Buying a second one so I have it when the original ****ters. Just checking to keep the shipper honest Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
my guess is about 25 kgs, not sure what´s that in lbs, maybe around 48lbs or so. A stock sbc head weighs 21 kgs and the 55-64 pumpkin is a little heavier than a sbc head. The best guesstimate I can do at the moment.
My dad always said he was pretty sure Laura Scudders manufactured those rear ends, because they were abouy as strong as presses potatoe chips. They'll live for a little while behind an auto, but a manual trans, watch out. If its just a cruiser your ok, but any racing abuse.., guy with a 61 Impala @ The Meltdown Drags, blew one into 3 ot 4 pieces this year.
I witnessed a friend of mine pull the pinion out of a 9" ford with a big piece of the casting still attached. Low 12 second, 289 4 speed fairlane, so not a real animal deal, standard pinion support, WAR casting... It was pretty cool actually, took the whole nose off the pig...
I saw a pic of one of those 9" centers coming apart, that's why I have an aftermarket nodular in mine now.
You know, its funny, all these guys think that ANY 9" is the be-all and end-all because of the magazines, but your typical auto-wrecker 9" out of a PU is weaker than an 8 3/4 mopar. Sure, once you get a nodular iron carrier, a detroit locker or spool, aftermarket caps and the big pinion support, they are pretty strong, but in typical stock form, they are not that sturdy. I've seen guys pull 12-bolts out and replace them with a 9" with a two rib carrier and 28 spline axles because "ooh, its a 9'..." and its probably weaker than the 12 bolt they just replaced! I had another buddy lunch a 9" with a detroit locker, nodular carrier and all the good ****, but he was doing 7500 rpm launches on a concrete bridge in a PU with a BBC and toploader and big McCrearys. Really tore up a bunch of ****, the rad came out of the mounts and hit the fan, a pin came out of the locker and broke the carrier! Crazy days!
Chevrolet 8.2 drop out. Studs instead of bolts on the caps (same as the 8.5) . Left cap support. Braced axle tubes. That thing will last for ever.
Funny how a thread goes from " how much does it weigh" to discussing the relative merits of strength. I'll chime in , my last two builds I switched over to the 8.8 Ford rears because of cost and parts availability. The 8.8 is a copy of the GM 12 bolt and is just as strong and a brand new posi unit from Ford Motorsport is $210. A complete rear axle from a late model Explorer goes for $175 at the local salvage yard.
Thats because rear end carnage is fun to talk about and/or watch! And I agree, the 8.8 is a good rear. And yes, studs, drilling/bottomtapping the holes,beefing up the left cap will help, and (you forgot) adding a load bolt that prevents the crown from walking away from the pinion will all help a lot, but last forever?? Behind WHAT?? Its STILL a small ge****t with a low hypoid angle, and spindly spider gears/axles, its never gonna be bulletproof. Not saying dont run one, but dont have unreasonable expectations either. Duffys and Jerry Stahl used to make better spider gears, but those are gonna be pretty tough to find nowadays.
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