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| | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 198 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 198 | I'm trying to find out how the strength (torque carrying capacity, not weight carrying capacity)of the rear axle in my 1st Edition 55 AD truck compares to other axles commonly used in street rods (e.g. 8" Chevy, 9" Ford, etc).
Does anyone out there have the numbers, or at least the experience, to give me some idea?
I'm wondering if the new 6.0 liter, 400+ hp, 400+ ft lb torque V8 I'm about to install is going to tax that rear end.
Bear in mind I have the 1st Edition 55, which has the open drive, not the torque tube drive.
Jim G
Last edited by JimGnitecki; 03/29/2008 2:55 AM.
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | The rear in that ruck is essentially the same as the '55-'62. red58 knows a gut with a '57 that has a 427 Big Block in it, and the rear is holding up just fine. Also, back in the '50s and '60s, is was not uncommon to find the '55-'62 rear diff under race cars, nascar stock cars and drag cars, 2 examples, the Chevrolet 210 Feul Injected Black Widow stock cars, and the SWC Swindler AA/GS drag car, which ran both a blown 480-ish Olds engine and later a blown Hemi.
I wouldn't worry about the strenth of the diff. The only real concern is the lack of availability of some internals, and there currently is no locking/posi type diff available for the housing. I know about that, I'v been looking myself. I do know of a company that has conversion axles that allow for use of later 30 spline 12 bolt spiders, Toms Differentials, but have not dealt with them myself.
Last edited by LONGBOX55; 03/29/2008 3:04 AM.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | actually the 427 powered truck is a 55 2nd series, the 89th produced, so prolly has a rear from the same run as yours  I've seen Ed pull the front wheels with that truck, can't imagine you'd need stronger Bill | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Oops, I got the year wrong!!  I knew it had a 427 and it was a Task Force era truck, so I wasn't too far off
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 198 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 198 | Thanks, guys. That reassures me.
Jim G | | |
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