tried a search but came up with nothing. how strong is a stock 3rd member compaired to a nodular one? i have the housing for my 70 chevy p/u but i need a 3rd member. the truck will be bbc powered and hopefully run in the low 12`s high 11`s. the stock 3rd members are easy to find pretty cheap but the nodular ones are getting pretty pricey. i`m planning on running 31 spline axles with a detroit locker. will a stock 3rd member case hold up or should i spend the extra money for the nodular one? thanks.

Stock 9" cases are pretty strong, it should hold up fine in a vehicle that will turn the times you indicated. Make sure to inspect it and do regular prep and have the gears properly set up by someone if you are unable to. I've seen some pretty highHP cars running a stock case without any problems. If you start dipping into the mid to low 11s,maybe you might want to consider a nodular case, but I've seen them in the 10s without breakage. Most breakage occurs leaving the line and usually with clutch cars because of the initial shock loading.

Look at the amount of material around the pinion pilot bearing. Due to core shift some stock carriers are weak in that area. If you are running a stout engine and suing slicks or have a heavy car, then at some point the old stock parts will fatigue out and you will get tired of things breaking. If it only gets flogged occasionally you could get by fine.

thanks for the info guys. i think i`m going to hold out for a stronger case since i plan to make the truck faster over time. thanks again,

Anthony

You can sometimes find them at them at swap meets with gears
for around $350 to $400. Most of the time they come stock with
3.55 gears or that is what the two I bought had.

I ran a stock ford 9" case in my datsun running 10.70's never had a problem with it.

Ben

hi i have one for for sale an spool to.

How much does it weigh? Weight can place a heavy factor in there.....

i totally agree with crankshaftkid, the weight is the biggest factor plus how hard will you shock it when you leave the line. I have run many stock 9' units and have only lost one when i spit the ring gear out the back leaving 6 neat little holes in the housing.
There are however some upgrades that will make them live. The forst and best is to bottom tap the cap holes and change to as long'deep a stud as you can get in there, the second and almost a must is to put a heavy duty pinion support on the front.
Your truck will for sure weigh over 3,000 lbs. My Nova weighed 3100 lbs. and it ran 10.31 @ 129 and stall converter 5500 rpm, 406"

Zipper

Hi , just for info , I broke 2 stock housing in my Drag car [ 10 sec camaro ] . it blew the pinion housing out the front of the case . I put a Strange iron center with a heavy duty pinion support and have been running about 10 years since without any problems . Well worth the money [ it destroyed 2 sets of pro gears and a driveshaft plus bearings ].

I have broken several 9" Ford stock housings. Usually blown the bearing caps off. For the money I like a Dana 60 much better. They are a little heavier but in stock form are much stronger.