Hello all, Running a '71 with the 250. Will be bumping up to a V8 in a good while but for right now I'm doing a rear end 4 to 5 lug swap. Was just curious as to who still runs the 8" rear and what ratio they've used with no issues. I'm looking at a 3.25 to a 3.55 but have no idea what to run exactly
i would run 3.25s for average street use. you will be able to go freeway speeds and not be spinning the motor to the moon and have some good get up and go from a stop.
with the 250 I would run the gear in the rear end you get in the 8" if it's a stock gear...2:79-3:00. when you get the V8, change it to the gear for the motor/transmission you run in it. I'm running an 8"...
When you change the engine to a V8 you may want to look at a Over drive transmission that way you can have the acceleration of a set of low gears with a cruse rpm of high gears! I did this with my Maverick and because it works better I drive my car more! With 4.11 gears I run lower RPM at 60 MPH than I did with stock 2.78 gears and the C4 transmission!
Everybody is telling me to change to a 9 inch.. How much can the 8 inch hold up to ?? got a 302 30 over 351W heads, and a 515 lift cam.. Do I need a 9 inch ??
If you're running an automatic with rear axle gears between 2.79 to 4.11 the 8" will hold up fine with that engine. Now if you're going to 4.11's or lower with a stick and do alot of hard launching you might want to look at a 9"
Mine is strictly for the street. Maybe hit a few car shows, and something for me and the old lady to go out on weekend and tear up some country roads.. That is good news that the 9 inch is an option and not a half to.. Thanks velvetguru.
This is true if the 8 " is not abused it can last a long time, If slicks are entered into the equation the 8" will be short lived
The 8" is tougher than a lot of people give credit...not saying you can't break one. With street tires, the tire will be break traction before anything else breaks.
In my 302 Maverick with high stall and slicks I got 75 low 13.00 passes down the Quarter mile with my 8' before it Broke the spider gears!
