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For a nice hot rod toy... a solid axle just makes sense. You can do as mentioned with some from the wrecking yards.....or get one of the prefab housings available now for a decent price in any configuration you want. You can even get some made to be used as independent suspension...which wouldn't be that tough to do. Easy enough to fab a mount setup to mount the center housing and make up some halfshafts.
I've had a custom built Dana 60 IRS under my car for 15+ years. It uses 1480 joints with 3.5"x.134" wall half-shafts and Tom's outer stub axles. Heavy as heck....but hasn't let me down yet!
Thanks a ton for the whole documented process, unless the IRS market has some break through or depreciates a lot I'll likely try my hand at your method. It'll still be a second till I get to tearing it apart but I'll be sure to post when I do.
Yeah, you seem to be the know all be all when it comes to a load of power and breaking well less things. sick 67? Still new to the whole years thing
Thanks...my car doesn't do anything great...but it does a lot of stuff "well enough" to have fun! Definitely a compromise setup...
The coolest thing about taking an old Vette to the dragstrip is you'll be about the only one there and that adds style points for sure. Once you work out the rear axle arrangement...everything else on a Vette is great for the strip. The engine setback is huge, you're sitting on the rear axle almost, the front suspension works well without going neg camber on launch like a Camaro, you've got gauges already etc etc.
Fly Skids Up is exactly right, The 489 center section has a pinion that is bigger around than the 741 or742. I don't remember the exact measurements, but it is bigger. However, after about 35 years of Drag Racing a 69 Super Bee, I have never broken one, nor have I seen anyone else break one. What usually breaks is one of the bearing caps, the right one, I think. This would be in a heavy B-Body with Slicks. All 3 center sections are interchangeable in any 8.75 housing. I have since updated my Bee to a Strange S60.
FYI for the OP, if you go with Big Block 69's 8 3/4 Mopar rear suggestion, School yourself on those rears. Not all 8 3/4's are the same. 489 case center housing is the strong one.
Absolutely correct. In 1974 I put an 83/4 rear in my vega with a soon to get even wilder 496 and it held up well to the 4 speed with L-60-15 street tires with slicks I needed a Dana 60.. but that 83/4 has always been a good rear
