Get this book as it will tell you about length which you need to know "exactly" what you need before buying anything. Then get an 8.8 out of a lateer Ford that already has positraction. That will be your least expensive option by far. When you start adding things like posi, different ratio, or changing axle length, the basic 8" will become far more expensive in the long run. Bout $25 from Amazon
Some call the 55-64 chev rears & the 8" ford rears weak . Fine , both those rears were used extensively for years , in severe street & drag race use . In a light car , without sticky tires , with a sane individual behind the wheel ( one who doesn't show off to be stupid) those smaller rears will last a long time !
I have a Maverick rear prepped to use under my 32. The 62 Chevy rear was tired and too wide The Maverick rear is a 3.00 and the Chevy was 3.08. I was happy with the ratio. I am just a little worried I messed up. I am running a 350 and automatic.
This is funny and sad all in one. So much bad info out there along with the need to be top dog at the local car seen by saying “I got a 9”, your stuff is junk”.
Wife's 55 had stock rearend for many years. Many passes at the drags too but PG car. Finally got really noisy and was her daily driver. Put in an early Camaro 12 bolt posi-no issues since--been 30 yrs. Used many 8" rears in 40's we built -- never an issue but don't beat on em too bad either. Friend has an early posi narrow 12 bolt laying around--may snag it just in case.
My roadster with a Maverick has been on the road 33 years. No problem. It rides well with the lighter weight rear and maybe gets better milage. I just want to go from A to B
In a light car with moderate torque that sees little or no drag racing, an 8" or a '55-'64 Chevy rear end, properly set up, will last a long, long time. It sounds like the 8" will be fine in your situation. Why drive around with a heavy, power robbing big rear end if you don't need it?
If you already have an 8" that fits (preped ?) then thats a somewhat different situation. If you plan to never abuse it, it should be fine. Automatic, non-posi, small engine, lightweight car, medium size tires........
Tri fives were some of the most used and abused automobiles of their time. If the rear still exists, that's got to mean something. They weigh more than 32 Fords. They ran small blocks like you are running. The feeling of mistake is just a feeling. Think it out... and like Jim says, "Have fun."
Anecdotal evidence ... in 66-7 I had a 57 chev with a 4.88 gear posi , BW t-10 with a reasonably potent 301 SBC , it was my only car , I drove it to work ,then on Saturday nights , loaded up the slicks & went racing Sunday morning . Power shifted it @ 6500 , busted the BW a couple times , never the rear put probably 30k miles on that car 1/2 dozen 700 mile round trips to summer cottage , never a rear differential problem .
Using either rear under your 32 will work just fine. Spider gears are the weak link. The 8 under my 32 has been fine for over 30 yrs. It’s a 2.78.
This would be my choice, I broke axles in the 55-57 rears. Of course if you were aq lot closer I could make you a great deal on a 57-58 Pant/Olds. Pat
An 8" and '55-'64 Chevy rear are good looking axles; but an 8.8 is on the ugly side; something aesthetics matter.
I’d agree from my humble experience. 10 bolt late ‘50’s GMC rear under my ‘57 Chevy PU, wasted a spider gear one a 1-2 shift (BBC/TH400). Went hunting and used a 12 bolt from an early 60’s GMC and watched the guy checking/setting it up and thought “those spider gears look the same”. Month or two later lost another one in the 12 bolt on a 1-2 shift. This was with L60-15’s single wheel drive.
Street tires, moderate standing starts, under 400 hp, probably a wash, one is about the same as the other. Throw on some sticky slicks, high rpm launches, or over 400 hp and you will be looking for something stronger in a little while. The 8” can be beefed up, many 9” axles swap right in, there are better gears and carriers on the market, lockers and posi units are out there, but by the time you do all that you might as well move up to the stronger 9”. I’m running a 8” in a 4000 lb car behind a stock 302. I trust it, my car is a cruiser, not a bruiser so it won’t be abused. Much….
Worse problem I've had with the chevy rears is the one in my old 57 hardtop. 327/4 speed and the housing broke in half near the spring pad...prolly had a crack for a long time and doing a burnout over a speed bump was just too much for it. I put a 3:00 maverick axle under my 49 ford coupe [350/350 turbo] and I beat on it a little but it never caused me any problems.....but then, I never did a burn out across a speed bump with it.
The "Hot" set up for the budget DIYers is a Ford 8.8 out of an Exploder. They are only 1/4" narrower than a Tri-5 Chevy rear end. Exploders have 31 spline , most are Posi and 3.73 ratio. The L & R axles are different lengths [ 2 x RH will narrow the rear to 57" WMS to WMS] 2 x LH Axles will widen to 62-1/2"] Stock width is 59-3/4" I've seen them handle 5-600 hp on a regular basis [3500 lb car] The pinion is only 1.5" offset [down] from the axle centerline , so the C & P robs less HP. And they are a lot tougher than a 12 bolt The only downside is they have C-Clips, which means they need Aftermarket axles if Racing in sub 11 sec classes. There are C-Clip Eliminator kits available for 28 spline 8.8's but not 31 spline axles. To fit Ford 9" Ends [and Bearings] the axles need to be ground to 1.565" Ford Bearing Size from 1.618" 8.8 Bearing size [for a press fit] If you want to run a spool you need to use a 4 piece Mini Spool in an open Carrier if you keep the C-Clips [or convert to 9" Ends and Bearings] The last Exploder rear I purchased cost $100 including Brakes and Cables, Driveshaft, Leaf springs, and Rear Swaybar. We re-drilled it to 5 x4.75 and relocated the spring pads, and it found a nice home in a 55 Chevy.
I’ve always been partial to the 8 3/4” Chrysler. Nice stout little buggers with an auto trans. With a stick a Dana 60, but their heavy!
My brother and his buddy built up a stout 454 in a '57 Chevy while in HS. His buddy was well heeled and had bucks to burn. They popped rears like penny-candy. The final solution was a '57-ish Olds rear with a 4.56 ratio. Side-by-side, the Olds rear was far beefier.
I'm with you...my '40 Chevy had a '57 rearend in it and I totally abused it. Blew the driveshaft out many times but never the rearend. '57 Corvette rearend in my '46, lots of burnout and never broke it. I would use 'em again...
The only rear end I ever broke was under a 55 Chevy....Always had good luck with 8 3/4 Mopar stuff....Dana 60's were the best but I like dropout 3rd members....Easier to change gears in....Back in the day some of the GM Pro Stock cars would use Dana 60's....And you can't go wrong with a 9 inch Ford,,,,lot of aftermarket support....
Yeah, but they're a cheap date! You can get one easily at almost any junkyard, wide selection of ratio's, Ptrac, and stout. Plus an 8.8 is within an inch or so of the 55-64.
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