posi in the rain

[71chevytruckguy]

im trying to talk me dad in letting me get a posi rearend for my '69 but he sayes that he has talked to some people and says they are not safe in the rain becuase the don't "unlock" around turns. i was wondering what some of yall that had a posi rearend in a daily driver thought about them and if any if the things he heard was true. thanks yall. chris.

[Paul M]

posi's in the rain when you jump on it or take off briskly will spin both..and if your turning..will spin you around ina circle...as i did once in the middle of an intersection...can be ok once you are used to it and you use care during the rains/wet road conditions

[1969 GMC]

Originally Posted by Paul M

posi's in the rain when you jump on it or take off briskly will spin both..and if your turning..will spin you around ina circle...as i did once in the middle of an intersection...can be ok once you are used to it and you use care during the rains/wet road conditions

i think any RWD vehicle can spin you around if you gun it in a turn and you arent watching.

i'm guessing your dad only wants you to burn one tire off at a time. he is a smart guy, trying to save you money. you should thank him

[Paul M]

Originally Posted by 1969 GMC

i think any RWD vehicle can spin you around if you gun it in a turn and you arent watching.

i'm guessing your dad only wants you to burn one tire off at a time. he is a smart guy, trying to save you money. you should thank him

yep..which younger drivers tend to have a heavy foot and can be distracted easily..why dad is thinking ahead and saying not this time with a truck with a lighter back end...

[mplex2000]

Get a locker, they unlock around corners

[Medicanman71]

You can get an open diff to hook up posi if you hit the gas when it's wet out so either way that's not too important as far as that goes.

A kid back in hs thought he had it down pat as far as counter steering and fishtailing around the parking lot went when it was wet. They were going around and around till the point everyone hanging around really lost interest.... then you know it, out of no place....... WHACK

Hung a bit too wide while he had too much speed around one corner and slammed the bed into a cage guarding an a/c unit for such a reason. He has a wooden stake bed and that thing blew up, splintered everyplace.

you just have to be carefull and not get too cocky.

As said, why not just get a locker etc.

[71chevytruckguy]

i've already learned my lesson with truck once the same rear end in the rain. first day i had it runnin after a I6 to V8 swap. got one the gas too hard gettin on to me highway and the back end broke lose when i hit second with the 3 speed i used to have in there. hit the back of an 18 wheeler. put i a 2ft dent in the driver door and totaled the cab. had to put a new can and door on there myself. was truckless for 6 months cuase of my dumbass. so i've learned my lesson.

the reason i want it posi so i can try to get this thing to hook up at the local drap strip, not to be a dumbass. took it there for the first time last weekend but if spun there 1st and 1/2 thru 2nd.

reason for posi over a locker is im really good friends with the onwer of the local junkyard and he has a 3.73 posi rear i can probably get him to trade for the 3.43 rear that in the truck know. im on a real tight budget.

i do 99% of the work on my trucks by myself, spend my money that i've earned working to build them, and pay for gas. so i kinda ticks me off when he tries to tell what i can and can't do to my trucks.

here's a pic of the '69 after and wrecked it. and the new motor i put in it. chris.

[82c10]

Originally Posted by 71chevytruckguy

i've already learned my lesson with truck once the same rear end in the rain. first day i had it runnin after a I6 to V8 swap. got one the gas too hard gettin on to me highway and the back end broke lose when i hit second with the 3 speed i used to have in there. hit the back of an 18 wheeler. put i a 2ft dent in the driver door and totaled the cab. had to put a new can and door on there myself. was truckless for 6 months cuase of my dumbass. so i've learned my lesson.

the reason i want it posi so i can try to get this thing to hook up at the local drap strip, not to be a dumbass. took it there for the first time last weekend but if spun there 1st and 1/2 thru 2nd.

reason for posi over a locker is im really good friends with the onwer of the local junkyard and he has a 3.73 posi rear i can probably get him to trade for the 3.43 rear that in the truck know. im on a real tight budget.

i do 99% of the work on my trucks by myself, spend my money that i've earned working to build them, and pay for gas. so i kinda ticks me off when he tries to tell what i can and can't do to my trucks.

here's a pic of the '69 after and wrecked it. and the new motor i put in it. chris.

it's your money get the posi

[Chevrolet4x4s]

Go for the posi and be careful.BTW did you get your truck repared if so can we see some pics?
Shane

[Old Yeller 1970]

I used to pop the clutch and hammer the throttle when making right hand turns in the rain just to see how far I could spin the right rear tire. That was with the open differential and it always went straight as an arrow.

I knew what was possible with a limited slip in the rain and the same day I picked up the truck after having an Auburn limited slip put in it was raining. Naturally, the first right turn I made I popped the clutch and hammered the throttle. Immediately the axle went live and swung into the on-coming lane right at a car. I barely got out of it before the car hit me or should I say before I hit it?

