Traction options for 8"

A

afterglow

Member

Jul 2, 2006

89

0

6

Feb 12, 2007

#1

• Feb 12, 2007

• #1

I'm running a mild 351W on my '69 and am currently using an open 8" rear with 3.8 gears. I'd like to improve traction by adding some sort of LSD/locker. The car will be mainly for the street, minimal highway, occasional drag racing. Emphasis should be on streetability.....I don't want it locking when I don't want it to OTOH I don't want it spinning when it's not supposed to.....noise isn't much of a concern.

What would you guys recommend??

 

Shakin66

Founding Member

Jan 19, 2001

628

1

19

Waycross, Ga / Lake James, NC

Feb 12, 2007

#2

• Feb 12, 2007

• #2

My vote would be for a rebuilt traction loc. My friend that set up my 9" installed a Detriot locker and while it has taken care of my traction problem it hammers away like crazy when I turn.

 

Great68

Founding Member

May 16, 2002

691

0

16

Victoria BC

Feb 12, 2007

#3

• Feb 12, 2007

• #3

Well you do have a lot of options.

Detroit True-Trac (Torsion)
Trac-Lok (Limited Slip)
Auburn (Limited Slip)
Powertrax (Locker)
Detroit Locker

Limited slip and True-Trac are the most streetable. Limited slip will wear over time. Lockers won't wear and put the power to the ground the best, but are a bit tricky on the street sometimes. I don't know a whole lot about the True-Tracs so maybe someone else can chime in, but I think they are the best all-round.

 

iskwezm

10 Year Member

May 24, 2005

4,159

20

79

Rowland Heights,California

Feb 12, 2007

#4

• Feb 12, 2007

• #4

we put a Detroit Locker in my buddies, cant even hear it

 

dennis112

15 Year Member

May 15, 2005

1,561

36

79

Amish Wonderland of Central PA.

Feb 13, 2007

#5

• Feb 13, 2007

• #5

Truetrac here. Quiet all the time.

The car always leaves 2 equal length black marks with heavy acceleration. The only other time I notice it is when I make a slow, hard turn, like when you leave a stop sign at an intersection and turn right. Then one wheel drags just a little (similiar to my old traction lock.)

 

A

afterglow

Member

Jul 2, 2006

89

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6

Feb 13, 2007

#6

• Feb 13, 2007

• #6

I've heard so many good things about the Truetrac but it seems like they don't make it for the 8". I checked Summit and it seems like my choices are Detroit Locker, EZLocker, Powertrax No-slip and Powertrax Lockright.

Out of these, I'm most interested in the No-slip....performance of a locker with the silence of an open differential.....what's not to like, right??

Do you think it'll work for my needs??

 

Vinyl66

Member

Mar 21, 2004

398

0

16

Feb 13, 2007

#7

• Feb 13, 2007

• #7

You are not going to beat the strength of the Detroit Locker. That's what I have and can barely tell it's there in my automatic Mustang. I also have one in my '97 Jeep Wrangler and it reminds me it's there all the time. They are much more foregiving behind an automatic.

For a mostly street car I would get a Truetrac. They are strong, will not wear out like a Limited Slip, and have better street manners than a full locker.

They do have them at Summit:
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=DTL-912A580&N=700+115&autoview=sku

 

A

afterglow

Member

Jul 2, 2006

89

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6

Feb 13, 2007

#8

• Feb 13, 2007

• #8

Truetrac it is then!! Thanks for the tip.....

 

A

andrewmp6

New Member

Jan 3, 2007

15

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0

Feb 13, 2007

#9

• Feb 13, 2007

• #9

id get a lsd or a air or cable type locker so it only locks when you tell it to

 

6

6T6coupe

Founding Member

Jul 15, 2000

219

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0

Feb 14, 2007

#10

• Feb 14, 2007

• #10

I am a cheapskate so I found a used Trac Lok for $40 and rebuilt it for another $60. Then I added new 3.55 gears for $180 and installed it with a $80 kit. Total for all was less than $400.