last night we install a 454 in a 81 malibu nice fit the hooker headers where a bit of a job but
they do go there and they have 2"inch prim and a 3 1/2 sec. the 454 is a stock 1978 suburban just
fresh rebuilt and a mild performance cam..

I keep explaining that his small block did not have the tork to do much damage to his drive traine but he is not convince that it will..

his 10 bolts is a stock unit from that malibu
last years out of frustration he got the local
diff shop install a eaton posy & 4.10 in that
rear end..

and to make it a better he just purchasse a new set MT sportman pro..

what is your oppiniong out there ??

first burn out ? or 1 time he give here

he is got a 3500 conveter in his turbo 400 just
enuff stall to make that BB wip that rear end!

any way he can beff it up ?

Well they are pretty weak, but i ran 11.20s in my 80 malibu with a 468 untill i sold it. 1.62 60 foots

Wow your joking how is that posible !


did you have after market axel and c clip eliminator...??

please we would like to know more....

One of the guys at the track has broke two axles in the last 3 weeks in his Malibu(I can't believe how small those axle tubes are) he's running a 406 and clicks off 11.90's on drag radials. I'd be afraid,very afraid :eek:

Bring a video camera and set up at about the 60 ft mark in the stands, that way you can get some good video. Hope no one gets hurt..

I've been running a 10 bolt (8.2) for 5 years. My best is in my sig. That said, a BB makes a bunch more torque than a SB. I have 4.56 gears and most of my power is in the upper rpm range. With a BB and lower gears, it may not hold up as well. The girdle covers are suppose to help a bunch.

81 Malibu used 7.5

yes the rear end is not a 8.5 or 8.2 it's a 7.5

the axel are not that big same as a S10 pick up
w a 4 cyl. I don,t know if they event make a
after market axel for them ?

Bring a video camera and set up at about the 60 ft mark in the stands, that way you can get some good video. Hope no one gets hurt.. graemlins/thumbsup.gif Always nice to get a real good laugh every once in a while. Recipe for disaster.

I d'ont whant him recking his car.

He is a nice guy..any after market stuff he can buy ? or just bite the bulet and replace the unit !

Originally posted by Pat Kelley:
I've been running a 10 bolt (8.2) for 5 years. My best is in my sig. That said, a BB makes a bunch more torque than a SB. I have 4.56 gears and most of my power is in the upper rpm range. With a BB and lower gears, it may not hold up as well. The girdle covers are suppose to help a bunch. I agree Pat, I know a lot of 8.5's holding up real well to some real abuse, some 8.2's also.

accontrol - Yes, having an axle slide out and wrecking the car is a REAL possibility, even on the first attempt at a pass.

This happened at my track last year, caught on film.

http://www.boomspeed.com/mc71454/mustang_axle_fall_out.jpg

Grandnational rear end.

It was all stock with 4.11 gears. I quit running it though because i was scared LOL.

Originally posted by Pat Kelley:
I've been running a 10 bolt (8.2) for 5 years. My best is in my sig. That said, a BB makes a bunch more torque than a SB. I have 4.56 gears and most of my power is in the upper rpm range. With a BB and lower gears, it may not hold up as well. The girdle covers are suppose to help a bunch. Pat I have an open 2.73 8.2 and I was planing a switch to posi 3.73 for a mild 350. Do you think I would be safe just upgradeing my 8.2? My car is a high 14 low 15 right now but in future want to go to 12's. Just upgradeing would save me some $ and drop my times down (when I make it to the track)

When you keep going to the track, You will always find yourself fixing the weakest Parts. Before you go or after they break. With good traction and a 7.5 Rear would be a good thing to fix before you go.
Then some of us can break a Anvil in a sand pile.
JMOP, Bob J.

Originally posted by malibuman400:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Pat Kelley:
I've been running a 10 bolt (8.2) for 5 years. My best is in my sig. That said, a BB makes a bunch more torque than a SB. I have 4.56 gears and most of my power is in the upper rpm range. With a BB and lower gears, it may not hold up as well. The girdle covers are suppose to help a bunch. Pat I have an open 2.73 8.2 and I was planing a switch to posi 3.73 for a mild 350. Do you think I would be safe just upgradeing my 8.2? My car is a high 14 low 15 right now but in future want to go to 12's. Just upgradeing would save me some $ and drop my times down (when I make it to the track) </font>[/QUOTE]For what you have the 8.2 is fine. It should work into the 12's. I was strapped for cash so did my 8.2". If I had had the money, I would have gone for a 12 bolt. I think as long as traction is on the lower side, a 8.2 will hold up pretty well.

Originally posted by Pat Kelley:
For what you have the 8.2 is fine. It should work into the 12's. I was strapped for cash so did my 8.2". If I had had the money, I would have gone for a 12 bolt. I think as long as traction is on the lower side, a 8.2 will hold up pretty well. [/QB]I am straped for cash too so I think I will save money to just get the gears. Who did you go with on parts?

Originally I had the rear end set up by a fellow in El Monte with Richmond Gears. Those broke last year (after 4 years of hard use) and I now have US Gears setup by Toy Shop Transmissions in Pomona. Both guys are good. I can give you the phone numbers, if you want.

Ac, I would advise him to stick with BFG radials or other hard compound tire, which don;t grip at all, until he gets his rear end squared away. Having said that, a stock low compression 454 with big tube pipes isn't going to be an all out bruiser. Nevertheless, let tose tires spin to keep the axles from breaking. He will toast one with sticky tires.

He should do the line on the axles trick, then do a couple of simi hard launches & look to see how much they twist.. :eek:

Why, we know what's going to happen! ;) Plus, he might just shear the rolled splines off!

If he is gonna put on a sticky tire and get traction at the strip he is a dead duck... axles will go first and then everything else. IMO it just isn't worth the money to put upgraded axles in such a low spline 7.5 diff.

8.5's that bolt right into these cars are extremely hard to find, but if you do find one... they will last with aftermarket parts.