Outside the normal differential

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2drx4

Greasemonkey
May 28, 2022
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The middle of BC, Canada
What's the correct width for a rear end for a G-body? Wheel mount surface to wheel mount surface.
 

Clutch

Geezer
Apr 7, 2017
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Brick NJ
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Just going threw my phone this morning and found these photos of my 8.75 and the 11" Dana 60 brakes I used on it 8.75 and Dana use the same but pattern on the axel tube so brake upgrades can come from a junkyard
 
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87National

G-Body Guru
Apr 15, 2009
663
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eastern SD
The best option that is unobtainable is a 98-05 blazer 2wd with the tow package. It will be a 30 spline, disk, 3.73 or 3.42, 5x4.75 and within 1/2" of OEM G body. They are just impossible to find. If you welded on LCA brackets an bolted on an UCA adapter plate you could drop it in the car without even opening the rear.
Those had the gov bomb......correct? Would probably want to upgrade to a clutch style posi before dropping it in.
 
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87National

G-Body Guru
Apr 15, 2009
663
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eastern SD
I have looked into the Dana 60 and it's a killer option. The only negative is usually they have MASSIVE axle tube wall thicknesses and getting them assembled kinda sucks because you need a case spreader. The good? The Dana 60 came in late 90's ford E250 vans and are available with 3.73 and 4.09 gears, 35 spline axles and are PLENTIFUL for under $200. If you cut the axle tubes down and replace with a 9" torino style end with GM disk brake backing plate pattern and get a set of off-the shelf 9" 35 spline axles and throw a spool or posi in with the stock gears you got a rear that will go 8's for under $750.
For the love of god......please tell me you have plans to do this.
 
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81cutlass

Comic Book Super Hero
Feb 16, 2009
4,656
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Western MN
For the love of god......please tell me you have plans to do this.

If I grenade the 8.5 in my 2+2 again I probably will

However I think I figured out why I was eating gears and carriers (sloppy UCA bushing holes wiggling around on launch).

I don't have current plans to build a sub 9 second G body at the current juncture.
 
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Ugly1

Royal Smart Person
Oct 26, 2021
1,691
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Lost in the woods of NH
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Just going threw my phone this morning and found these photos of my 8.75 and the 11" Dana 60 brakes I used on it 8.75 and Dana use the same but pattern on the axel tube so brake upgrades can come from a junkyard
The cross bar brace is for deflection twist where you have it welded from the mounts to the base or does it act as a swaybar?
 

Clutch

Geezer
Apr 7, 2017
5,188
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Brick NJ
The cross bar brace is for deflection twist where you have it welded from the mounts to the base or does it act as a swaybar?
It's jus a housing brace it's overkill for my application but the housing was built for a 9 second Malibu wagon I'm probably going to use a stock sway bar or maybe an anti roll bar I haven't decided yet
 
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pontiac guy

G-Body Guru
Oct 28, 2016
582
843
93
Royse City, TX
I avoid the 9" ford like a plague because although it's an OK rear when built it has a lot of issues. Mainly, cost. a 9" hasn't gone into the junk yard since the late 70's and the OE gear ratio selection is poor, they are rarely the right width, they are drums, they have the wrong bolt pattern, they are inefficient, & people think used 9" parts are GOLD. Usually high volume means low price (think how many cheap LS, SBC or fox stuff there is) but used 9" center sections that are used, plentiful, and have been punished with 1000hp for 3 seasons are somehow still 80%+ of their original value. There is nothing really left of an OEM ford 9" by the time you make it useful, the used market is dumb, and they are 1956 tech.

I am also not a fan of 12 bolt A body rear ends because again, they aren't the right width, they haven't gone into a junkyard since 1972, the gear ratios are usually bad, they have drums, and you have to buy special control arms to make them fit.

The best option that is unobtainable is a 98-05 blazer 2wd with the tow package. It will be a 30 spline, disk, 3.73 or 3.42, 5x4.75 and within 1/2" of OEM G body. They are just impossible to find. If you welded on LCA brackets an bolted on an UCA adapter plate you could drop it in the car without even opening the rear.

I have looked into the Dana 60 and it's a killer option. The only negative is usually they have MASSIVE axle tube wall thicknesses and getting them assembled kinda sucks because you need a case spreader. The good? The Dana 60 came in late 90's ford E250 vans and are available with 3.73 and 4.09 gears, 35 spline axles and are PLENTIFUL for under $200. If you cut the axle tubes down and replace with a 9" torino style end with GM disk brake backing plate pattern and get a set of off-the shelf 9" 35 spline axles and throw a spool or posi in with the stock gears you got a rear that will go 8's for under $750.

Other option I am a fan of is a semi-float GM/AAM 9.5" out of a TBSS. Also 1/2 ton late GMT400 with the tow package and 6 lug. Price and availability is good, but again they need disk conversion and axles for the right bolt pattern. For TBSS they are 4.10, clutch posi, 33 spline. Worst part is for hard core drag race applications they don't have a spool available from what I have found.

I have a 8.6 center section out of a 98 Zr2 S10 with Moser 30 spline GN axles, G body tubes & a plate for the UCA's in my 2+2.
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Lots of 9s down here in TX. I just got one from the scrap yard for weight value and watched another one in a Lincoln (disc brakes) go across the scales when someone was clearing a field full of cars out. I'd glad to ship you one if you change your mind.
 
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DRIVEN

Geezer
Apr 25, 2009
8,094
14,606
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*CENSORED*
I'll probably pull a basic b*tch maneuver and just order a QP 9".
 
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