BADDD

Hello all, new to the forum. I am trying to figure out what exactly this rear has in it. Its in a 71 vette. The shafts connecting into the pumpkin are really HD looking, nothing I have seen before. The half shafts look like the Upgraded ones you can get now. Does anyone know who made these, back in the day or now? Moroso? I have looked for part numbers but no luck. any help would be great.

Thanks
Jason

gkull

I can't determine the size of your half shafts or spring width from the picture. You do have whats call a heavy duty rearend cover. It's very common for the stock cover to crack due to the stresses induced on it.

BADDD

Thanks Gkull, I have compared the halfshafts to other cars, and they are definitly bigger, not sure exactly how much though. The spring looks stock as far as width, and the car doesnt have offset trailing arms so its probaly standard lenght as well. Where the halfshafts connect to the pumpkin is what I have no idea of what they are or where they came from.

gerry72

They are made by Tom's Differentials. I have a set in my car.

BADDD

Thanks gerry72, do you have any contact info or a web page?

gerry72

http://www.tomsdifferentials.com/

BADDD

Thanks for the info, have you had any issues with yours? Im looking to do autocross with the car so Im excited to find out they are heavy duty and that I still can get replacement parts for it.

gerry72

No, but then I'm not very hard on my 'Vette so I'd be the last person you'd want to beat on parts for durability testing. I got them since I needed axles and they were not much more expensive than regular replacement stuff. I have no doubts they're up to the task since there's nothing to screw up or come loose in retaining the u-joint.

gkull

If you do have Tom's diff. yokes and half shafts. Your not going to stress them unless you have over 600 hp, manual tranny, and sticky tires. I have lots of Tom's parts.

The U-joints fail and they are just an over the counter part.

BADDD

Thats great news. No 600hp, Im shooting for 450 at the crank with a nice flat torque curve. Very limited drag racing, mainly for autocross and road racing events and of course the street. Just a fun all around car.

Solid LT1

I know of 2 Vette racers that were "talented" mechanics that have had these flange style side yokes fail at the most "unfortunate" times (like in the middle of a high speed corner.) This was several years ago but, these parts were made for Drag Racing and I personally wouldn't put them in my LT-1 Vette. International Axel Corp has the BEST! side yokes on the market and they are lower priced than the Tom's parts.

BADDD

Do they have a web page? I doubt I will have the car ready for a road course by fall, so it would be autocross for now until I can go through everything, thanks for the input.

gkull

I just have the Custom hardened for about $500 a pair. I have not had a problem like this flange style your referring to.

BADDD

What tracks do you run at?