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Saturday Night Racer >> RACE TECH >> converting a 9"
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Message started by dirtboxhero on 10/18/06 at 3:37pm

Title: converting a 9"
Post by dirtboxhero on 10/18/06 at 3:37pm

wanted to get peoples input on converting a ford 9" into a chevy car.....we've got some ideas but wanted to see if there was a better way or if we are even on the right track.

Title: Re: converting a 9"
Post by TIM_BEWLEY on 10/18/06 at 5:35pm

the most important thing is the width. check the track width of your current rearend and compare it to the front. you don't want to be wider than the front. the 9" can come from any type car (coil spring or leaf) will have to cut the brackets off and weld on leaf spring pads. don't weld the pads on until you put the rearend in the car sitting on the ground with your pinion angel set. tac weld them then you can remove it and weld them up. if you are putting it in a coil spring car speedway motors sells the weld on brackets top and bottom. takes a little more time to set the pinion angle but it is very doable

Title: Re: converting a 9"
Post by imracin68j on 10/18/06 at 8:45pm

I would HIGHLY recomend clamp on leaf spring pads (if they let you.) Every once in a while it's not a bad idea to knock one loose to take out any preload that happens due to springs settling or flattening out. Also you will be able to mess with your pinion angle a bit. You will still need a 1 inch stitch weld on the bottom because they'll probably move on you over time. Don't get crazy with the welds though. You need to be able to knock it loose. I wouldnt go smaller than 60 inches on the width otherwise the brake gets tight on the u-bolts.

Title: Re: converting a 9"
Post by dirtboxhero on 10/19/06 at 8:46am

cool thanks.......when setting the pinion angle....is there any prefrence between you guys...or any easy way to make a tool to match it to the old rearend?

Title: Re: converting a 9"
Post by imracin68j on 10/19/06 at 2:26pm

When I set the pinion angle I put the car on the ground with the clamps/u bolts barly snug so the rear end is in 0 bind and can move freely up and down. Then I move the pinion up or down to get the spec I need. When I like it, I tighten it all down. You need to recheck it after you tighten it to make sure it didnt move on you. Then you can add a stitch weld to both sides. I would set the pinion down 5-8 degrees for starters. You can add more but you start to wear on the joints pretty bad. Don't worry about what's on the old car.

If you dont have clamps, you still do it the same way by keeping the u-bolts barely snug. One you weld it, it's hard to change hense the reason I suggest using clamp style.

If your working a coil car this has nothing to do with your setup other than maybe the pinion angle reccomendation.

Title: Re: converting a 9"
Post by dirtboxhero on 10/19/06 at 2:45pm

awesome thanks billy and tim...thats what its goin under is a coil car