1968 400 Coupe, verdoro green, black vinyl top 1968 400 Convertible, verdoro green, black top 1971 Trans Am, cameo white, auto 1970 Buick Skylark Custom Convertible 350-4(driver)
Here's the 8.5. These, which came in many '71 and later X-body cars, are a direct bolt in for 1st gens. I think the driveshaft must be shortened slightly. 2nd gen Bird 8.5's will work, but must have the spring perches moved in some.
I'm sure there are some who post on this site, who can give all the details. If you ever plan to do any serious drag racing, this would be a good swap. They are much stronger than the 8.2. In fact, with 30 spline axles, they are almost as strong as the GM 12 bolt.
Yeah, I've wondered about those. I suppose maybe they were not sure whether the Bird was gonna be a success or not. So, they just used the same 8.2 housing they were using on the A-body cars, but welded the the Bird mounts on 'em. And I think it would have been a good idea to have a pair of those traction bars on all Birds. That way maybe the later models would not have needed any add on bars.
I never raced a '67 which still had those factory bars. For you guys who have, do they work as good or better than good slappers ?
I modified my auto car to install both OEM traction bars. I have not raced the car (just ordered my subframe connectors yesterday), but I have had no wheel hop issues while laying down twin black stripes (so far)
2012 Mustang Boss 302 #1918, Competition Orange. FGF replacement 2006 Mustang V6 Pony, Vista Blue. Factory ordered. 2019 BMW X3 (Titled to the wife, but I'm always driving it for her. So I'm claiming it) Old projects, gone but not forgotten: 1967 FB 400, original CA car. After 22 years of work, trashed by the guy who was supposed to paint it. I had to sell it. 1980 Turbo Trans Am 1970 Mustang fastback, 351C 4Bbl, auto 1988 Mustang GT, 5 speed 1983 F-150 4x4, built 302 1994 Chevy K2500 HD 4x4, 454 TBI