Rear end for J body

[hamondale]

I can say first hand stay away from early Vega rearends. (Not that you could probably find one now anyways.) They had a 6.5" ring gear and are not strong enough for much more than 150hp. I have already crushed one with my 3.4L crate in a 1900lb car.
I am currently working on a swap to a Ford 8". I only picked it over a 7.5" 10 bolt because I like the capability of swapping complete third members out the front.
I agree that a 9" is overkill for your setup. Maybe 8" is too, and the parts may be just as much $. Sounds like the 7.5" 10 bolt is good. Also, there are lots of sites out there on having rearends narrowed to fit.

[Doubt_Incarnate]

so if the zq8 axle is 54" mount to mount its about 5 short of what i'd want and betterthanyou says the 4x4 axle is 4" wider. so maybe a 4x4 axle would be better. it depends on the availability for high offset wheels. mostly because i dont really like the look of the low or 0 offset wheels, i like the fwd offset. im still considering the front indepent setup from a 4x4 s-10. that would most likley give me the right width, and strenght for my appliation, as well as keeping it swift through the turns.

[Guest]

Whoa there doggy!!!!

I KNOW the 2WD axle is the way to go, I had it UNDER My 1st gen, with the wheels bolted up, it was the perfect width.

You have to remember the wheel offset will be different, that is why the 2WD axle is perfect. The Stock S-series off set is perfect.

[Doubt_Incarnate]

yeah your right, if i keep thinking i'll ruin things, i'll have to find a 2wd standard cab with a 5 speed to pilage, or if the automatic was a 4 speed id go for one of those for some slap shiftin goodness.

[1QUICKHATCH]

maybe i can just swap my stock knuckles around. but then if i have a s-10 bolt pattern in the back and the j-body bolt pattern up front, it makes it hard to rotate tires.

I saw a dodge lebaron at the track one night that had a 340 or a 440 in it and still had the stock rims all around, so I asked him how he got them to fit and he said that he got the axels redrilled to the 5x100mm bolt pateren.

[asylummotorsports]

https://www.smithperformance.com

THE expert in RWD conversions.
Has all the parts you will need to do your project.
He mainly builds Super Stock race cars, and has won countless "Best Enginneered Awards", but for the front suspension he has the expertise.
Hope this helps, and good luck on your project.
If I was 20 years younger my Beretta would be RWD ages ago.

[bszopi]

Damn you...

Just when I think I finally get the RWD Beretta out of my head, you go and post that link.

But thanks, I'm sure I'll be contacting them in a few years.

[asylummotorsports]

Damn you...

Just when I think I finally get the RWD Beretta out of my head, you go and post that link.

But thanks, I'm sure I'll be contacting them in a few years.

Um, sorry?