What the C3 REALLY needs
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 6
From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Righhhhttttt...why not just throw the car in the garbage can and buy John Force's funny car? 
The point of my post was I DIDN'T want to hack the hell out of my car to install a solid rear axle. I DON'T want to tub it. I DON'T want to back half it. It's easy to throw out these pipe dreams, but my money tree died a LONG time ago. Let's leave the adolescent daydreaming for a different thread and keep the suggestions down on planet Earth
Dep
The point of my post was I DIDN'T want to hack the hell out of my car to install a solid rear axle. I DON'T want to tub it. I DON'T want to back half it. It's easy to throw out these pipe dreams, but my money tree died a LONG time ago. Let's leave the adolescent daydreaming for a different thread and keep the suggestions down on planet Earth
Dep
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Princeton MN
I was really hoping somebody felt the same way I did about the Vette IRS!!! I've been looking into the same conversion and have had zero luck! I need to use my stock rear trailing arms and transverse leaf to be legal in NHRA stock.I' sure plenty of Vettes being raced in the stock classes have done this exact conversion.I'm not sure if you need to use the 12 bolt or if a 9in is legal.I'm very interested to see how it can be done WITHOUT back-halfing the car.
Wayne Nelson
Wayne Nelson
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,620
Likes: 7
From: Orlando Florida
Originally Posted by MR L88
I was really hoping somebody felt the same way I did about the Vette IRS!!! I've been looking into the same conversion and have had zero luck! I need to use my stock rear trailing arms and transverse leaf to be legal in NHRA stock.I' sure plenty of Vettes being raced in the stock classes have done this exact conversion.I'm not sure if you need to use the 12 bolt or if a 9in is legal.I'm very interested to see how it can be done WITHOUT back-halfing the car.
Wayne Nelson
Wayne Nelson
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 10,153
Likes: 15
From: Texas
Originally Posted by MR L88
I was really hoping somebody felt the same way I did about the Vette IRS!!! I've been looking into the same conversion and have had zero luck! I need to use my stock rear trailing arms and transverse leaf to be legal in NHRA stock.I' sure plenty of Vettes being raced in the stock classes have done this exact conversion.I'm not sure if you need to use the 12 bolt or if a 9in is legal.I'm very interested to see how it can be done WITHOUT back-halfing the car.
Wayne Nelson
Wayne Nelson
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 6
From: FRANKLIN GA
Originally Posted by MR L88
I was really hoping somebody felt the same way I did about the Vette IRS!!! I've been looking into the same conversion and have had zero luck! I need to use my stock rear trailing arms and transverse leaf to be legal in NHRA stock.I' sure plenty of Vettes being raced in the stock classes have done this exact conversion.I'm not sure if you need to use the 12 bolt or if a 9in is legal.I'm very interested to see how it can be done WITHOUT back-halfing the car.
Wayne Nelson
Wayne Nelson
The only part I haven't figured out yet is if the rear crossmember that the pinion flange bolts to would let the drive shaft have enough clearance for the rearend travel.
Everything else could be put back to stock pretty easily, if you wanted, but if you have to cut the crossmember and weld in a new peice to follow the body up, instead of the downward arch it has now, that would be a little harder to change back but not that hard if you keep the peice you cut out
Last edited by EDDIEJ82; Feb 10, 2005 at 10:54 PM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,408
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
I have to agree with Nova suggestion. The aftermarket has complete front and rear subframes and you can run whatever rear end you want. Even bigblock Novas aren't that expensive if you find one that someone else converted from a base motor car. I picked up a fairly clean '69 with a 396 (soon to have a 496), 4 speed and 12 bolt rear end for $6k. It did have some problems, but I'm pretty sure I'll be into it for less than Dep will after he gets his solid axle rear end.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,435
Likes: 0
From: largo florida
Originally Posted by DJ Dep
but my money tree died a LONG time ago.
RIP
Here lies my little money tree
I only regret you didnt get to live life to your fullest
Now Im poor
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 6
From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Guys...if I wanted a Nova, I would have BOUGHT one in the first place 
I just don't like dealing with rust, and I don't know where people are finding Novas with big blocks that are worth a dang for $6000, but in my area they are well over $18,000. That's MORE than I paid for my Vette.
I still think solid axle conversion is doable for a reasonable amount. As far as I'm concerned, all those alleged "bulletproof blah, blah, blah" IRS setups are simply merchandising hype. Look at the rear ends in the drag cars or in NASCAR. They are either Dana 60s or Ford 9". Even the back-halved units use Ford 9". No way hoesay you will ever get me to believe a Mickey-Moused IRS 12-bolt will hold up to consistent abuse.
Dep
I just don't like dealing with rust, and I don't know where people are finding Novas with big blocks that are worth a dang for $6000, but in my area they are well over $18,000. That's MORE than I paid for my Vette.
