Rear end... MUST DECIDE!!!!!

[69GMC910]

My 700+hp engine will be here in 5 weeks. I need to make a decision on what to run for a read end a.s.a. PRONTO!!! I am going to run 3.30 gears or close to that... WILL a very well built 12 bolt be bullet proof??? If not, I won't waste my time.. What should I do? I would prefer not to spend over 2500-3000...

THX!
910

[leftcoast66]

With a budget that high, I don't see any reason why not go with a 9 inch.

[shortbed70]

That's kinda what I thought! A 12 bolt will put down some power but for all around strength 9" is the way to go and the gear sets are easier and cheaper to buy and setup.
Posted via Mobile Device

[shawnt]

12 bolt will hold it.
Good axles, girdle, weld the tubes. Lots of people using 12 bolts for some pretty stout combos.
of course the 9 will hold too.
Posted via Mobile Device

[blackedoutharley]

Nothing, including a 9' is "bullet proof".

[mcmlxix]

The 12 bolt will have C clips, which I believe is a weak point.. Go with the 9" with the big bearing ends...

[69GMC910]

Well I'm calling "bullet proof" something built for 1000hp but only seeing 525ish... I know what you mean though... However, if I could get Chuck Norris to be my drivetrain.... Well that would be "Nuke Proof"!!!
Posted via Mobile Device

[69GMC910]

How big of a deal is it to modify a 9" to fit a chevy? Swap axles and relocate leaf spring/shock mounts??
Posted via Mobile Device

[mcmlxix]

Originally Posted by 69GMC910

How big of a deal is it to modify a 9" to fit a chevy? Swap axles and relocate leaf spring/shock mounts??
Posted via Mobile Device

Leaf spring perches are easy... bolt everything in place, measure/adjust.. then weld ...

Shock brackets may be a little more involved... not sure what they look like on the GMC.. but if you take your time, I would think they could be cut off an moved over without too much trouble... You may even find a mfg (moser or currie) has a 9" set up with the correct brackets...

[fastwillie 696969]

what size tire you going to run ,12 bolt be fine ,you can narrow it and change to c clip eliminators and re weld ford big bearing ends on and Currie axles , or keep the 12 same ,i got no problems with mine ,i think I'm around 700 hp myself with turbo 400 transbrake ,i got dutchman axles .

[Marv D]

1500HP and no traction will survive just fine in a stock GM 10bolt LOL. You gotta think about how hard are you going to hit the tire,, and adjust the budget accordingly. Like said,, NOTHING is bulletproof, but the best I've found pushing a heavy vehicle into the 1.2 sixty's:
Strange aluminum centersection w/ Pro Gear option,, $1300
Fab-9 chromoly housing with big bearing ends and bracketry,, around $800 (Alston or the likes)
Willwood or Aerospace disks kit, $550 ($1100 for the big brake kits and parking brake)
MarkWilliams axles,, around $650 (Mosers around $400, Strange $300, you get what you pay for)
Wheels / slicks / DOT stickeys,,, $300 - $2000 (Going fast has a real volatile budget

Sorting out how to make it work,, give it a good 10 trips to the track for every adjustable bracket in the suspension. LOL

[Marv D]

Originally Posted by fastwillie 696969

what size tire you going to run ,12 bolt be fine ,you can narrow it and change to c clip eliminators and re weld ford big bearing ends on and Currie axles , or keep the 12 same ,i got no problems with mine ,i think I'm around 700 hp myself with turbo 400 transbrake ,i got dutchman axles .

fast willie,,,, not that this is any indication of anything,, but your the only other one I know of that has ran the Dutchmans axles. SUPER people and a great street/strip axle, I really think this failure was caused by 6 years of street and maybe the 400 pounds of nitrous that went through the last motor LOL. In fact Strange sent me to the Dutchman when I told then what I was doing, twisted 2 of their axles and the truck was dead-hooking. The alloy Dutchman uses is very tolerant to the 2way wrap up of street driving with a spool / posi type rear. But.... Here's what happened to my drivers side axle when I hit it with a transbrake launch, 660HP, 14" slick and a 3400 pound vehicle. Truck was dead hooking,, OUCH!!!

http://www.small-block-chevy.com/ima...2010/axle2.JPG

Talk about shattering some work hardened material!!!!!! MW axles is the only thing I haven't ever been able to tear up in the Nova so that's what I replaced them with. We'll see. I seem to be hard on parts this year and haven't even made one race!!!

[nxtruck]

If you're planning on spending that much, you could go with a Dana 60, also. A little on the heavy side, but as close to bulletproof as you can get. With that said, a 12-bolt or a 9" would fill the bill, also. There's plenty that can be done to strengthen the 12-bolt, and a 9" would certainly be up to it, too. Like has been said, it depends on the intended usage and, if it sees a lot of time at the track, how well it hooks.
I don't think you could go wrong with any one of these choices, IMO.

