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What setup should I use - Help

1K views 9 replies 3 participants last post by  leejoy 
#1 · (Edited)
Help

Winter is coming soon and I need a project. My next project is to upgrade the drive train/rear end parts on my car. Here is what's going on.

It's a 72 Nova street car. Not a "drag racing" car. The motor is a 550 HP 468 BB chevy. the cam in the motor is a big long duration, high lift, mid to high rpm cam from Comp Cams 2500-6000 RPM range I believe. I have stock iron oval port heads which have been modified with porting, valve job, roller rockers, etc. Dual plane intake manifold, headers, etc. The car has a stock TH-350 trans with shift kit, stock (from 1972) torque converter, subframe connectors, 3.08 gear (upgraded to posi-traction), stock rear leaf spring suspension.

I want to car to launch better and go faster, (don't we all) while still getting some economy driving out of it while cruising. 5-6 MPG is fine with me.

I want to definitely replace the torque converter, and rear end gear for sure (right ?). Not sure about the trans yet. It's holding up so far and works well. Very expensive to replace that. I also don't know what to do yet with the rear suspension to get better traction. Right now with the current setup those tires spin all day long when I nail it off the line. Fun, but I aint going nowhere. I can't run a wider tire because the lower shock mounts are in the way and need to get relocated to the inner side of the leaf springs. that means welding, removing the gas tank, etc.

Your opinions please. I have a budget this winter of about $1500 to work with. That is all. Next winter, another $1500 and so on. what should I do first with that budget. I will do all the work myself unless absolutely required to bring into a shop otherwise. Like I may have to have any welding done by somebody else. I'm not that good at it and ill equipped.
 
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#2 ·
The most bang for the $$$ would be a rear end change IMHO ...

Moroso makes a spring kit to move the rear springs inward ... I would install a 9 inch Ford ... and as large a tire as I could fit ...

Shop around and you can do this for the $1500 or less ...
 
#5 ·
Deuce said:
The most bang for the $$$ would be a rear end change IMHO ...

Moroso makes a spring kit to move the rear springs inward ... I would install a 9 inch Ford ... and as large a tire as I could fit ...

Shop around and you can do this for the $1500 or less ...
a rear end change huh. how much for a 9-inch ford? do I get new or used? I've tried to get help on that kit to relocate the shock mounts but havent had much luck. when I call them, they are total idiots. their customer service sucks. Pretty much just buy the kit, get a welder and start tearing things apart.
 
#6 ·
Deuce said:
The most bang for the $$$ would be a rear end change IMHO ...

Moroso makes a spring kit to move the rear springs inward ... I would install a 9 inch Ford ... and as large a tire as I could fit ...

Shop around and you can do this for the $1500 or less ...
educate me:... what is so special about the 9 inch ford? why is it such a highly sought after rear end.
 
#7 ·
The 9 inch is the rear end of choice ... for most rodders ...

1) plenty available ... used
2) strong ...
3) lots of widths available and easy to narrow ...
4) removable center section



5) has the MOST aftermarket support of any rear end ...
6) does not need "C" clips to hold the axles in ...
7) the axle bearings on on the axle shaft ... not the housing

I would find a 57 to 59 Ford rear end ( almost a bolt it ) or a rear end about 58 inches ( measured this way )



A later axle with the 31 splines is preferred and a center section with the "N" is preferred ...



Posi tractions are common and Ford trucks have the "N" center section and lower gears ...

It will take some wheelin and dealin to come in under $1500 but it can be done ...
 
#8 ·
Deuce said:
The 9 inch is the rear end of choice ... for most rodders ...

1) plenty available ... used
2) strong ...
3) lots of widths available and easy to narrow ...
4) removable center section



5) has the MOST aftermarket support of any rear end ...
6) does not need "C" clips to hold the axles in ...
7) the axle bearings on on the axle shaft ... not the housing

I would find a 57 to 59 Ford rear end ( almost a bolt it ) or a rear end about 58 inches ( measured this way )



A later axle with the 31 splines is preferred and a center section with the "N" is preferred ...



Posi tractions are common and Ford trucks have the "N" center section and lower gears ...

It will take some wheelin and dealin to come in under $1500 but it can be done ...
thansk for the help. Now I have homework to do - studying all that stuff you sent me. I'll get started on it.

what will that ford 9 inch do for me though? what benefit do I gain from it? will it make it faster, stronger, more reliable?
 
#9 ·
Your current 3.08 gear is killing the car ... performance wise ...
A 3.70 ot a 4.11 ratio would FEEL LIKE another 200 horsepower and make the car a lot quicker ...

With the Ford ... you can have a couple extra ratios ... and are easily changed ...



3.00 for highway ...
4.11 for the street " performance " ;)
4.86 or so ... all out track use



Axles like this one show up on eBay ... a Lot
HINT ... Hint

Deuce ...
 
#10 ·
Deuce said:
Your current 3.08 gear is killing the car ... performance wise ...
A 3.70 ot a 4.11 ratio would FEEL LIKE another 200 horsepower and make the car a lot quicker ...

With the Ford ... you can have a couple extra ratios ... and are easily changed ...



3.00 for highway ...
4.11 for the street " performance " ;)
4.86 or so ... all out track use



Axles like this one show up on eBay ... a Lot
HINT ... Hint

Deuce ...
ok - thanks for the help. I've never messed with the rear ends yet but I plan to this winter. Looking forward to it. I love that stuff. when you say the ratios are easily changed, do you just change the pinion gear or does the ring gear also have to be changed? changing both would seem like a lot of work. I hear the alignment and adjustment has to be perfect. Also, I'm not the type to be changing them so I would probably pick one setup and stay with it. Not sure about the 4.11. that might be to low a gear but I will consider it. also, what about traction. If I throw a 4.11 gear in there its' going to smoke the tires all day long. it does that now with my 3.07 gear. I'm going to need the thing to hook up. this is where everything goes nutso in my mind. It's like I need to do all this stuff at once for it to do any good. The torque converter, rear end/axle, and rear suspension modification (relocate shock mounts and run a wider tire) that's all well and good but probably thousands of dollars even if I do it myself. Oh well, nobody said this was a cheap hobby. I just feel like I'm going to spend like $3000 on that stuff and add only a fraction of that to the value of the car and get maybe a half second better time in the quarter mile. I know, I complain to much right?

Lee
 
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