Switching to a solid axel

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Jul 3, 2005 | 10:33 PM

rustbucket80

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Racer

Joined: Jul 2004

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Switching to a solid axle

The frame on my 80 is so bad I took it off the road a few weeks ago. Control arms also shot. I was thinking of switching to a solid axle can anyone here in the forum give some advice on where to start ?

Last edited by rustbucket80; Jul 4, 2005 at 08:59 AM.

Jul 3, 2005 | 11:24 PM

rcread

Race Director

Joined: Aug 2004

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From: Duvall, WA

Would we be correct to assume that you want to build a seriously fast quarter mile car?

Jul 3, 2005 | 11:39 PM

GrandSportC3

Team Owner

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From: Lakeland, FL

Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran

St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17

The conversion is not something that I'd do at home... Prices for a solid axle conversion range from $5k - $15k, depending on what you want.. I was planning on converting mine to a solid axle, but the conversion would've taken too much time and I wanted to have the car back a lot faster, so I went with Tom's 12 bolt IRS setup with the 31 spline axle and half shaft kit (1480 series u-joints)

Jul 3, 2005 | 11:49 PM

69 N.O.X. RATT

Safety Car

Joined: Aug 2001

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From: Pettis Performance 565 with two stages of Nitrous Supply nitrous 1.082, 4.61 at 155, 7.17 at 192

For a guy with decent fabrication and welding skills is not too tough. A nine inch or dana 60 is the way to go. I like the 9 in. because of the ease of a gear changes and they weigh a lot less.

Jul 4, 2005 | 09:04 AM

rustbucket80

Thread Starter

Racer

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I'm looking at a major expense replacing the frame and trailing arms so I think now is the time to change it . I'm not thinking about a serious drag car but I would like wider tires and a lower gear ratio. Are there kits you can buy to replace the back half of the frame to set it up for a 9" ?

Jul 4, 2005 | 10:20 AM

GaryS

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 1999

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From: Moon Township PA

Well, it seems to me that used replacement frames are reasonable and then add in trailing arms etc. Do you have any experience with suspension design? Your car was designed and built around an IRS. I would think you will have a ton of trouble cobbling together a solid axle.

Gary

Jul 4, 2005 | 11:30 AM

65convt

Melting Slicks

Joined: Sep 2001

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From: Fairless Hills PA.

S&W Race Car
Spring City Pa.
It is alot of work& expense.

Jul 5, 2005 | 01:52 PM

panchop

Melting Slicks

Joined: Dec 2000

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From: mesa,az

I am in the middle of converting my 75 to a fat tire pro street car. i bought the S&W rear kit with there 4 link setup. planning on using a 9 inch ford rear. takes a bunch of fitting and welding. i pulled the body off the car to do the job but the truth is i m replacing just about everything. S&W dosent sell a jig welded kit for corvettes just the unwelded mwhich is what i bought. my guess is beacuse they only have them down to 24 inch frame rail width and the vete uses a 22 inch width. i have a thread with a bunch of pics floating around somewhere. It's not the easist job but i didn't want to farm it out. then again. i am in no hurry and like doing this kind of stuff.
greg

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1124953