Am I just SOL?

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jos51700

jos51700

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I've been looking for an aluminum center for an 8 3/4 for awhile. I've watched ebay and most of the Mopar sites, and haven't seen any for sale. What am I missing?
 
The aluminum center sections show up from time to time, but they are getting harder to find. Personally, I prefer the cast iron because they seem to hold up better. That is "if" they are set up correctly and a back brace is used to keep the axle tubes aligned. People have been using the cast units for years, from stock SBM & BBM cars, to race cars and that includes using them in altereds and dragsters.
 
Yes I agree on the altered and dragsters thingy, but nothing holds up like a dana 60 in a street/strip car unless of course you buy a purpose built aftermarket rear drag racing axle.
 
Demonracer said:
The aluminum center sections show up from time to time, but they are getting harder to find. Personally, I prefer the cast iron because they seem to hold up better. That is "if" they are set up correctly and a back brace is used to keep the axle tubes aligned. People have been using the cast units for years, from stock SBM & BBM cars, to race cars and that includes using them in altereds and dragsters.
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I'm not drag racing this car, and if so, not on anything more than street tires. It's a small block car, and I own it, so it won't be making huge power because I'm too cheap for that.
 
if you're not making big power, or racing it and it's just running street tires and you're a dedicated cheapskate (like me) i have to ask the question: why the desire for a alum center?
 
junkyardhero said:
if you're not making big power, or racing it and it's just running street tires and you're a dedicated cheapskate (like me) i have to ask the question: why the desire for a alum center?
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Reduce unsprung weight, improve handling.
 
ch1ll said:
Reduce unsprung weight, improve handling.
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That unsprung weight is literally at the roll center of the car so the effect on handling is negligible. If that's really the concern get some aluminum 17-18" wheels and 35-40 series tires, way more bang for the buck in reducing unsprung weight in a useful way. Also it'll be a massive improvement in handling and steering feel and response over 15" steel wheels with fat mushy 60-series street cruising radials. I know because I've run both setups lol.
 
There's always a Chrysler 9.25 just narrow it with dana 60 -8.75 ends on and eliminate the stupid c-clips (which I've never had fail anyways)
 
ch1ll said:
I’ve heard as well,but not in a mopar muscle car. A hot rod maybe. Then again why not just find a furd 9 inch.
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lots of folks are running 8.8's in a-bodies. they're cheap and plentiful, parts are easy, minor surgery to make fit and you get disc brakes. a lot of them came stock with LSD's and factory gears up to 4.10

if i was going for a brand new rear end, a 9" is a no brainer. you can get a custom built unit with discs and whatever ratio LSD you want for damn near half of what you'd have into 8.75 piece. if weight wasn't a concern and you're planning on putting down big ugly power and don't want to break anything, a dana built to spec by dr. diff is the answer there.
 
junkyardhero said:
lots of folks are running 8.8's in a-bodies. they're cheap and plentiful, parts are easy, minor surgery to make fit and you get disc brakes. a lot of them came stock with LSD's and factory gears up to 4.10
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Not me, I dont care how convenient or cheap they are. Matter of fact I have one out of a ranger with 3:73, but not in any of my mopars. This ain’t Cuba yet.

My local junkyard sells 9 1/4 truck axles for $350.
 
MopaR&D said:
That unsprung weight is literally at the roll center of the car so the effect on handling is negligible. If that's really the concern get some aluminum 17-18" wheels and 35-40 series tires, way more bang for the buck in reducing unsprung weight in a useful way. Also it'll be a massive improvement in handling and steering feel and response over 15" steel wheels with fat mushy 60-series street cruising radials. I know because I've run both setups lol.
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Unsprung weight loss has zero drawbacks. It's still weight I have to accelerate, and it's still a significant part of suspension action.

THEN I bolt on light wheels and have like eight times the fun!

I spoke to Cass at Dr. Diff. He's got an aluminum center in the works. Manufactured in India, but that's still a few steps up from China. At least his current pricing for the parts is reasonable.


I'll hold out for a Mopar center until Cass gets his line going. Either way, **** China.
1694632961792.png
 
I believe that center section was designed and sold for sprint car racing. Whole different ballgame than drag racing or even beating on a fast street car.

If you really want a lightweight rear axle with an aluminum center section, you could pull one out of a Jeep Grand Cherokee, I forget the model number of the axle, but its beefy enough for a street car and has disc brakes to boot.
 
jos51700 said:
I'll hold out for a Mopar center until Cass gets his line going. Either way, **** China.
View attachment 1716141273
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I feel for the common Chinese man. They produce some good product at the discretion of American manufacturers.

It’s just too bad their leaders are a bunch of criminal thugs hiding behind the façade of a communist regime, which is the true sense of evil along with socialism.
 
8-3/4 aluminum center sections. They are out there. I found one here on FABO a little while back. Keep your eye out. Back 20 years or so ago I bought the Mopar piece with everything else needed to build it new for roughly $1500. It is still in my car. I pounded on it 30 times or so drag racing with no failure. I built it with a 4.86 pro gear spool on a back braced 8-3/4 for my '65 Barracuda. It was running 10.80s at the time. It is a very nice piece.
 
Here is an alloy one in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The ad's been up for a very long time, likely due to the asking price.

www.kijiji.ca

Mopar 8 3/4 rear differential Magnesium Rare Mickey Thompson | Transmission & Drivetrain | Winnipeg | Kijiji

Extremely rare Mopar 8 3/4 rear differential center section magnesium very rare custom built from Mickey Thompson himself never find another one can make you whatever ratio and posi of your desire , it was built for reenforcement for Dragsters in the day ,who piece, vintage, collectable, make...
www.kijiji.ca www.kijiji.ca
1694785670947.png
 
Kernel Sanders said:
Here is an alloy one in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The ad's been up for a very long time, likely due to the asking price.

www.kijiji.ca

Mopar 8 3/4 rear differential Magnesium Rare Mickey Thompson | Transmission & Drivetrain | Winnipeg | Kijiji

Extremely rare Mopar 8 3/4 rear differential center section magnesium very rare custom built from Mickey Thompson himself never find another one can make you whatever ratio and posi of your desire , it was built for reenforcement for Dragsters in the day ,who piece, vintage, collectable, make...
www.kijiji.ca www.kijiji.ca
View attachment 1716141977
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Ouch!!!!
 
ch1ll said:
Not me, I dont care how convenient or cheap they are. Matter of fact I have one out of a ranger with 3:73, but not in any of my mopars. This ain’t Cuba yet.

My local junkyard sells 9 1/4 truck axles for $350.
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I agree. I have nothing against a Ford Trac loc but the Mopar Sure grip is a tougher unit IMO.
 
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