I did a search and didnt come up with much. I went to the track last night, and there were a couple of gutsy guys there running slicks with their manuals and stock 10 bolts.

Mods were CC305 cams, stock heads, and bolt ons. They were also spraying a 50 shot after shifting to second. They were both dumping the clutch from a pretty high rpm and sticking the launch, getting 1.6x's for 60 fts. One of these cars had over 200k miles, and both were completely stock 10 bolts

I was watching in amazment, as the rears held together. One run after another. I guess they race almost every weekend, and street race a lot as well. These 10 bolts have been very abused, and have held up.

So that got me wondering. All of you with 12 bolts or 9" fords, did you do the swap after breaking the stocker, or just to prevent breaking down at the track? Is there anyone who just went out and found out how long the stock 10 bolt would last with slicks?

Im planning on a 12 bolt, but before I do the swap, that stocker is gonna get all that it can handle. Im not swapping till it breaks

 

Run your 10 bolt until it breaks then consider upgrading to a 12 bolt or 9". The weak link in the 10 bolt is the tiny ring and pinion teeth. Even if you break them, you can just buy some better aftermarket gears and have them reinstalled. The chance of breaking an axle on the dragstrip, although it's possible, is slim.

I went to a 9" because I installed a tranny with a transbrake. That puts more of a shock load on the driveline than a manual transmission. I also installed a 3" steel driveshaft and 1350 series u-joints at the same time.

 

But you never actually broke it?

 

I originally used a 3.27 geared BW 9 bolt, got into the low 12's and never broke it. I switched to a 10 bolt for a better gear ratio. The 10 bolt had aftermarket 28 spline axles, 4.10 gears, LPW rear cover solid cover with bearing cap supports, welded axle tubes and a solid crush sleeve. I ran mid 11's with it and never broke any teeth.

You can break a 10 bolt with a 13 second car on the street if it's abused too much. The hard launches at the strip should only break gears unless something else is already on it's way out just like anything else.

 

Hmm, so with 3.42's and a 5K clutch drop i wont break anything

Im just worried about breaking the 4.10's then those pieces destroying everything else and costing me a fortune.

 

Its pure luck with 7.5" 10-bolt. I broke mine with drag radials and a 2.0sec 60' .

Ryan

 

Mine acts really weird when i throw tires at it. Makes noises pops etc. But the rear does have 206k+ miles of abuse.

 

I put my 10 bolt to the test after the new motor. I had 3 passes and then it broke 1 axle 3 ring gear teeth trashed all of the spider gears and screwed the rotor up where the axle tried to come out. I guess the 355 and a street twin was too much

 

Those are the kind of answers we wanna know

BTW what did that 355 dyno at?

Edit: also what gears were in it?

 

Before I purchased my 12 bolt, I ran a 11.4@126 on a 10 bolt (6spd car), 3.73s, and a TA cover. 1.8 60ft.

I beat on that rear (read: didnt care if it broke) and it never failed. Some break with alot less, others can take alot. One thing I do believe helps is the TA cover. I never thought it did much, but i never had one problem with my 10 bolt that had one on it.....daily abuse with 480rwhp NA.

Jason

 

hmm TA cover seems like a decent investment for the rear. But what exactly does it do to keep it from breaking? Sorry im just not all sure what it does

 

Its a cast aluminum cover to replace the cheap thin cover on the rear. It also has 2 bolts on it that run in and preload the rear, and prevent twisting. With all of the mods waiting for you to install on your car, you NEED one

 

Thats awsome

 

On my 93 T/A I installed a set of Richmond 3.73 rear gears at about 40,000 miles. I drove the pee out of it (3000 stall) for about 5 years and 60,000 miles, it ran low 12s at the track and never complained. it failed one day just hammering it from a slow roll. What broke was the teeth on the pinion gear.

My 97 with the 383 in it has also ran some high 11s on stickies and no problems as of yet with basicly the same as before (stock rear with 3.73 gears), I should bite my tnge though because it has developed a slight whine.
I plan on going through it this fall.

 

my buddy broke his with 600 rwhp about 12k miles , on the street on street tires

mine had 60k on it, about 450 rwhp 550 tq 5k dumps on the hose and no problem