Technical HOT ROD REAR DIFFERENTIAL

If my rear end was ugly as some of you guys, I'd hide it too!

I'm with the Quickchange guys!

 

Ive put 50k miles on my 8" in the T , the center section had 63k miles on it when I put it in , 28 spline axles I installed a lokrite in it . the 388" stroked sbc in the T should have ( according to the experts) shelled this rear a long time ago . I've not had a problem .

 

I wasn't aware that any DANA rear axle had "C" clips. G.M. Corporate yes, DANA, no.

 

Dana 35.

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-133044-dana-35-c-clip.html

 

Lol,,,,
What in the world is a Dana 35 ?
Sounds like a weak alternative to a normal rear end ,,,,lol .
Late models maybe ?

Tommy

 

The 8.8 exploder rear end is stout!!!
Easily narrowed and centered.
The OD tubes not only bigger it’s 1/4” wall tube. Deceivingly heavy .
31 spline, most are posi, wide range of ratios, the gear sets all swap from anything anywhere and you can get any rearend related parts at the corner.

The 9” has the most after market support by far.

 

My '39 Ford Coupe came to me with a 7.5" (Granada?) ford rear axle. Believe it or not, the gear ratio is 2:33. a 9-inch housing and center section came with the car. (3:42??) It will eventually be going in, because the SBC 327 4speed, may not have 500hp, but still don't trust this small unit, for long term. Plus, I want to add disc brakes. Yes, 4-wheel disc may not be traditional, but these drum brakes ****! And as a professional technician, I know what a good car stop likes...and this aint one of them.

 

I stick 8.8 rears under a lot of stuff these days, mostly because I can get one with no notice, in about 2-hours, in the ratio of my choice, with limited slip.

I have the jig to narrow and center, as needed.

For those that want discs on a Ranger 8.8, those are in the Ford section of the self-service yard.

If you modify the backing plates, everything up to the SVT Cobra big brakes go right on (and I have those on my Falcon).

 

Salisbury axles don't look right under a hot rod, just saying.

 

I agree. Banjo or Quickchange look better.

 

Well, there's a surprise........ We wouldn't have expected anything else.

 

35 is used front and rear in some Jeeps and the front of Explorers since about 1985....never intended for high hp or severe off road abuse....

 

My avatar has a 36 banjo rear w/3:54s - it has definitely stood the test of time, speed, and distance. The 32 coupe has a 9” w/3:23s and the 40 pickup has an 8” w/3:50 gears. The coupe needs the 9” cause of the Nailhead while the 40 pickup just got what I had laying around. As built as the V6 is, it’s not going to harm the 8” ……

 

Not just Explorers. Any of the 8.8" axles with 31 spline shafts have 3.25" tubes. Not an issue as far as my experience goes. I cut the perches off and grind 1/8" off each end, and they fit the larger tubes easily.

 

Where did you get this info? And if they didn't use the 8.8", then what axle did they use?
The info at The Ranger Station states "all Ford Rangers after 1990 used 8.8" axles".

 

The Ranger disappeared in the US for a bit (2012).

When it came back, it was the international version (2019), updated to US requirements.

What it has now is the Dana AdvanTEK M220.

 

Toyota pickups in 80’s & 90’s use a drop out center rearend similar to Ford 8 & 9 inch rear. narrow widths and 4.5” bolt circle. They also have aftermarket support.

 

I thought they were 6 lug? What year did they go to 5 lug?

 

6 lug from a 4wd. 5 from a 2wd. I think anyway.

 

sounds like a bunch of old farts looking up other peoples skirts.
Can't see mine unless laying on the ground. if it holds up to my abuse that's what matters to me.

 

New Rangers aren't even solid rear axles. And a completely different truck; not even the same size. A Ranger in name only.

 

Yup....I think the M220 in the Ranger is also used a solid axle in some later model Jeeps and Chevy Colorado trucks....a sort of Dana 44....
Toyota axles are good but likely expensive in todays market...Some of the 8 inch versions are known to split near the banjo from a defect not abuse...

 

When I was trying to decide what rear I would run, the choices were overwhelming. I looked at all the pics I could find. One stuck out, so I went with a Winters Nostalgia Quick change. Lots of reasons besides the look. Came in at the right width for my tire combo, gear ratio is a no brainier, and John's Industries made a big Ford brakes kit that included finned aluminum brake drums that match my finned Buick drums on 40 Ford front brakes. So about 2 weeks later one showed up. Guess it was about the look, plus the cost wasn't much more than a Ford 9" after getting it narrowed, axles, posi center, and gearing.

 

1957 F100 1/2 ton housing.

 

Okay we've covered the "hot rod rear differential" pretty well by now, how about some thoughts on the "hot rod front differential"?

 

Ok:

 

I've been patiently waiting.

 

If you're on a budget and don't have a rear end, I wouldn't dismiss the S10 rearend altogether. A wide variety of ratios are available, and posi units can be had for the right price. The Eaton posi's are the most common and one that most people can rebuild if needed. Torsen posi is great and found under a lot of Z28's, and work their magic through gearing. One to avoid is the Gov-lock, found in all size GM rear ends. Ok for off road, make good grenades on the street. The 2wd units might be a bit narrow at 55 inches for some, the 4 wh version is a bit wider. One advantage of these smaller rears is the unsprung weight- those 8.8's and such are HEAVY, ok for 10-12 inch slicks, maybe a bit much for street tires.