Just an update if anyone is interested....I took the rear end apart the other day and was very confused as to why somebody did the rear end setup that was in this car. It's almost as if they took the cheap way out when they re-did it. There was a factory Ford 9" carrier in it with a mini-spool and the axles were stock ford 9" axles that somebody shortened and milled and shoved back in. Needless to say the ring and pinion were fine but the carrier cracked and broke. The passenger side axle was also twisted.

So in turn I spoke with numerous local speed shops and different companies that specialize in rear ends about the setup that I was running and got multiple opinions on what would be the best way to minimize any issues happening again and what would be the best for this car on street application. Also after learning that there was a mini-spool in it, I didn't feel so bad about the idea of putting a locker in it.

I ended up ordering all new axles and all through Strange. I spoke with a Strange representative extensively about it and it looked like it was the way too go. I also decided to go with Detroit Locker. Almost everyone I spoke with advised me that would be the best way to go. I'm excited to get this thing back together!! I'll post my opinion of what I think of it once it's together so anyone who is thinking about setting up this way in the future can reference off it.

Again thanks for everyone's opinions and input!

 

Sounds right to me. I'm not surprised to hear the carrier was cracked with a spool and big tires on the street. With that combination turning around corners in town it puts so much stress on the carrier and axles that they're going to go since the spool wont give like a posi or locker will.

 

To be honest thats the first I've heard of a carrier breaking like that but then again I'm no specialist when it comes to rear ends nor do I know much about them at all. Hopefully with this new setup it will be as "bulletproof" as possble. I'm looking forward to getting this thing back together and having some fun with it!

 

I think you will be fine. Your not going to the track. Thats where the real carnage happens. Dead hooking with that much torque is tough for any rearend.

 

Yeah your definitely right about the dead hooking part. We shall see what happens, with ANY luck, i'll be getting the third member back tonight and the car will be back together tomorrow....for now, I'm off to do more taping off, prep, priming, sanding and painting of everything underneath the car that practically nobody will ever see because I just need to know that its done lol....

 

Alright well as I said once I got everything in I would post my opinion of it and I must say that I am very impressed with the strange axles and the detroit locker....i'm glad I went with the combination I did...the locker has a little bit of play in it when your on and off the throttle but nothing that can't be dealt with....I otherwise don't hear any noises coming from the rear end and the car turns fine!! Also this car grabs and goes straight as an arrow like never before. I've never experienced a locked rear before and I must say I am extremely impressed!!! Thanks for everyone's input!

 

No problem, now stop over and give me a ride.

 

Haha, that would cost me more gas money to get out to you than it did rebuilding the rear end lol

 

So you need five bucks for gas then?

 

Haha yeah, I wish that's all it cost me to do the rear end over