Mopar 8.75 in a FED

I picked up a narrowed 8.75 to use in my FED project .

The issue is that it has an offset pinion and the previuos owner had the axles cut the same length. Not a real problem in the S10 that it was in but connecting straight to the trans is going to put everything offset to one side.

What I am thinking, would be to mount the rear with the pinion centered and run a spacer on the one axle to even out the tire/rim spacing in relation to the chassis .

Does anyone one see any issues with this approach, safety or otherwise ?

Doing it this way would allow me to use the rear the way it is now.

Thanks in advance.

Lyle

 

A friend of mine has a tire and custom wheel shop and he hates wheel spacers. I personally do not/will not use them either. I just don't believe they are safe (feel free to argue the point, this is just my opinion).

One place you should check with is the sanctioning body (NHRA/IHRA etc) and find out what they allow. I doubt (could be wrong though) that they are allowed on drag cars (they might allow them though, if they are under a certain width/size ... something like "anything 1/4" and under is Ok kinda thing or they might allow them on cars that go slower than 13.00 maybe). If you intend to run only "outlaw" tracks, it would still be in your best interest to follow NHRA rules (for safety and for resale ...).

Why not just get one new axle and shorten one tube on the housing, or keep the center section and the brakes ... sell the housing and axles and buy another housing and get new axles the correct length for your car.

 

Set it up right, no spacers!!!!

 

Can you (should you?) use a driveshaft with u-joints as opposed to the(i'm ASSuming) solid coupler type?

2) Would using 2 different wheels with 2 different offsets be out of the question?

 

If you know some one or a shop that narrows rear ends , it would be possible to cut and add back what length you need. i checked with a fabercator friend and that is what he said he would do . the ends are welded on any how . pictures we need pictures! good luck with the build.

 

How wide is the FED?
I'm having a hard time picturing an S10-width rear end dropping into a front engine dragster, especially with a direct coupler to the trans.
If it were mine, I'd have one of the tubes narrowed to the proper length, and have the axle cut down and resplined. I would NEVER use a wheel spacer on a drag car.

-Brad

 

The S10 was a older "Pro Street" truck so it was all tire with really wicked offset on the rims.

I am going to take the rear apart and have a good look and decide which directions to go in.

Thanks for the input so far.

 

i just called my friend who is doing the final put togather

 

I just called my friend who is doing the final build on an orignal looghe fed cackle car and he said the 8.75 housing is roughly 28 inches flange to flange .he is using a coupler with an in and out box. hope this helps

 

NHRA frowns on wheel spacers. Axles must be aftermarket (that is why there isn't centercaps on the rear, they want to see who made the axles).
There really isn't much of a choice on what to do, there are different ways on 'how' you go about doing it.
I narrow reas etc and you don't really want to add to an existing tube, you can replace the tube with a longer one but you really shouldn't butt weld anoher short section of axle tube. The tech guy will give you that 'you shittin me?' look.

 

another thought! mabe you may think of running two different offsets on the wheels if it isnt much most people wont see it from one side of the car to the other, that would be an economical and nhra legal way to do it. just a thought.

 

Different offset seems goofy to me. Spools are touchy too.

 

agreed, as it was just a suggestion, i personally would not do it, it would be best to redo the axle housing and axles, do it right especially if you plan to race it!

 

Decided not to use the 8.75, Going to end up being to narrow for my chassis

 

After reading all the no no 's on spacers I have to add that my last FED had spacers. It had a very narrow 8 3/4 and the housing was welded into the car. After tires started to get bigger and the car went faster it got spacers. It had a 5 1/2 bolt circle and the billet spacers were a nice press fit to the axle locating flange and the spacers had there own flange to locate the wheel and the bolts = studs were a tight fit. This car was a on kill A/FD and was the national record holder until NHRA finally retired the record. 6.73 = 201 on 1 inch spacers. I have to add the 30 spline axles were rifle drilled. After I bought the car I must have made a few Thousand passes in the 8's at 160 +