Needless to say, that was the end of my horsing aroung in the rain. The limited slip does help when pulling away from a stop light (in a straight line) when it's raining. I don't think they are dangerous if you drive normally (I mean driving like normal people. Back then my normal driving was ) instead of like a morron when it's raining.

[71chevytruckguy]

was just gettin ready to post some, had to go take a pic. first is of the truck how is looks now and second is the motor installed. its a work in progress. chris.

[crazy longhorn]

I dont drive my longhorn in the rain or snow, but will say that a healthy dose of throttle around the corner (with 4.10's & an Eaton posi), will make that old truck do doughnuts on DRY pavement listen to your Dad.... L

[68350]

The 68 GMC I drove to school my 10th grade year and half of this year had a 3.08 posi. It was fine until snow hit, then it was scary and really made me alert. If I didn't watch and pay attention, it would hit ice and start sliding, espicially after about 40 mph. Rain wasn't bad for me, you just can't goose it around corners and you have to watch the straight aways from a dead stop. I would say go for it because it really helps for burnouts and if you get into any slop or anything.

[69moneypit]

I remember my 442 cutlass with a posi & a shift kit . It would spin the tires & chirp em on dry pavement so you know what is was like in the rain. I stopped at an intersection in the rain , took a left turn and before I knew it it looked like i took a right turn. Be careful when making turns especially when WET.

[boundstaffpress]

An accident like you had will make you grow up quick. I have a posi 3.73 in my truck. Two in fact. I've never had trouble at an intersection in the rain. I also drive my truck like an old grandma when I'm in town.

I already spent my time hot rodding my old chevelle. 8 tickets and two accidents later, I'm not in a hurry, and enjoy my vehicles.

[shortymac83]

My Delta slides all over the place WITHOUT a posi. It's just a matter of driving. If you want it to slide out, it doesn't matter what you have, it'll slide out. If you want it to stay put, don't hammer a car through the turns.

[71chevytruckguy]

yes i did and scared the pants outta me. plus the feeling of knowin that your hard work, sweet, and blood have been wasted due to your stupidy is a horrible feeling. the part i knowin that you could have prevented just by takin it easy. today is the first time i've had it back on the highway in the rain since it totaled it and i was pretty nervous goin by the same stop a wrecked at. but i was very easy on it and was shiftin at 2000rpm, right before where the engine to starts to make some real power, and i made it there and back in one piece

from i hearin so far, sounds like if you say off of it, take it easy, and don't hammer it around turns, you'll be fine. but keep the reply's comin. my dad can be as stubborn as i can about these things. thanks yall. chris.

Originally Posted by boundstaffpress

An accident like you had will make you grow up quick. I have a posi 3.73 in my truck. Two in fact. I've never had trouble at an intersection in the rain. I also drive my truck like an old grandma when I'm in town.

I already spent my time hot rodding my old chevelle. 8 tickets and two accidents later, I'm not in a hurry, and enjoy my vehicles.

[sbc383rulz]

i got a posi 4.10 with a 383/375 4 speed and it can be alot of fun in the rain just gotta drive like you paid $500,000 for it and youll be fine burnout are great with a posi makes lots of noise and rubber i get 3rd gear rubber in the rain at 55 if i hammer it so its all in how ya drive it

[boraxman]

It just dont seem right having a one legger. Posi was the first thing I did to my Chevy.

My Toyota Tacoma got a ARB air locker.

[glock35ipsc]

My 2003 Silverado has a 3.73 posi rear. Not much different than the 68 with a 3.73 posi rear end. Except that the 2003 Silverado has a supercharger, so it will light the tires just by thinking about it!

[Stocker]

I can still recall (just barely! ) being young, and having several cars (up to a 375-hp BB El Camino, and two strong Corvettes) with posi units, and being from NW Oregon, I have driven in the wet a lot. I never got into any trouble (at least not the kind we're talking about here), and you have already seen what can happen if you get a bit careless. In over 40 years, I have never seen or experienced any problem caused by running a posi.

I definitely recommend getting the posi, and I firmly believe the plusses far outweigh any possible drawbacks. Of course, your Dad has the final say, but fwiw, let him know that I am a conservative guy, have raised 3 kids, and am a firm believer in safety and responsibility. Good luck!

[Chevrolet4x4s]

Posis are great and really help with traction issues...also did you try the slicks?
Shane

[jimfulco]

Find a big empty parking lot to use for practice on a rainy day. Take it out & see what it does under wet conditions, and you'll soon get a feel for it.

[71cadc10]

Chris,
Good to see you got your motor done and in, congrats!

I'd go for the posi also if you want to do much drag strip action. Is there a 1/4 mile strip down there or just 1/8?

later,
Andy

[mrein3]

Those of us who grew up driving rear wheel drive cars in the snow belt think its real cute hearing stories about how you southerners can't drive a car or truck around a corner in the rain.