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ford 8 inch? is the power ratting max at 300hp?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Damein17
  • Start date Start date Aug 9, 2004
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Damein17

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Jul 26, 2004
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Aug 9, 2004
#1
  • Aug 9, 2004
  • #1
i was wondering if the max hp rating of a ford 8 in in my 67 stang had a higher hp rating tehn about 300 hp? what is safe hp it can handle for driving? also what yrs did ford come out with that had the ford 9 inch that will fit my 67 stang? and the reason imasking about the ford 8 inch power is because after my motor is finished here in the next week im expecting around 300-340 hp out of my new motor
 

302 coupe

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Mar 2, 2000
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Macon, Ga.
Aug 9, 2004
#2
  • Aug 9, 2004
  • #2
well, Ford never put it behind a engine making more than 220 hp. Due to my experiences, I can't blame them. Most will agree that 300 is the max for any reasonable amount of durability.
 
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Damein17

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Aug 9, 2004
#3
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ok thanks... but what car and yr could i get a 9 inch from that will fit my 67 coupe?
 
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fastcoupe68

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If you are talking stock components the 8 inch isnt the strongest but if you use the right parts it can be made to handle some decent horsepower levels. with a good set of aftermarket gears and a good after market diff, and some good axles there is no reason it wont handle 400 horses and one advantage the 8 inch has over the nine is it takes less horsepower to spin it, less rotating mass and wieght. more useable horsepower to the wheels
 
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Damein17

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Aug 9, 2004
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well ill be adding some after market gears im either going 3.55 or 3.73 gears as for the diff im not sure yet
 

ratio411

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Apr 21, 2002
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Aug 9, 2004
#6
  • Aug 9, 2004
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fastcoupe68 said:
If you are talking stock components the 8 inch isnt the strongest but if you use the right parts it can be made to handle some decent horsepower levels. with a good set of aftermarket gears and a good after market diff, and some good axles there is no reason it wont handle 400 horses and one advantage the 8 inch has over the nine is it takes less horsepower to spin it, less rotating mass and wieght. more useable horsepower to the wheels
Click to expand...
The other side to this arguement is:
9" stuff is so cheap compared to 8" stuff due to popularity.
Spend a bunch of dough to make an 8" handle 400 fwhp or spend the same or less and have a 9" that will handle whatever you put on it years from now.

Personal opinion:
I highly doubt you can build an 8" to handle 400 hp cheaper than you could do a 9".
I have shredded 3 with a 302 myself... no slicks and one with an auto tranny.
Good luck
Dave
 

mdjay

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Aug 9, 2004
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I realize I shouldn't have put this much power in front of it approx 500 rwhp. But when we first put the SS together, I used a brand new 8" 3.55 limited slip thinking I could get by for a while. I smoked the clutches in 5 miles. The only reason I didn't leave it on the ground is it wasn't hooking up very good at the time.
 

ratio411

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mdjay said:
I realize I shouldn't have put this much power in front of it approx 500 rwhp. But when we first put the SS together, I used a brand new 8" 3.55 limited slip thinking I could get by for a while. I smoked the clutches in 5 miles. The only reason I didn't leave it on the ground is it wasn't hooking up very good at the time.
Click to expand...
Don't feel bad...
I grenaded an 8" once behind a 460.
Shoulda known better, but the engine was there, the car was there, and I had nothing better to do.
The 8" was toast the day after the swap.
Dave
 
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fastcoupe68

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Mar 10, 2004
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nj
Aug 9, 2004
#9
  • Aug 9, 2004
  • #9
ratio411 said:
The other side to this arguement is:
9" stuff is so cheap compared to 8" stuff due to popularity.
Spend a bunch of dough to make an 8" handle 400 fwhp or spend the same or less and have a 9" that will handle whatever you put on it years from now.

