Just a question I am running a 69 firebird with a 474 pontiac and now a TH350 manual Valve body w/ a 10in ATI converter i have an 8.2 10 bolt in the car w/3.90:1 gears and was wondering if i put a set of moser axles will this thing handle what im dishing out torque output from this engine is roughly in around the 600 range and HP is around 575.I'm trying to get this thing in the high to mid 11's in the 1/4 on 28 inch dot slicks and a 3300lb car.will this rear axle take it? also does anyone know if a detroit locker is available for this thing? will an auburn posi suffice? or should I go with a 12 bolt instead? which would lead me to another question....does anyone have a f-body 12 bolt for sale ????? any info or help from someone who has race with one of these axles would be great.


thanks
Jeremy Wyborney

I ran a 428 with 400 auto trans and 8.2. I also used a 250HP Powershot Nitrous kit. Roughly 550 to 600 HP total. No slicks, drag radials. No problems with the 8.2 at all. I used the stock diff., the Auburn would be better. The 8.2 needs to be tight to take it though.

JMO, but I think you should be asking when it will break and not if making that kind of power.

right Ron, its not a matter of if it will break, (and this goes for anything when you drag race)its when it will break.I just want to know if its is up to the task of going out to the track on the weekends I have already rebuilt this axle with all new bearings and a new 3.90 gear set but this was done when i was going to put a mild built 400 in it not a edelbrock head 474 prepped by R&S racing in Albert Lea,which if you are in the midwest I highly recommend him. I was going to run a 4speed muncie behind it but that proved to be a bad idea.so i have now put together a 350 turbo to go behind the engine andnow am deciding what to do with the rear axle i was contemplating just putting a set of moser axles and just upping the spring rate on the factory safety trac diff(eaton said they make a spring kit that will take the capacity up to 6-650 ft lbs.it would be alot cheaper to do that than to have a totally new axle made by moser or find a used camaro 12 bolt or nova axle(have you seen what these things are going for ?!).Plus it would be a true pontiac axle underneath.

Jeremy

What do you think about the aftermarket aluminum covers which claim to help hold the bearing caps in place? Maybe save a spun race?

I may eventually be looking for one just for the cooling fins if i decide they'll help. I dont want to cook my fluid on an interstate drive with my 4.11. The sales pitch proclaims how they help with the aforementioned bearing caps... not that they're necessarily the first thing to go.

I think (not sure) that the chevy 8.2 cover fits.

TA performance make a "girdle rear axle cover for BOP 10 bolts i planned on pputting one of these on I have heard its a good idea for any Salsbury Style(10 bolt,12 bolt) rear axle.Heres the site
www.taperformance.com/gm.htm

check it out the cover goes for around $160


Jeremy

When comparing what kind of money repairs/upgrades and what not, I would save up the extra dough, and go for the 12bolt .. In the end who is to know if the 8.2 would hold up, but it's nice to run the car hard, knowing that the 12bolt is capable.. plus there is alot more options for the 12 bolt. -plus it is almost 'plug and play' -I bought the moser 12 bolt, and I'm running the car up to 5800-6200 rpmwhen shifting into 2nd/ and I'm not the least worried about driveline failure (460/450 hp/tq) -And I can upgrade power without any problems..

just my 2 cents

I agree. If you are looking forward to a lot of track time - go for the 12 bolt. Think of it as insurance $$$.

Jeremy,
It will hold up at least as good as a 350 auto trans. Also, you would probably wrinkle your rear sheet metal before the 8.2 would give out. The caps never pop off so the girdle thing isn't needed. I guess I should have added that I raced my 69 with the 8.2 for about five years with 5 different gear ratios. And it wasn't a question of 'when' it was going to brake. It never did. I sold the car to a guy that does cruises and shows with it. The 8.2 is still hanging in there like a champ.

-I used to have a ball with my 8.5 buick rear in my old skylark, and I was totally sure that it would hold together, but STILL if only it had had the 12 bolt it would had let me have so many more options.. -but I really understand what the point ws to this quistion,, -When will it break???

-Anything can/will break -but it's just a question of when it WILL break..

Proberbly SOME 8.2 rears will hold up better than the 8.75 12 bolts, but IN GENERAL the 12 bolt is a far better rear..

I hope you catch my drift..

That's 8.875" on the 12 bolt.

yep.. my bad.