I just got a price on a 8" ford rear end for pretty cheap. what's out there for things like posi locks and heavier gears for that? next quiestion is is it better for a flathead rod than a 9"? just curious.
they make traction locks and stuff for the 8 inchers . Finding oe stuff is gonna be tough but the after market stuff is out there. They have a lot of different gear sets also. The 8's hold up well! Ive never broke one on my 350 chevy powered rods and ive got one in the new 32 roadster project. I put a 9 inch in the 32 couope and ill tell ya what i dont know the difference cept i did switch to disks on the 9 and thats easier to do than an 8. My Niclke Dave
We run an 8" in our flatty roadster......the parts are not nearly as common as a 9" but gears and all the other parts are available, just not as much high performance or race stuff. Our engine will never hurt that 8" Ford rear end.
Can't imagine that the flatty could hurt the 8". Not unless it's got a ton of work in it. I run an 8" in my A coupe with a 327 and cheaters. I've torn the rear suspension out a few times, but never hurt the gears. Do know that 8" posi stuff is more expensive than 9". And you are limited with aftermarket options with just about everything except for gears.
Just a FEW facts to know ... 1) The 8 inch Ford was used by Ford Motor Company in their vehicles with less than 250 Horsepower ... when the horsepower was higher than that ... it got the 9 inch. 2) The 8 inch Ford takes less horsepower to turn ( less parasitic drag ) 3) The 8 inch Ford rear does NOT come with a 5 on 5 and 1/2 wheel pattern 4) all 8 inch Fords have the small wheel bearing ... not that it's a bad thing 5) Gear ratios offered by Ford for the 8 inch are somewhat limited ... when compared to the 9 inch. 6) 8 inch Ford Posis are difficult to find. Opinion ... A streetable Flathead Ford cannot hurt a properly set up 8 inch Ford rear end ... on street tires
Mustang II Cobra's used a 4-lug 8" that is interchangeable with 5 lug axles and lots had 3.44 posi. I ran one in a Maverick housing and it worked fine, plus lots of folks don't look at the 4 lugs for the posi units.
8" Ford is one of the most underrated rears out there. You can't hurt it with a street flathead & even most strip flatheads. It's also much lighter than a 9" = lower unsprung weight = better handling
I gotta tell the truth 8" rears are the biggest pieces of **** out there you can crate it up and send it to me. I will dispose of it properly and I wont charge you a dime.
Guess I could ask the same question about the F-1 hood scabed on to the *** end of your nash but your answer is probably the same as mine. Because I ****in like it. Like Ernie said. lighter, lower unsprung weight, better handling. Haven't ripped one apart yet
got one in my 30 ford truck put a auburn posi carrier in it and run a 2.80 gear with a 300hp 350 ci sm block and it has held up just fine and i drive like i stole it or as my friends say i drive the **** out of it
The Jalopy Journal