Personal opinion:
I highly doubt you can build an 8" to handle 400 hp cheaper than you could do a 9".
I have shredded 3 with a 302 myself... no slicks and one with an auto tranny.
Good luck
Dave
Click to expand...
were you using stock components? cost difference between 8 and 9inch stuff not that different if you are comparing aftermarket to stock components then there is a big difference. IMO I would run a modded 8 before i ran a stock 9 any day A 9 inch with stock 28 spline axles= weak
 

ratio411

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#10
  • Aug 9, 2004
  • #10
fastcoupe68 said:
A 9 inch with stock 28 spline axles= weak
Click to expand...
Weaker than what?

Stock 9" = heckva lot stronger than modded 8"

BTW: It is a 'wive's tale' that 28 splines are weak.
 
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fastcoupe68

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Aug 9, 2004
#11
  • Aug 9, 2004
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It is nice that we can disagree on things like this , it gives everyone a chance to make up there own minds. IMO I would not use a stock 28 spline axle in anything I am planning on using at the track. As far as a wives tale 28 spline axles are weak. I have personally seen the splines dissappear after being used in a drag application in a 2700 pound car with less than 400 rear wheel horse power using slicks and a locker. For the street and radial tires they will last a long time, but you really never put any torque to them any way.
 

302 coupe

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#12
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I've broken 3 8" diffs with a mild 302 and street tires, but haven't hurt a 28 spline axle yet. I don't understand how you can say 28 spline axles are weak and 8" diffs are ok.
 

Max Power

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Jul 31, 2003
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St Paul
Aug 10, 2004
#13
  • Aug 10, 2004
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It seems everybody forms opinions on two or three case studies that they have personally seen. Hardly empirical evidence.

I have run 8 inchers behind some power levels listed above and had no problems, but I didn't do anything to "shock" the system, like race with slicks or drop the clutch for burnouts very often.

Yes the 9 inch will be stronger and yes, the 31 splines will be stonger. It depends on the abuse you have planned to determine what you will need. Horsepower alone is only one factor.
 
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Mosse

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Aug 10, 2004
#14
  • Aug 10, 2004
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I agree with MaxPower. I´ve heard people running 8" behind 400 hp engines. I broke mine with relatively mild 351... Yes, I was abusing it. I really can´t tell which broke first,the driveshaft, u-joints or differential housing... But I´m putting it back together, as soon as I get home from Brazil...A long three months..
 
A

animal_svt

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Jul 14, 2003
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#15
  • Aug 10, 2004
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So I take it I should be really scared with my 351w once I get it in my 66 coupe with the 8" locker and t-10 I am running? My tires are only 215's (shrug). Or will these tires break loose long before the gears?
 
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Damein17

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Jul 26, 2004
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Lexington, Kentucky
Aug 10, 2004
#16
  • Aug 10, 2004
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thanks for all the reply's guys but no ne has answered my question yet. what yr car has a 9 inch rear that will fit my 67 stang?
 

Max Power

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Jul 31, 2003
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St Paul
Aug 10, 2004
#17
  • Aug 10, 2004
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A 67 stang, maybe even a cougar. I think 69-70 are a little wider.

Do a google search of ford nine inch and you will find websites that list this stuff.
 

mdjay

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This came from a thread that I would like to have forgotten. However it had a great link!

http://www.mustangsandmore.com/ubb/FordRearDimensions.html
 
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fastcoupe68

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Mar 10, 2004
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nj
Aug 11, 2004
#19
  • Aug 11, 2004
  • #19
302 coupe said:
I've broken 3 8" diffs with a mild 302 and street tires, but haven't hurt a 28 spline axle yet. I don't understand how you can say 28 spline axles are weak and 8" diffs are ok.
Click to expand...
Here is how I can say it and I will probably upset alot of people with what I am about to say. Stock 9 inch 28 spline axles in anything other then a car that will be used for the street are weak at best. Put them in a drag application with anything making decent torque (400 ft pounds) slicks and a good hook and they will not last very long. And some of you guys are forgetting that I said aftermarket parts for the 8 are quite strong. Just spelling it out from personal experience.
 

Route666

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Aug 16, 2003
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Brisbane, Australia
Sep 3, 2004
#20
  • Sep 3, 2004
  • #20
Ok my interested in this subject has gained an all time high.

Looking at the aluminium carriers and housings that Currie stocks for 8" diffs, what sort of power could they handle reliably?
 
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