A buddy of mine helped me set the gears over a case of beer. I do everything beside gears cant stand the damn things. Even if that wasnt done for free most shops will charge about 200 bones to set up a 3rd member on a 9 inch. So added into the cost it still prob would have been under 2000 or damn close. My opinion is go 9 inch if you can the housings and axles are your big spenders. Most of the other stuff you can easily find locally for a good price. Plus nothing beats the ease of changing out a set of gears out of a 9 inch or its stength and reliability

 

i stand by my 8.5 10 bolt plus its more power to the ground

 

how did you get that put in? Did you get a shop to do all the custom fabrication, or do it yourself?

I'd love to have a 8.5" 10 bolt, keep my 3 channel ABS and still get to keep my favorite type of diff, the Torsen T2-R.

when i was shopping around for the rear, this is what I found out.....

9" Ford's have a ton of Diff selections too, but you basically lose 3 channel ABS with it, unless you rig up the reluctor ring outside the housing, which someone has done in the drivetrain forum..

12 bolts don't seem to have the same number of diff options availble.. Although if your drag racing, you could find one you like..

And then some camaromustang challenge folks use a Dana Rear..

But, in the end, I think I'll just save some more cash and get a used C5 instead.. (for the street)

BTW, if someone wants to pick up a cambered 7.5" 10 bolt, thats been sitting in my backyard for over an year in oregon, just drop me an PM! (mounts are not stock) It was out of a camaromustang challenge car, from Richard Pryor (not the comedian lol)

ended up just putting another 7.5" 10 bolt in there, with a t2r and 373's.. I rarely drag race, try to go autox more..

 

I am sure i will survie with the 10-15 HP loss. There will be plenty of power left over to turn the wheels

 

I've heard that the Ford 9" howls really bad. Is that true? I believe it was to do with the head warping somthing when the weld on the torque arm bracket.

I know a few people on here have gone with the 9" but you also are some of the hardcore racers. Would you recomend it for a street/strip car?

Also... what are the options and opinions with the C clips on the 12 bolt? I've read that the eliminators tend to leak. Would it be any different using the bolt on versus the weld on type?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I would have to do the C Clip eliminator for both the 8.5" 10 bolt and the 8.8" 12 bolt.

Thanks Guys!! All your input is really helping me out!

 

My 9 inch had no whine whatsoever i believe andys might have had a little. It all depends on how it is setup. the beauty of the 9 inch is if it whines it doesnt mean she is going to break anytime soon If all is setup well the noise should be minimal on whatever diff setup you run

 

Mine howled but its because they are Richmond gears and also 4.30s are a typically noisy gear.

Either way Ken, you are going to have drawbacks to any set-up. I wouldn't trust any 10-bolt to a high rpm clutch dump and sticky tires, the 12-bolt has proven to be a weak link (by Payam and many others I have talked with on LS1tech) and the 9 inch sucks a bit of power. It might be something to consider for "wow-factor." A 9-inch looks pretty trick under an f-body. I think its the coolest part of my car.

Andrew

 

LMAO

The 9" looks to be around $300 - $400 US cheaper too... so far. I like the idea of the 9" also... I just dont want my car to sound like a bus.

 

Payam bent an axel tune, this is because the Strange 12 bolts use stock 10 bolt axel tubes, while my Moser 12 bolt use huge 3" puppies or something, but its quite a bit heavier in weight then a strange 12 bolt, I'm sure it can take the abuse no problems.

But yeah, I think its the Richmond gears that have to go in your rear end Andy, my 12 bolt has richmonds too and it wines, its not that bad but it can get to you if you have a head ache that day and end up driving the f-body LOL, my 3.73 richmonds don't wine under decel/accel but coasting at about 100 clicks it gets pretty noisy, this is when the stereo **** comes into play. Some day I'll put GM gears in there or something.

 

i got 4.10 richmonds in my 8.5" and they dont whine, check your grear back lash

i dunno, ill be putting a crap load of power through mine this year, and running a trans brake on it with slicks. im sure if i can make it live it will be good for the rest of you