Should've Done a 9" Ford
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
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From: Minnesota
Should've Done a 9" Ford
Well maybe not but I can't believe it. 
Don't ever try to fix a Corvette on a budget. 
I haven't gotten past the rear tires and half my budget's gone into a total rear suspension and drivetrain overhaul. Now it looks like one of my half shaft yokes has tore into the case after mushrooming on the end so bad the C-clip is gone. I guess this is the time to find a replacement since I've got everything tore apart. I guess it's not all lost since I had the 2.73 ratio (On a Corvette? What the he!! were those guys thinking?). I'm thinking a 3.36 might be about what I need (Check my post in the parts section). Sorry for the rant. 
John.
Don't ever try to fix a Corvette on a budget. I haven't gotten past the rear tires and half my budget's gone into a total rear suspension and drivetrain overhaul. Now it looks like one of my half shaft yokes has tore into the case after mushrooming on the end so bad the C-clip is gone. I guess this is the time to find a replacement since I've got everything tore apart. I guess it's not all lost since I had the 2.73 ratio (On a Corvette? What the he!! were those guys thinking?). I'm thinking a 3.36 might be about what I need (Check my post in the parts section). Sorry for the rant. John.
Team Owner
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by Scooter70
A solid axle C3.... you should be ashamed. Buy a Camaro or Mustang or something..... It's a sports car damnit! 
.. If someone would make a IRS that can hold up to 1000 HP for a few drag race seasons without any necessary maintanance it would be nice... but anything that uses u-joints won't hold up for too long...
Team Owner
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by isosceles
Olivier tore up his diff with his OLD motor. Imagine what the NEW one will do to it? 
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
You're gonna have to post some pics once you get that 9" in. Something tells me it won't be quite as simple a project as the one I just put in my old truck. All I had to do was move the spring perches. 
Team Owner
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by jdmick
You're gonna have to post some pics once you get that 9" in. Something tells me it won't be quite as simple a project as the one I just put in my old truck. All I had to do was move the spring perches.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Hudson NH
Originally Posted by GrandSportC3
.. If someone would make a IRS that can hold up to 1000 HP for a few drag race seasons without any necessary maintanance it would be nice... but anything that uses u-joints won't hold up for too long...Of course a solid axle Ford 9" is ultimately stronger, but it does detract from part of what makes a Corvette the well rounded supercar it is. IMO.
Good luck w/ your project.
Mark
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,508
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From: Wisconsin
I think the best solution is a 9" IRS. If I could figure out how to make the side yokes and seal thrm I'd be all over it.
What kind of 9" are you going with though? What case? Nodular? Aftermarket?
What kind of 9" are you going with though? What case? Nodular? Aftermarket?
Le Mans Master
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From: B'Ville NY
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St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by Schmucker
I think the best solution is a 9" IRS. If I could figure out how to make the side yokes and seal thrm I'd be all over it.
What kind of 9" are you going with though? What case? Nodular? Aftermarket?
What kind of 9" are you going with though? What case? Nodular? Aftermarket?
Solid axle is nice because of the ability to
without worrying about leaving rear suspension parts all over the track 
Also a great time to improve wheel/ tire width clearance!
Le Mans Master
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From: Bloomington MN
Cruise-In II Veteran
IRS is part of what makes a Vette a Vette. If you put a solid axle in, you might as well buy a Nova because it's not a Vette anymore. If you want a pure drag car, there are better cars to make it out of than a Vette.
Le Mans Master
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From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by ML67
Of course a solid axle Ford 9" is ultimately stronger, but it does detract from part of what makes a Corvette the well rounded supercar it is. IMO.
Mark
Team Owner
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by ML67
Check out Tom's Differentials 12-bolt and 1480 kit. It will hold up to more HP than you're likely to throw at it. I know of several serious 800 - 900 HP IRS Corvettes running Tom's setups, both 3rd members and the 1480 kit. Not cheap, but it works.
Of course a solid axle Ford 9" is ultimately stronger, but it does detract from part of what makes a Corvette the well rounded supercar it is. IMO.
Good luck w/ your project.
Mark
Of course a solid axle Ford 9" is ultimately stronger, but it does detract from part of what makes a Corvette the well rounded supercar it is. IMO.
Good luck w/ your project.
Mark
IRS is not necessary unless you are autocrossing or road racing.. The main reason for the swap is because I don't want headaches... One less part of the car that I have to worry about...
Team Owner
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by Schmucker
I think the best solution is a 9" IRS. If I could figure out how to make the side yokes and seal thrm I'd be all over it.
What kind of 9" are you going with though? What case? Nodular? Aftermarket?
What kind of 9" are you going with though? What case? Nodular? Aftermarket?
IRS setups have U-joints which is the weakest link... It's not an option for me.. A Ford 9 inch IRS is also way out of the pricerange that I would be considering...
Team Owner
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by A C
IRS is part of what makes a Vette a Vette. If you put a solid axle in, you might as well buy a Nova because it's not a Vette anymore. If you want a pure drag car, there are better cars to make it out of than a Vette.
Team Owner
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by SmokedTires
If staying IRS, why not consider the New gen Corvette rears, or maybe the vipers IRS
Solid axle is nice because of the ability to without worrying about leaving rear suspension parts all over the track Also a great time to improve wheel/ tire width clearance!
Solid axle is nice because of the ability to
without worrying about leaving rear suspension parts all over the track Also a great time to improve wheel/ tire width clearance!I'm a Drag Racer and IRS's weren't build for Drag Racing.. They are for Road Racing and Autocrossing...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,176
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From: State of Confusion
Originally Posted by GrandSportC3
The new generation IRS setups hold up better.. but by far not as good as solid axles...
I'm a Drag Racer and IRS's weren't build for Drag Racing.. They are for Road Racing and Autocrossing...
I'm a Drag Racer and IRS's weren't build for Drag Racing.. They are for Road Racing and Autocrossing...
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
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From: Bloomington MN
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by GrandSportC3
I disagree.. Corvettes had solid axles at one point.... If you say that a Vette isn't a Vette if it has a solid axle - it would exclude several years of Vettes from being Vettes
Your 68 didn't have a solid axle in it at any point unless you put it in.
Team Owner
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by Glensgages
The only cornering that O is concerned about is making the turn-off, onto the return road...