makin' me grin Jackie!!!! Knock it off, it's gonna cost me money!

 

all right, hope it all play's nice for you

 

It is as much if not more than I hoped it would be. Idles smooth, good vaccuum, and feels like an afterburner kicks in when you nail it.

My next stop is Pyle Bros Rear Ends in Baytown to get C-Clip eliminators, and 33 spline axels. While this is just a street car, I have a felling if it ever got a good bite, this thing would pop an axel.

 

Awesome, good for you Jackie. Sounds like its a beast!

 

Congratulations! Sounds fun.
Since you says its a street car have ford ends welded on instead of c-clip eliminators they are more realible.

Marcus

 

Congratulations! Sounds fun.
Since you says its a street car have ford ends welded on instead of c-clip eliminators they are more realible.

Marcus

Marcus, I told Pyle Bros that I wanted the best and stoutest unit they could build, in all honesty, I am going by their judgment on this.
http://www.drivetrainamerica.com/p-7-914a576-detroit-truetrac-chevy-12-bolt-car-33sp-308-390.aspx This is the Posi Carrier they recommended.
I would have it there Monday but we have to wait for the brackets to mount the disc brakes, as the Wilwood Rear Disc Brake Kit I just installed during the Summer are set for the standard 12 bolt flang.

This conversion does include welding the housing tubes to the center section.

 

Thats what I said too after my first test drive. they are lots of fun on the street.

X2 on the ford ends to make your axles bolt in.

You will most likely get to know your local tyre dealer a lot better too...

 

Congrats man! You have a true musclecar. ie, " a car that has more power than you could possibly ever use or need!" Awesome!

 

C-clip kits work fine. I've had mine since 1997. Lot's of street and strip miles.
Advantage is you don't have to remove the rear end to install.

You can also get a Fud style bolt in bearing with the GM flange:

http://www.summitracing.com/search/...r-engineering-rear-axle-housing-ends/axle-housing-flange-type/12-bolt-chevrolet

Remove the housing and break out the band saw and welder.

You will like that posi. Good piece.

6-700 ft lbs is rather fun isn't it???



Ron

 

Congratulation, its always nice when a project comes together.

 

Jackie sounds like your having fun.I also have a 540 in my steer car and have not had it out on the street since 2009. I did get it to light off last Sunday and I know how you feel. I have a 12 bolt with aftermarket axles and have not had a problem. I have limited traction so there is no way to really stress the rear end.

 

12 bolt in the '69 behind the 540" had Superior stock replacement axles (complete with c-clips), carrier studs and girdle, that was it. Had a new 3.5" driveshaft made but kept 1310 solid joints. Best 60' time was 1.59 at 4100# on 275/60 drag radials. Rear never broke. I had more issues with the T400. Tore up the input shaft and forward hub on street tires on the 1-2 shift. Stock 12 bolts are a lot stronger than most give credit. I think for a car leaving on a transbrake or a stick car, maybe consider some changes. For a footbrake car? Can't see it.

 

I've been running C-clip eliminators on the street since 1996. They never leaked and i've had no problems.


Jackie, i was looking at the pictures of your car. It's very nice, good luck with the new engine.

 

my 12-bolt has the strange c-clip eliminators
the circle-track style (tapered bearing) not the drag-race style ( ball-bearing)
the circle track models are for straight line and corners.
i did get a leak on one after about 10-years of use,
replaced the seals during upgrade to 11''drums...

 

Pyle Bros should take care of you well. They build some tough stuff.

JIM

 

Nice car

 

Nice car

Thank You

 

My C-clip eliminators lasted through part of the first day of the 1999 Hot Rod Power Tour; the next day I had gear oil artwork all over the wheels and tire sidewalls.

 

I have run into a minor snag, I was informed that the Wilwood Disc Brake Conversion that I just did on the car last spring when I had that TCI tranny installed will not work with either the C-Clip Eliminators or Ford ends. I have to get a new kit. It's ordered.

Looks like I will have some nice parts for sale: a good 12 bolt posi carrier with axels, and a practically brand new Wilwood Disc Brake Conversion.

 

That's gotta be a sweet combo on the street, large by huge amounts of torque coupled to a six speed auto trans.

 

That's the beauty of the whole combination. The engine has so much torque down low and in the mid range that when you shift, the rpm drop is barely noticeable.

I was playing with it on a good concrete street Saturday and the best way to drive it all out on the street from a dead stop is to nail it, (blows tires away), but then short shift at about 4500 and let the torque work. Since the second gear in the 6X is pretty close to what a turbo 400 1st gear is, the thing just takes off like a you lit the afterburner, shifting at 5800-6000 to 3d, 4th, and 5th.

I really do not know which is the best compliment for real street performance, the TCI 6 Speed or the 540. But working together, the overall package is phenominol.

These modern parts have made street performance and Hot Rodding a whole new game. You can build big massive engines with reasonable compression, (unleaded premium), great flowing heads and Hyd Roller cams that compliment each other, coupled with a drive line that is taylor made for this type of activity, and you have a thrill we could only dream of in the old days.

We all remember in years past, ('60's and '70's), you made HP with 12.5 to 1, big flat tappet cams, and big hogged out factory heads. These engines would not idle, you had to rev them untill the belts flew off to make power, vacuum was non existant, and you just prayed it would burn what was in the pump. The aggravation factor set in pretty quick.

These are great times we live in for Hot Rodders.

 

Jackie,

540, 290, 234, 6 speed, 3.31!!!! Torque curve flat as a pool table!!! What were you thinking?

About 30 years ago, I rode a friends 390 Husky with a 55 HP works barrel. I could not believe the torque and power of that engine. I quickly learned I was too old for a bike like that. With some 300 more pounds of torque than my 406, I'm also too old for your car.

I take it from your 3.31's that Richmond has started making them. I consider 3.31's to be the ultimate street gear for torquers. The rear gears that squeekers can hardly turn will smoke street tires at 100 MPH with a BBC. I don't expect to break mine, but it's good to know they are replaceable. The 3.42's are too low for my taste, the 3.08's too high.

I can't see you using more than two gears on your six speed. I'm thinking an almost stock TH 400 is right around the corner.

A trip to your neighborhood is on my bucket list.

 

Jackie,

540, 290, 234, 6 speed, 3.31!!!! Torque curve flat as a pool table!!! What were you thinking?

About 30 years ago, I rode a friends 390 Husky with a 55 HP works barrel. I could not believe the torque and power of that engine. I quickly learned I was too old for a bike like that. With some 300 more pounds of torque than my 406, I'm also too old for your car.

I take it from your 3.31's that Richmond has started making them. I consider 3.31's to be the ultimate street gear for torquers. The rear gears that squeekers can hardly turn will smoke street tires at 100 MPH with a BBC. I don't expect to break mine, but it's good to know they are replaceable. The 3.42's are too low for my taste, the 3.08's too high.

I can't see you using more than two gears on your six speed. I'm thinking an almost stock TH 400 is right around the corner.

A trip to your neighborhood is on my bucket list.

No, these gears are 20 years old, back when they used to make 3.31 gears. As far as I know, no aftermarket manufacturer now makes 3.31's.