[jacksonsrods]

anyone have a source for good info on narrowing my rearend maybe a step by step guide, and this sound amateur but does the pinion have to be centered?

[OneMoreTime]

First the pinion can go where it needs to go..Look at a Super Modified circle tracker the pinion on those is way offset..

The basics of narrowing a 9" is fairly simple..cut the axle housing off to the desired length and weld on some new bearing races and ends at the width desired...cut the axles to length and respline them...

Sounds easy but it does require a very good jig to hold everything in place while welding the axle ends back on and it does require good machine shop skills to cut and respline the axles..For this reason it may be easier and cheaper for most rodders to order a housing and axles from a reputable provider..

Now if you have a good machine shop and some time it is not all that difficult to figure out how to do..just the doing is difficult..

Sam

[jacksonsrods]

thanks for the feedback, do you know of any dealers where i can get new ends

[302 Z28]

Originally Posted by jacksonsrods

thanks for the feedback, do you know of any dealers where i can get new ends

Why do you need new ends? You do not ruin the old ends when you cut them off (use a saw, not a torch). Just remove the amount you need and reweld them back on. Sounds real easy doesn't it? it is imperitive that a very strong jig is used to firmly hold the housing to prvent heat warping when welding the ends back on.

Vince

[Mike H]

I Use a line up bar and do not use old ends, you have to do so much work to them before reusing them it is not worth the 60.00 it costs for a new set. With the new ones you do not have to worry about leaks or sloppy bearing fit. If you have access to a racecar fab shop in your area take the housing to them and have it cutdown. You need to know the brake offset and if you want to center the pinion or not. On street cars I use the strange S/T axles, by the time you ship your stock axles off to get them resplined and replace the bearings you only save about 100.00 to have stock axles. Moser will respline them for you if you decide to go that route.

[leldai73]

Originally Posted by jacksonsrods

thanks for the feedback, do you know of any dealers where i can get new ends

I'm with 302z28 on this reuse the old ends. they have a flange that slips inside the axle tube and are then welded fast. i cut them off an inch or two back from the weld and them using a little fixture turn off the tube in a lathe. it works quite well if you have aces to lathe. if not i suppose some real careful work with a cutting wheel might get them loose without damage.

But to answer your question you can get them from Currie for 88 dollars. I'm not sure where MikeH found them for 60, maybe he'll let us know.


Heres the link:
http://www.currieenterprises.com/ces...therparts.aspx

[Mike H]

I buy all of my rearend componets from Strange. I have a good relationsip with a local speed shop Clear lake speed in seabrook TX and I pay 59.xx for the strange CM housing ends (I just bought two sets a few weeks back) I can't take the time to reuse stock ends for a customer I would have to charge more than new to machine and clean them. Then you might have one that the bearing fits loose in etc. I just finished the 9" for my 51 Ford truck and put new ends on it and I am cheap. I would not do it for 90.00 though

[techinspector1]

Here's an article from the wiki about getting the housing straight after welding on it.....
http://crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/...ar_end_housing