Dressing up a modern rear axle for a modified?

OK, I've pretty much decided that using a banjo rear end in my modified is out of the question mechanically as well as financially. My problem is the look of modern rear axles like 9" and such just don't look right on a car that has it's entire *** end exposed. I want to run a model A spring over axle with friction shocks.

What have HAMBers done to make these newer axles look somewhat cool?

I would love to see pictures.

Thanks,
Motor

 

smokey yunick used to put a 10-bolt cover on them to use in camaro/ta racers. you could use one of the corvette "quick change look" covers to emulate the look.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/aspx/paging.yes/dept_id.326/display_id.3801/qx/Product.htm

 

I'm using a "faux" cover on the Jag rear in my street-legal sprint car (photo). I think somebody makes a similar one for Chevy 10-bolt or 12-bolt rears....and perhaps 9" Ford as well.

 

I think those fake covers are pretty cool but I think the mounting flange sort of ruins it for me. Kind of gives it away.

I'm thinking more like welding somthing to the pumpkin or maybe some sort of drilled out gusset braces???

Or better yet, how about one of those clear lexan dif covers they make?
Yah, Yah... and then you could tint your gear oil to look more like blood and mount a little light in the gear box so it looks like guts and blood turnin while you drive down the road!

Motor

 

How finished looking is the car going to be?? If it is going to look a little rough, leave a modern rear in as-is condition and write "'39 Olds 4.11" on the center in junkyard yellow crayon...

 

This are what I was talking about earlier:

http://www.cleargearz.com/

Sort of cool, sort of not!

 

Sort of cool, sort of not![/QUOTE]

I thought you were sorta serious for a minute. jk

 

Sort of cool the way clear hoods for Honda Civics are cool, which is to say, sorta not cool at all.

 

Get an 8- or 9-inch Ford rear, paint it black, and be done with it. If the aesthetics of it offend you, cover the center section with the license plate. I think most attempts to diguise late model stuff ends up bringing attention to it. Just paint it and let it fade into the background.

 

First off, let me congratulate you on your wanting to disguise parts of your car that will ruin the look, secondly, I say go with the 9 inch, semi-gloss black, nice and clean

 

I think you guys are right. I have a lead on a 9" from a Bronco with 11" drums. The great thing is that the pumkin is centered from the rear view and it's narrow enough that I don't need to shorten it. The price is right and it needs nothing but shoes.

Thanks again everyone!
Motor

 

can you see it from the drivers seat?

 

Paint it nicely, then have someone pinstripe it for you. I actually think the look of a 9 inch isnt too bad...I'd rather see it like that, then disguised as something else...I think.

 

man, you are on the right track here. . . just make the brackets for the springs, shocks, panhard really nicely detailed

 

Welded up faux qick change. Only the cover is real.

 

Mopar 8 3/4 rears are nice and clean to look at.

 

How about really faking everyone out. Use a real quickchange and disguise it as a flat black 9". Now that would make you a hero (at least to me)


Frank

 

I used an 8 3/4 Mopar rearend on my modified. It came out of a late 60's-early 70's "b" body (Coronet, Satellite, Charger, Roadrunner, etc) These rears were standard in the 1/2 Mopar trucks of the same era. I am running a model a rear crossmember and spring with 46' Ford front wishbones modified for the rear. I wanted the pumpkin centered for a good look. The Mopar rear is very smooth and looks like an early chevy closed driveshaft unit from the back. The axles are huge and the axle tubes are thicker which makes for good secure welds at bracket locations. Happy Hunting- Sam

 

Wilcap has these finned covers that fit over the diff.

 

You are correct, sir. The fake quick-change on my car will be hidden under the tail so a person will have to put forth some effort to even see it. The reason I used the thing is a Champ rear is traditional under a car like mine and I'd bet that 99 out of 100 people who take the time to look in there won't even know it's phoney....