Question for you solid axle guys

Ralphy · #1 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011, 10:36 PM

I got looking on CL at Quick Change rears. They seem pretty plentiful and at all used price ranges. Have any of you considered using or are you using one? I would think parts would be available to narrow, or am I wrong?

R

rustyBob · #2 (**permalink**) 03-01-2011, 09:18 AM

I think Speedway sells them in different widths.....
i would not run one in a Cobra.....
they look to cool to hide one like that.....

Z-linkCobra · #3 (**permalink**) 03-01-2011, 09:57 AM

I tried for a whle to figure out way to get one in my EM. The 2 problems I ran into were:

1. You'll have to notch the gas tank to make it fit.

2. The pinion center is quite a bit lower on a quick change making pinoin angle a real nightmare. You'll have to raise the rearend in the chassis quite a bit to get your pinoin angle back where it needs to be. Then that car sits too low in the rear. You could drop your tranny tail down a little to try and fix it...but that creates more problems in the front.

I played with it for about a month before I gave up.

Ralphy · #4 (**permalink**) 03-01-2011, 10:01 AM

I could see where at times it's usefulness. Guys come to ATL from South Carolina to do their auto cross. They could run traveling gears then comp gears. Or say you had no overdrive and were doing a cross country drive?

Z, I also wondered about the fit, some of those carriers are quit large.

Ralphy · #5 (**permalink**) 03-01-2011, 10:10 AM

Here's a diagram showing the distance from center line. The 9" is 2.25 below center.

http://www.wintersperformance.com/Wi...%20Catalog.pdf

my427cobra · #6 (**permalink**) 03-01-2011, 11:04 AM

Hi Ralphy. I too didn't like the "plain" look of the Ford 9" rear end.
So I welded on a piece of square tubing formed in a circle, drilled and tapped it for studs and put on a nice finned cast aluminum rear end cover meant for Dana rear ends. I got the cover from Speedway and used the Dana version because it's outer profile is almost perfectly round.

I'll post a couple of pics later.

Greg

Z-linkCobra · #7 (**permalink**) 03-01-2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralphy

Here's a diagram showing the distance from center line. The 9" is 2.25 below center.

http://www.wintersperformance.com/Wi...%20Catalog.pdf

If we were running a 38-42" long drive shaft it wouldnt make that much of a difference. My drive shaft in my EM is only like 19" long (off the top of my head)..1/2" lower pinoin center is huge with that short of shaft.

Im not saying it cant be done....i just wasnt comfortable with the way it would have been in my car.

I have 2 quick change rearends hanging up in my shop...they are big in the housing department..and heavy.

Ralphy · #8 (**permalink**) 03-01-2011, 03:06 PM

Z, so I'll mark you as tried that. I know those late model carriers are pretty large. It probably could be done if a manufacture built to spec a unit for these cars. You sure your drive shaft is that long? I saw a FF with an app. 8" long drive shaft with a 9".

My427cobra, looks are cool also!

Z-linkCobra · #9 (**permalink**) 03-02-2011, 06:23 AM

It could be shorter...that was just off the top of my head..lol. I wanted that quickchange in my car bad. With a 4spd it would have been real nice to be able to go from 4:56's for the street to 2:30's for the highway.

Oh well...my next hotrod will have the quickchange.

mdross1 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-04-2011, 03:48 PM

Funny I was wondering about the looks of my narrowed 9" so I polished the housing and painted it a very glossy black only to discover once the car is on the tires No Can See!I do get to see every year when I change the oil.Just like the trans crossmember it too shines! Also installed a Strange aluminum center sec with 3:70 cog set a 4 degrees positive, behind a Tremec TKO.The perfect gearing for the way I like to drive with a b&b 460"