Can anybody tell me if there exists a spool for the 7.5? I want to keep my 7.5 but I am concerned about the strength. I'm not even sure if the spool and a ta cover (thrown in for good measure) would sufficiently strengthen my rear to handle a mild motor with just radials and possibly a shot of nitrous. Is there no other way other than 8.8?
Thanks
Crash
the 7.5 is not a rear that will put up to alot of abuse if you plan on drag racing any or sticky tires dont waste your money and go ahead and step up to an 8.8 axle
I keep hearing this and I have to wonder. I have the 7.5 trac-lok with stock innerds and I beat this car as hard if not harder than any car i've ever had and I have yet to hurt it. So I wonder if that is an old wives tale or do i just have a freak of nature or an exception to the rule. I have never dyno'd my car so I don't know h.p. numbers but it does push you back into the seat. At one point I just wanted to break it as an excuse to replace it and put an 8.8 in. and go five lug but it just won't break. So what gives?
Youre probably not making the power you think you are. My 3.8 car would put you in the seat a bit. Not trying to downtalk your car by any means, but the "puts you in the seat" doesnt mean a whole lot.
But anyways, 7.5's dont break on the street generally. You put some slicks on it, and get a dead hook on the track, theres a very good chance itll break.
Thanks for the input guys. Considering the slow rate at which my project is progressing, I'll just stick with my open diff, 2.73 geared 7.5 and step up to an 8.8 when I start modding the motor. Its still just a stock 5.0 SO.
You probly dont abuse it as bad as you think you do. the tend to scatter in the 1.70 60' area. one hard launch is all it takes ive seen a few last longer but they all fail its just a matter of when. Remember usually when they break it (carrier/spider gears)(sometimes the ring gear) will loose an axle and cause possible quarter panel/body damage.
If your car is ever going to be on the street I highly recomend not running a spool. I have a locker in the rear of my F150 and don't even like that on the street.
Hi!,
My ole Mother was a 1984 bird with a 232/3.8, and was take regulary in 90's, one time I picked to go ???? I don't remember, the tranny slipped on neutral and re-drive (leak on tranny lines) and when I'm on a red light, turned to green, and the tranny was on the neutral, I just kiked on a gaz to prime the tranny, and crooooook!, the diff was broke...
When opened to repair, the right bearing (inside of the housing) of the axle was break and the "main" was break too with one of the bolt, Okay, the car was 306k, but never abused, and I not putted the engine at 4000rpm to break that...
Since, I consider these axles a bit fragile...
For My '85 Bird with a 232/3.8 I plan to put a 8.8 on the car...