Other Options than a 12bolt or 9in

**axxdet** · 04-13-2009, 07:32 PM

are there any other axle swaps other than these two... 4-wheelers mod rear ends all day long to upgrade from stock... has anybody thought about dana 44 or dana 60's these axles have loads of aftermarket support... what is the width of the ten bolt axle .... are there companies that make just brackets if one where to try such a build... been thinking about this all day long .... ideas anyone

**Mr. Luos** · 04-13-2009, 07:59 PM

I wouldn't go with anything but a 9" for these cars.

The Dana and the 12 bolts mount up to the torque arm on the housing...unlike the 9".
If it breaks, the whole rear is pretty much toast. Break the bracket on the 9"...and you can replace it.

**axxdet** · 04-13-2009, 08:50 PM

just trying to get away from the cost of these axles that's alot of money to throw down, really just wondering if anyone has bought just a housing and built the rest

**zmg00camaross** · 04-13-2009, 09:39 PM

I just bought a 9 inch housing for a f body bought a crapy 3rd member and rebuild it my self and painted and looked brand new I will have 1600 in it all about a thousand dollors less than usally sell for so u can go that route

**allbaugh_04** · 04-14-2009, 05:14 AM

If you are gonna shell out that much money for a rear..i wouldn't get the 12-bolt...get the 9"

**shady milkman** · 04-14-2009, 05:33 AM

sorry bud but you gotta pay to play..in general with these cars..you get what you pay for..you can cut corners and get a really cheap set-up..but then things stop working..or break..and end up costing you much more then if you just did it right the first time

**zmg00camaross** · 04-14-2009, 07:08 AM

I hope your not talking about mine because I build it with what moser or any other company builds with and the housing comes with moser axles I bought the yoke pinion support all the good stuff same bearings I could have bought it all build but rather know I put it together and save some money and if was retarded and mess something up hey 3rd members come out easy enough

**allbaugh_04** · 04-14-2009, 07:11 AM

no i believe we both were talking to the op

**shady milkman** · 04-14-2009, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by zmg00camaross

I hope your not talking about mine because I build it with what moser or any other company builds with and the housing comes with moser axles I bought the yoke pinion support all the good stuff same bearings I could have bought it all build but rather know I put it together and save some money and if was retarded and mess something up hey 3rd members come out easy enough

Originally Posted by allbaugh_04

no i believe we both were talking to the op

x2 yea to the op

**zmg00camaross** · 04-14-2009, 09:37 AM

Ok that's cool

**shady milkman** · 04-14-2009, 09:38 AM

sorry for the confusion

**axxdet** · 04-14-2009, 01:27 PM

well i know theres money involed but what zmg00camaross said about his setup is what i was looking for.. 1600 is alot better than 2000+ .... you wouldn't happen to have any build pics would you?

**Firebirdjones** · 04-14-2009, 01:37 PM

I've done a few for 3rd gens and H-bodies back before aftermarket even offered a rearend for these bastard torque arm setups.

Easiest and cheapest is a 9 inch housing, narrowed to what you need.

Then give Currie a call, they make a torque arm mount for the 9 inch housing that bolts/welds on.
They also sell brand new control arm and panhard bar brackets to weld to the housing. From there it's as easy as setting up the 3rd member of your choice.

It's alot of work, requires a jig to narrow the housing, a welder/level finder etc...to weld on the brackets properly. You will still have to give Moser, Strange, Currie a call to have axles made to your required width.
Or you can have the originals resplined if you are on a serious budget.

Nothing wrong with Dana's or 12bolts either if you come accross a deal on one from a lost project. I've setup 12bolts for cars tickling the 9's without issues. I'd see what you can find a deal on and what you have around you and start from there.

**axxdet** · 04-14-2009, 04:19 PM

thanks for info so far guys ....now would a 9in off a ford truck work? would it be possible to keep the donner axle the same width so you dont have custom axles to worry about? and 3rd members come complete right... just bolt in...

