G body 8.5 or ford 9 inch

[Injectedcutty]

Not to mention just about every 8.5 for sale has been beat to pOOp!!!!!!!

Not mine hehe, well maybe a little! The powertrax suffered from a at the time unknown bent axle when I switched from the 7.5! Under low low speeds it pops so a rebuild is in order with the new powerplant going in. Just for axles, carrier and associated seals I'm looking at $700+/-. I still have time to decide on upgrading to a 9" though. Hmmmm, decisions decisions.

 

[565bbchevy]

Hmmmm, decisions decisions.

Don't kid yourself you know what you want.

 

[pontiacgp]

The problem with the 8.5 is availability, they are becoming rarer everyday but sellers have known this for quite a while and have priced accordingly so if you plan on upgrading it with better carrier, gear and axles then you basically are buying an expensive housing where a bolt in 9" housing with upgraded axles and a few options sell for well under a grand.
Plus the 9" has the added bonus of a drop out 3rd member and the fact that the 9" has a very high level of aftermarket support.

It took me almost a year to track down the 8.2 I have in my GP. The 8.2 is good for up to 500 hp so I have nothing to worry about. We used the 9" in our sportsman circle track car. We had to change gears for each track so we had 5 third members in our trailer.

 

[565bbchevy]

We had to change gears for each track so we had 5 third members in our trailer.

I have only changed my gear once and it sure was nice bringing the 3rd member in a milk crate to DTS and having them change it for me.

 

[TURNA]

He had to change gears for the different ratios not due to wear

 

[565bbchevy]

He had to change gears for the different ratios not due to wear

So did I, went from a 433 to a 410 gear.

 

[TURNA]

So did I, went from a 433 to a 410 gear.

WHAT!!!!????

You should have added another gear to your trans and kept the 4:33's!!!!

 

[565bbchevy]

WHAT!!!!???? You should have added another gear to your trans and kept the 4:33's!!!!

I was trying to level my stance but had a 30" tire on the rear so I changed the gear and run a 28" tire now, eventually I will get a GearVendors in there.

 

[pontiacgp]

I have only changed my gear once and it sure was nice bringing the 3rd member in a milk crate to DTS and having them change it for me.

in our G body circle track we had to run the 7.5" and we ran a 1/2 mile oval on Friday nights and changed the whole rear end with a different gear ratio while the car was on the open trailer to get it ready for the 3/8 mile oval on Saturday nights, that was quicker than changing gears.....that was a long summer, especially if the car was damaged in the Friday night race. I was happy with our pro late model oval car, we use a Winters rear end so a gear change was 20 minutes

 

[Injectedcutty]

Don't kid yourself you know what you want.

Wellllll, I will cross that bridge when I get to it. For now the 8.5 is serving it's purpose.