I still think solid axle conversion is doable for a reasonable amount. As far as I'm concerned, all those alleged "bulletproof blah, blah, blah" IRS setups are simply merchandising hype. Look at the rear ends in the drag cars or in NASCAR. They are either Dana 60s or Ford 9". Even the back-halved units use Ford 9". No way hoesay you will ever get me to believe a Mickey-Moused IRS 12-bolt will hold up to consistent abuse.
Dep
Last edited by DJ Dep; Feb 11, 2005 at 04:05 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Depster, I ALWAYS agree with you!! BUT If you or anyone else is interested I have a "Strange engineering" spool for a Corvette rear end I would like to sell...solid shaft with two bolt on yokes (NO more side yokes to wear out), and of course the spool itself.....e-mail me direct!!
redvetracr@msn.com
redvetracr@msn.com
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
From: Atascadero Ca
You should retitle the thread, "what MY c3 Needs". Every driver's got there preferences. If i were drag racing mine I'd want the solid rear too, but i'm 19 and can't afford such expensive toys so i keep the c3 in daily driver format, its fast, handles great, and gets me where i need to go. IRS is great for the majority of us on the forum, just not you.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,172
Likes: 86
From: State of Confusion
Originally Posted by DJ Dep
As far as I'm concerned, all those alleged "bulletproof blah, blah, blah" IRS setups are simply merchandising hype. Look at the rear ends in the drag cars or in NASCAR. They are either Dana 60s or Ford 9". Even the back-halved units use Ford 9". No way hoesay you will ever get me to believe a Mickey-Moused IRS 12-bolt will hold up to consistent abuse.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 6
From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Originally Posted by i885744
You should retitle the thread, "what MY c3 Needs". Every driver's got there preferences. If i were drag racing mine I'd want the solid rear too, but i'm 19 and can't afford such expensive toys so i keep the c3 in daily driver format, its fast, handles great, and gets me where i need to go. IRS is great for the majority of us on the forum, just not you.
If the IRS is adequate for the engine and type of driving you do, then fine and dandy. But for MANY of us, it's a problem just waiting to happen. Look at the others who agree with me on this matter if you don't think so. If you are building any kind of high-horsepower stick shift engine, and are going to USE that horsepower coupled to slicks, then you WILL need to replace that IRS rear end. It's not a matter of if, but WHEN. All those u-joints twirling around are just a bunch of weak links for a drag racer. If you aren't a drag racer or don't beat the crap out of your car, just ignore the thread and move on to the "I love my shiny new chrome radio *****" thread
Dep
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
I personally wanted to go with the 9 inch setup, but I decided to go with the 12-bolt IRS setup. Considering that 8 and 9 second cars are using it, I should be ok... The main reason to go with the IRS was time.. I was expecting to get the 12-bolt setup in a couple of weeks.. Now it looks more like it'll be a couple of months 
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 6
From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Olivier: I can be patient to get the Ford unit. 
I want to be 100% sure that letting it fly won't result in a chain saw tearing my car up or getting a stub axle shoved up my butt
And if I can get a relatively simple conversion, as Jeff has told me in PM, it would be AWESOME!
Dep
I want to be 100% sure that letting it fly won't result in a chain saw tearing my car up or getting a stub axle shoved up my butt
And if I can get a relatively simple conversion, as Jeff has told me in PM, it would be AWESOME!
Dep
Last edited by DJ Dep; Feb 14, 2005 at 03:32 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 6
From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
For those that have full confidence in the Corvette rear end...check out this interesting thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1013884
Dep
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1013884
Dep
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by DJ Dep
Olivier: I can be patient to get the Ford unit.
I want to be 100% sure that letting it fly won't result in a chain saw tearing my car up or getting a stub axle shoved up my butt
And if I can get a realtively simple conversion, as Jeff has told me in PM, it would be AWESOME!
Dep
I want to be 100% sure that letting it fly won't result in a chain saw tearing my car up or getting a stub axle shoved up my butt
And if I can get a realtively simple conversion, as Jeff has told me in PM, it would be AWESOME!
Dep
I actually found a local shop that could install a Ford 9 inch in my Vette in 1 - 2 weeks... but it was too late an I already made my deposit on the 12-bolt setup..
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 331
Likes: 1
OK I have started
Center Line Convo Pro Wheels
15x15
Hoosier Pro Street Tires
29.00 x 18.50-15
This is on order. I am collecting parts. It may take me 6months before I start any work. But I have started collecting parts.
Center Line Convo Pro Wheels
15x15
Hoosier Pro Street Tires
29.00 x 18.50-15
This is on order. I am collecting parts. It may take me 6months before I start any work. But I have started collecting parts.