**Firebirdjones** · 04-14-2009, 07:22 PM

I'm sure a ford truck 9 inch would be too wide.
I think the possibility of finding a factory 9 inch application the correct width is very slim to none.

For a narrow 9 inch housing I would start looking at the smaller cars like the maverick, monarch, mustang, Falcon etc... The larger bodies like the Torino for instance would be too wide.
The most narrow application for the 9 inch would be 65-66 mustang but these are extremely rare and cost an arm and a leg when you find it since they were only installed in the Hi-Performance 289 version.
To be quite frank though, most of the bone yards have dried up for these applications. It was easy just 15 years ago. Not so much now.

Your best bet would be out of a truck, they are still plentifull, but narrowing is a must. You get other benifits from the truck housing too. Most all of them came with a 31 spline 3rd member and large brakes.
You will probably swap to disc anyway, but we like the big drum brakes for the older swaps.
Some of these 9 inch passenger car rears have 28 spine 3rd members, something to keep in mind when shopping. If you plan to buy a new 3rd member along with new axles then this really isn't much of a concern.

**zmg00camaross** · 04-14-2009, 08:21 PM

No sorry I don't have pic as of right now but the housing I bought was from a local 9 inch specialist he make direct bolt in for f-bodys I bought all the bearings and parts needed from him also I still in the build just went to his shop today to check it out waiting for the moser axles to arrive but I rebuild the 3rd member it's ready to go when purchase the 3rd member it was 28 spline I converted to 31 which my buddy had the parts if he didn't that would add a another $100 for parts I think a guy on racingjunk.com rebuilds 3rd member and sells them for $500 I would have done that save me from running to get parts and spending the time since that what I got I'm mine I think it will total some where in the $1700 region when completed but hey still saveing money and did it myself

**Firebirdjones** · 04-15-2009, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by zmg00camaross

No sorry I don't have pic as of right now but the housing I bought was from a local 9 inch specialist he make direct bolt in for f-bodys I bought all the bearings and parts needed from him also I still in the build just went to his shop today to check it out waiting for the moser axles to arrive but I rebuild the 3rd member it's ready to go when purchase the 3rd member it was 28 spline I converted to 31 which my buddy had the parts if he didn't that would add a another $100 for parts I think a guy on racingjunk.com rebuilds 3rd member and sells them for $500 I would have done that save me from running to get parts and spending the time since that what I got I'm mine I think it will total some where in the $1700 region when completed but hey still saveing money and did it myself

Damn thats the longest single sentence I have ever seen.

**Firebirdjones** · 04-15-2009, 08:23 AM

ZMG is right though. I've found it much easier nowadays just to pickup a bare housing and the axles from one of the suppliers (I prefer Strange).

And then build it the way you want from there as money or parts allow. I've done it this way for a few people, it saves time and hassle. As a matter of fact I've had a 12bolt housing for quite some time for one of my own cars I need to build sometime.

Doing it this way still saves some coin. A drop in housing ready to go will set you back $3,000.
But you need to have the tools and skill to set it up correctly,,,or know a buddy that works for cheap

**zmg00camaross** · 04-15-2009, 08:35 AM

Periods and comma what are those? I use my iPod touch so it's a pain to use periods and commas. There one,,,, LOL sorry and honestly I don't know why more ppl don't build there own stuff it's part of the fun. Getting drunk and cussing at your car it's rewarding.. LOL it's worth it to me. Built not bought

**Firebirdjones** · 04-15-2009, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by zmg00camaross

Periods and comma what are those? I use my iPod touch so it's a pain to use periods and commas. There one,,,, LOL sorry and honestly I don't know why more ppl don't build there own stuff it's part of the fun. Getting drunk and cussing at your car it's rewarding.. LOL it's worth it to me. Built not bought

I was just messin' around.

Yep building it yourself saves alot. It's not really the parts that cost alot,,,but the labor most places charge for assembly is outta sight.
I can understand though some of this stuff takes special tools, and know how. There are alot of good books and videos though on rearend assembly for the first timers. With help from a friend and about $200-300 in tools (depending on what you get) any first timer with mechanical ability can do it.