[PGSigns]

Pound for pound a 9 inch is going to be better. Big bearing ends allow for up to 40 spline gun drilled axles. The hogs heads allow for a larger carrier beating to support the spool and allow a spool for the big axles. They are the standard in drag racing and this makes center sections and other parts more available both new and used. The biggest thing to plan is the gear choice. Pro gears dont last long on the street and we had good luck with the richmond gears at the strip in some fast street cars the see a good bit of street driving. Also with the 9 inch centers look at the gears you may want to run and see if they are big pinion or not. This will affect the pinion support and yolk you need.
Jimmy

[69GMC910]

Won't see a ton of track time, just a few fridays a year... But will hopefully have decent traction... Plan on running 30x10's or wider and using cal tracs... What should a well built 9" cost converted to a chev setup?
Posted via Mobile Device

[PGSigns]

Moser makes a bolt in setup for the 60 to 62 and the 63 to 66's. You must have a leaf spring truck if you are going to run caltracs. May have to call them for that setup. I would think with 33 spline axles and a locker with a nodular housing would be with in the budget you have set.
Jimmy

[ItsRandy]

Originally Posted by 69GMC910

Won't see a ton of track time, just a few fridays a year... But will hopefully have decent traction... Plan on running 30x10's or wider and using cal tracs... What should a well built 9" cost converted to a chev setup?
Posted via Mobile Device

I put a Strange 9" in mine. Most of the 9" stuff you buy today is not modified/used OEM Ford, it's brand new, manufactured by whoever you buy the rear end from. OEM Ford 9" has become hard to find.
I got a made to order rear end, nodular iron center section, 4:11 gears, Detroit locker, big bearings, 33 spline axles, Wilwood disc brakes w/parking brake and 1350 yoke including shipping to California from Michigan for just over 3 grand. I am pretty sure you can get about the same thing from Moser. Mine came less spring perches, however, you will need to set your pinion angle anyway. I think the perches were about $50.

[BigDan3131]

Sorry I want to post something from Strange's website but wouldn't it was their 10.50" -12" ring gear rear ends.

[PGSigns]

If you get one with no pads or if you find one that fits and need to put pad on it take time welding it up. When I build one for a drag car the bearing ends are the last thing that gets put on the housing. Welding on the housing will put a curve on the tubes. Take time and weld an inch at a time and let it cool some. I have fixed some that when they got done putting the brackets braces on them the axles would not go in.
Jimmy

[69GMC910]

Just had a quote locally of $6000 for a 12 bolt with an Auburn posi and strange axles... Good lord....
Posted via Mobile Device

[vin63]

It's hard to beat some of the packaged reared deals like ItsRandy got from Strange (Moser, Currie are some others). Most of the aftermarket 9-inch components are light years ahead of the old OE stuff as far as durability and strength. This is my Ford 9-inch I put together from left over parts - Competition Engineering housing. The Mark Williams third member is basically the same type of unit I run in my Super Gas car - that third member and the transmission (built by Mike's Transmission) are the only things I haven't broken on my race in 20+ years of racing...and believe me, I've tried.

If you were to buy this rearend, it would be around $3500 retail.

[71Dragtruck]

Originally Posted by 69GMC910

Just had a quote locally of $6000 for a 12 bolt with an Auburn posi and strange axles... Good lord....
Posted via Mobile Device

Rip off, You can build a fab 9 with a spool, 35 spline, aluminum center for that price.


Go with a 9" trust me, WAY more selection of aftermarket parts, mine doesn't have a single stock part in it. I put a bunch of money into my 12 bolt only to sell it at a fraction after I wounded it and fixed for one weekend before selling. With a 9" it's also easier to do gear changes (I went through 3 different combos with my 12 bolt)

[69GMC910]

Called Moser today, quote me $3480 for a wicked 9". Lifetime warranty on the posi, 10 year warranty on the 35 spline axles. Anyone think Strange is better?
Posted via Mobile Device

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by 69GMC910

Called Moser today, quote me $3480 for a wicked 9". Lifetime warranty on the posi, 10 year warranty on the 35 spline axles. Anyone think Strange is better?
Posted via Mobile Device

we are Moser dealers plus we fab our own rear ends here is one we are doing now. Strange is a lot more expensive. We are dealers for them also but sell more Greg Moser products

[71Dragtruck]

Originally Posted by 69GMC910

Called Moser today, quote me $3480 for a wicked 9". Lifetime warranty on the posi, 10 year warranty on the 35 spline axles. Anyone think Strange is better?
Posted via Mobile Device

I'd go Moser, or if you want the best Mark Williams but have the $$$$$$ ready.