Thread: Which is better?

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Originally Posted by randyr

I think the Explorer went to IRS in '02 thru current and should have 31 spline axles.

Forgot about that. Indeed they did, but that sub frame might be a bit wide for a '57 Chevy. However, I'm thinking the 31 spline pumpkin from the Expo can be installed on a smaller car subframe, and then either custom CV's or find one that will work.

Dave---Corey said that with upgraded half shafts they are doing fine in 900 rwhp cars----------also said the center sections in the ZL1 are iron instead of alum----and that all parts are current and available from GM, not like the F 9 stuff which is all aftermarket now.


Since you want a blower and a light efi engine , maybe you should look for a complete wrecked ZL1 for everything from rear enf , engine,ecm and wiring harness???????????

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

Dave---Corey said that with upgraded half shafts they are doing fine in 900 rwhp cars----------also said the center sections in the ZL1 are iron instead of alum----and that all parts are current and available from GM, not like the F 9 stuff which is all aftermarket now.


Since you want a blower and a light efi engine , maybe you should look for a complete wrecked ZL1 for everything from rear enf , engine,ecm and wiring harness???????????

Thanks Jerry, appreciate the help! Been looking at them, not too intensely just yet, but that would be an easy way to get everything I need, and a fraction of the cost of new, too! I have to get a couple other things up and out of the garage to have any room---I want to do some mods on my chassis table before I start on the '57 to make it a bit more old fart friendly!!!! Amazing all the "adjustments" necessary as we get older, huh?????

Originally Posted by rspears

I've sent a message to one of the young guns that ran the shop to see if they did anything to help the rear end survive, and asking what RWHP they were seeing. He may not get back to me for a while as he follows his own internal drummer on things others ask about....

Dave, the Z06 ran in the 10's and they had Driveshaft Shop axles, and the IRS brace from RPM transmissions.

Thanks Roger! Not much work to get it to hang together in a 10 sec car. Doubt I'll be drag racing this one much, but it's good to know that parts breakage shouldn't be a major issue if I go with the Vette stuff!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Thanks Roger! Not much work to get it to hang together in a 10 sec car. Doubt I'll be drag racing this one much, but it's good to know that parts breakage shouldn't be a major issue if I go with the Vette stuff!

Sent you an e-mail forwarding a message about running a '03/04 Cobra unit which is said to be much cheaper than the 'vette stuff.

Dave lots of folks seem to be using the Ford Expedition, etc. 8.8's lately on the Ford Trucks forum. I don't know much about this, but I know they are relatively cheap at auto wrecking yards!

Thanks Roger!

Steve, I'll be going IRS, looks like the units in the Cobra Mustangs are the best of the 8.8's. Going to be putting some decent power to it and I don't want something that's going to break all the time! The Cobra and the Z06 appear to be about equal in strength, have to do some searching and see what turns up. Not ruling out the possibility of buying a totaled car with lots of stuff I would want!

Suggested a Viper unit on page one, maybe you missed it.
Heck Dave, with your capabilities, why not fab up an independent rear yourself and use a 9" hog. A to Z how-to build the geometry is laid out in the back of Carroll Smith's book "Tune to Win". Wade on in there and get 'er done.

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Originally Posted by techinspector1

Suggested a Viper unit on page one, maybe you missed it.
Heck Dave, with your capabilities, why not fab up an independent rear yourself and use a 9" hog. A to Z how-to build the geometry is laid out in the back of Carroll Smith's book "Tune to Win". Wade on in there and get 'er done.

.

Hmmm. I did miss the Viper post Richard, that's certainly another good one to add to the list!!! I had thought of building up a 9" IRS starting with one of the fabricated center sections..... I guess everything is still on the table til I get a little more into the search part---You know me, I tried hurrying once, just didn't like it!!!!

Originally Posted by techinspector1

How about a Viper unit Dave?

.

You beat me to it. Lol.

I narrowed a C4 Dana 44. I think the Viper batwing is narrower. I had to narrow the batwing, all the links, and buy custom half shafts. But alas. It still sits. I'll get back on it soon. So no real world experience yet.

David

the earlier C4s were narrower than the later ones----------


And just why are you wanting IRS in the rear with a beamer in the front??????

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

the earlier C4s were narrower than the later ones----------


And just why are you wanting IRS in the rear with a beamer in the front??????

Straight axle and gasser style went out a year or so ago.... Had too many "experts" telling me what I had to do and had to have for parts and trashed the gasser plans. Front will be a coilover strut arrangement (street version, not drag car struts), along with wide tires, big brakes, stabilizer and all the rest of the good handling pieces....

Well I have a complete front and rear corvette suspension from a 96 factory test car with just a few hundred miles ( one of those test cars that had to be dismantled as they exceeded allowable specs------of course in this case they then came out with the C5--------- if you want to go C4 let me know------

I will certainly keep this in mind, Jerry! Not being a Vette guy, is the C4 front suspension built with all the good aluminum pieces and the big brakes???