80 Cutty Tampa area

[Marc Molella]

Marc,
Look into the Ford 8.8 swap. There should be a few threads discussing what's entailed.
You'd have to make sure the rear is the right width for a G-body. I think the Mustang would be the one.
They're certainly more plentiful than the 8.5...and more reasonable.
I would've considered it myself if I didn't have a GN 8.5 in the car currently.

Yeah I was looking at the Monte SS rears, as well as the GN rears, but everything I am finding is too much money. Almost tried buying an 87 monte ss as a parts car for the bucket seat interior as well.

I have found the Ford 9" gbody kits, and with a disc brake conversion they are like $2100, the big problem is I don't wanna rebuild the 7.5" myself. I have done one rear end and it didn't end well. I just don't have the knowledge or proper tools.

 

[Texas82GP]

Yeah I was looking at the Monte SS rears, as well as the GN rears, but everything I am finding is too much money. Almost tried buying an 87 monte ss as a parts car for the bucket seat interior as well.

I have found the Ford 9" gbody kits, and with a disc brake conversion they are like $2100, the big problem is I don't wanna rebuild the 7.5" myself. I have done one rear end and it didn't end well. I just don't have the knowledge or proper tools.

Unless if you are going to put down serious power and run slicks the 7.5 is fine. Find someone to overhaul it for you and put in a posi and the ring and pinion of your choosing. I prefer rear drum brakes. I think the pedal feel is better. You can replace the wheel cylinders with some from an S10 and can get rid of the clips that attach the cylinders to the backing plate with the bolt on bracket. Adjust the shoes snug and you have good brakes.

 

[Marc Molella]

Unless if you are going to put down serious power and run slicks the 7.5 is fine. Find someone to overhaul it for you and put in a posi and the ring and pinion of your choosing. I prefer rear drum brakes. I think the pedal feel is better. You can replace the wheel cylinders with some from an S10 and can get rid of the clips that attach the cylinders to the backing plate with the bolt on bracket. Adjust the shoes snug and you have good brakes.

Well that is what I did last time. I had an Auburn unit and Motive ring and pinion gears put in. The whole job with new bearings and seals ran me $1500, and that was in 1999. So I'm figuring if the Ford 9" is only $300 more than what I paid 17 years ago, it's a good deal. Plus I wanna run it at the track occasionally, with a 350 or 403 running 400 HP. 400 HP is pretty easy with mondelllo heads, and a nice cam. I'm going to drop in a 700r4 from Animal Performance. I figure longevity would be better with the Ford 9" or even a GM 12 Bolt but those are more expensive. I'm going to add new boxed upper and lower control arms and a rear sway bar.

The reason I redid my first 7.5" was because the shift kit I had on my TH400 bolted to a 350 rocket with about 300HP blew the spider gears right out of the rear cover.

If you can recommend a good place to rebuild the 7.5 for under the cost of the 9" I'd be game, but the kits alone would cost me about $7-800 from what I've seen online. So for the labor involved I don't think that is a bad price. I haven't decided 100% yet on disc over drum, but for $60 disc brakes are easier to work on, and look a lot nicer.

 

[Texas82GP]

It's less important to me what it looks like. Pedal feel when I jump on the brakes is way more important to me. Not sure where the $60 figure came from so I won't dispute it.

 

[Marc Molella]

It's less important to me what it looks like. Pedal feel when I jump on the brakes is way more important to me. Not sure where the $60 figure came from so I won't dispute it.

Oh I agree 100%
Basically on the Ford 9" it comes with 11" drums, and it's a $60 up charge for the disc conversion.