Currie Aluminum 9" Housing - for go or just show?

[70vert]

Hey all,
Looking to get my rear end ready for a lot of torque. uh, that didn't sound right. The 408 that will go in will be in the 400-500hp range, similar torque, and could eventually sport a supercharger if I decide to go over-the-top on power. Obviously, current 8" won't hold up.
Question is, and I think I mention the Black Gold or Torsen diff in my .sig, what do you guys think about the Currie aluminum center section here - I'm interested in lowering unsprung weight, and the aluminum and fins should help to keep the gears cool and prolong life:

http://www.currieenterprises.com/cestore/productsre.aspx?id=1567

Any disadvantages with going with this rear? They seem to suggest it's primarily for street rods, which suggests "show" and not "go" to me - any thoughts?

thanks, :SNSign:

 

[CraigMBA]

Full polish street rod set only.

If you're going to beat on the car, don't bother.

Currie will tell you the same thing if you call them direct. At least that's what they told me when I asked a couple of years ago.

 

[70vert]

yeah, seems like AL housing or center section is asking for trouble

show and not go. I cross-posted on VMF about this and it really doesn't seem worth the tradeoff to do an AL housing or an AL center section, even the Moser Engineering model that has through-bolts for better strength. I would hate to be the guy who spent a ton of money on a rear that didn't hold up and left me stranded.

for race use, for someone with deep pockets, maybe some of the AL stuff could give you a handling/performance edge (less unsprung) but it hardly seems worth it to me to be worrying about the durability back there . . .

Full polish street rod set only.

If you're going to beat on the car, don't bother.

Currie will tell you the same thing if you call them direct. At least that's what they told me when I asked a couple of years ago.

 

[TOM B]

I hate to disagree with the last 2 but I have a aluminum in my last stang and beat the crap out of it, Think about it , if you leaving the drags at the lights at 8000 rpms and with 500 + hp and a hole shot and slicks at 140 mph doesnt break it, then street tires and a moderate beat wont do anything to it.
Thats my opinion. Who else runs one on the street.

 

[70vert]

Aluminum center section or housing?

was it an aluminum housing or gear casing? Currie or otherwise? I'm curious . . . Moser also has this AL center section with a stiffer through-bolt design:

http://moserengineering.com/Pages/Center-Sections/cs-aluminum.html

 

[302 coupe]

I see the aluminum center sections in serious drag cars all the time. i wouldn't question the durability. Aluminum is less brittle than cast iron, I think.

 

[dennis112]

Neighbor runs an aluminum Moser unit. Been in there for years running mid-8's at 160+mph AND IT IS A 5 SPEED . . . . . .

 

[CraigMBA]

For a drag race car you're perfectly OK using an aluminum case.

For a street car or road race car it's a problem with the case deflecting over a long period of time and mostly under deceleration.

I see lots of Jeep Grand Cherokee with aluminum center dana 44s with wasted bearings and ring and pinions because of this problem.

If you're not going to drive the car much, it probablly doesn't matter. I'm all for taking 30 pounds of unsprung weight off the rear axle.