to switching over to 9" housing ends and using 9" style axles, especially strength-wise?
I'm hoping to run low 11s in a fairly light A-body (3000lbs?) on drag radials.
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: Pat7272]
#246985
05/08/09 11:57 PM
05/08/09 11:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,131 Amarillo, Texas
BBR
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Any benefit? doubtful.
Will the 9" ends even work with the Exp disk setup?
Drag Week 2011 - 77th place - DD Drag Week 2012 - 2nd place SRBB N/A Drag Week 2014 - Kapooya RMRW 2018 RMRW 2020
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: BBR]
#246986
05/09/09 01:16 AM
05/09/09 01:16 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 945 La Vernia, Texas
Pat7272
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super stock
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La Vernia, Texas
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Quote:
Any benefit? doubtful.
You're not the only one telling me that..
Quote:
Will the 9" ends even work with the Exp disk setup?
I think they will with the right brackets
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: Streetwize]
#246987
05/09/09 07:43 AM
05/09/09 07:43 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,531 Jacksonville, FL
Chris2581
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Wize,you have a PM..I have what you're looking for.
Nautilus Racing- We use Superformance gaskets and Turbo Action converters/products.
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Re: Strong but plentiful alternative Rear Ends for ~400hp
[Re: Chris2581]
#246988
05/09/09 11:23 AM
05/09/09 11:23 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,894 Weddington, N.C.
Streetwize
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Chris, thanks!
Guess I should clarify:
Im looking for the Dana 44's that have:
5 x 4.5" (mopar/ford pass car) wheel bolt pattern Leaf spring perches (not trailing arms) Approx 59.5" axle flange to flange and ~55" bp to bp
I think they came in the late 80's early 90's Cherokee (smaller/boxier) and Commanche sports that had the 4.0 High output in them...
Last edited by Streetwize; 05/09/09 11:23 AM.
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