G'day Gents,

The 14 bolt swap thread has got me thinking about axles, and in turn about a question I've had for a little while; What rear end to put in my hot rod pickup.

I know better than to ask without details of the application, so here is what i know so far, the plans i have. This is prob more info than needed for this question, but oh well.

The truck will be 2wd, slightly lowered in the front, not the back, a mild build on a 460, I have been planning a 512, or somewhere in that neiborhood, not a high torquer but not RPM either... A "best of both worlds" engine if i can. probably not more than 450 horse if i am reading my build research right... I want the new T-56 magnum trans, but if anything will get a T-10 for it. Am thinking 3.73 gear ratio in it ffor some economy, and a limited slip if i can, pushing a 33"(or equivelent) with a mild street tread.

This is a street racer, or green-light racer as we call it, to be honest.... a 1/4 or 1/2 mile runner. some highway cruising, maybe some longer high speed runs, but not many. The main point being though, It'll be a dump the clutch truck, laying rubber for fun, some burn outs, and race launches...

The base is either a 76 F150 long box, or a 73 F250 also a long box... or any mix and match there of that works... If wheelbase matters to torque applied for axle selection, (Does it?) there is the idea that I might get ambitious and chop a frame and go short box...


My thinking has been the 9", there has to be a reason it is so popular with muscle car guys, even GM and Mopar guys run them... A repuation as being the strongest... Figure if you swap rear ends you get the best, so if something else was better why would they run 9"s?

Then again, thats cars not trucks... maybe a 60 is better but nobody wants anything that bulky under a car... I duno.

I have no experiance with the 9" other than ho rodding around in the F150 as it is now, it stands up to spinning stock tires and dirt road doughnuts is all I know. I have run a just the 60, and then just in a work truck, not anything run hard/fast.



So, what would you guys run? the 9" or the D60?
And Why?

G.

 

9" hands down. Ease of set up and the ability to change gears quickly are the top reasons I can think of.

 

9" without a doubt. As said above, and because the muscle car guys use them, it's easy to get parts.

 

The 9" can handle a lot of horsepower, what it cannot handle it a lot of weight as in carrying capacity, it only has a single bearing at the wheel where the D60 has two bearings like the front. It also cannot handle the weight of a heavy tire/wheel combination. 38" tall tires is its limit. For hotrod high horsepower you won't be running a lot of weight and not run heavy tires/wheels, you should be good. Try to find a Nodular 9, they have disc brakes, Granadas and Continentals had them. The carrier is sturdier and it is actually a 9 and 5/8 ring gear.

 

I'm with these guys...9" hands down.

 

A D60 is more efficient do to pinion location. The 9" is the drag racers choice though for ease of changing gears and axles.

 

unless it's a mopar d60 from a car with 5 lugs instead of 8 i say 9''. stick with the half ton parts. 8 lug stuff really kills the options on nice wheels that would fit the theme and style of a hotrod 70's truck.

 

9" hands down. The only real advantage a D60 has over the 9" is the full floating axles, and that really only matters if you are hauling heavy. Some say they break easier under big power...

I swapped my D60 out for a 9" when I built my 79 2wd. SOOOO much lighter, easier to work on, and cheaper to find parts for. If you break it, there are plenty of ways to make it stronger (although I bet you won't break it with a mild 460).

 

Wow!Thats was unanimous... OK, so I go with the 9"
Yeah, I wish I could find one of the car ones with discs, but since i have this one, I'll use it... Plus the one I haveis a limited slip, just gonna re- gear it.

Hmm...Would the disk brakes swap onto the drum style housing I have?

G.