Rear axle options for small RWD

Don't say Toyota!

I want to put together an endloading type rearend for my latest acquisition since its shell is in better shape than i would have ever guessed. The stock rear is wimpy and full of unobtainium from the drums inward.

I'd normally think, okay, take the 9" i built for the RX-7 and shove it under there, but it would be thermonuclear overkill for a 2000lb car. Also it would be massively too wide, i built the rear to be a scosh wider than RX-7 and the new car is about as narrow as an Escort. (51" track width, versus the 56" track of my 9"

Lot of similarities with Escorts, actually, which makes me think Atlas. Then i realize i am on the wrong continent for that, and an Atlas costs as much as the Volvo i just bought. So i am thinking of a Ford 7.5" from an early Ranger, or a ***vy 7.625" from an early S10.

What about Volvo stuffs? I heard some of them had Dana rears but not sure what would be the right rearend to look for.

Want to keep brakes able to clear 13" wheels, big wheels look retarded on small cars. Would ideally just use whatever brakes came with the rear for cheapness and expedience reasons. I know me and i tend to improve to the point of never finishing something, so rast and simple is better.

---

Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2017 07:12AM by Pete.

Quote
Pete
Don't say Toyota!

I want to put together an endloading type rearend for my latest acquisition since its shell is in better shape than i would have ever guessed. The stock rear is wimpy and full of unobtainium from the drums inward.

I'd normally think, okay, take the 9" i built for the RX-7 and shove it under there, but it would be thermonuclear overkill for a 2000lb car. Also it would be massively too wide, i built the rear to be a scosh wider than RX-7 and the new car is about as narrow as an Escort. (51" track width, versus the 56" track of my 9"

Lot of similarities with Escorts, actually, which makes me think Atlas. Then i realize i am on the wrong continent for that, and an Atlas costs as much as the Volvo i just bought. So i am thinking of a Ford 7.5" from an early Ranger, or a ***vy 7.625" from an early S10.

What about Volvo stuffs? I heard some of them had Dana rears but not sure what would be the right rearend to look for.

Want to keep brakes able to clear 13" wheels, big wheels look retarded on small cars. Would ideally just use whatever brakes came with the rear for cheapness and expedience reasons. I know me and i tend to improve to the point of never finishing something, so rast and simple is better.

Pete the Volvos have Dana 30s, with 7.2" ring gears and half-shafts about 28-29mm at the spines.
The early up to 198? were called 1030 and are straight Dana 30..
Those are the ones ring and pinions start at $122 new..
The "later, after 108derp" have a diff that is still Dana 30 dims but the pinion is "like a Dana 35 and the ring gear is like a Dana 44" so its a fawkin Volvo Sweden ONLY deal for alternate ratios..fuggetaboutit..
Bolt circle is 5 on 4.25" Rear disc is perfect, real caliper is perfect for fun...

"Atlas" can be found in Merikuh out of any of the 2,3 Limas and 2,6 and 2,8 V6 powered Capris..
Great, huh? Specially where you are... They're not quite as hefty as Dana 30..more or less same size spline as Volvo (or Saab 99/900, or Xratty)

Toy-otter 7.5 ain't bad but LSD are rare than hell..

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

what about a ford 7.5? can be had with 4x4.25 or 5x4.5 bs
r/p not to pricy lsd can be had reasonable
used in mustangs from 79-04 rangers forever too

---

I would rather drive a slow car fast as a fast car slow!
first rule of cars: get what makes you happy, your the one paying for it!

Quote
tdrrally
what about a ford 7.5? can be had with 4x4.25 or 5x4.5 bs
r/p not to pricy lsd can be had reasonable
used in mustangs from 79-04 rangers forever too

whataboutwhatabout..
Numbers? Halfshaft diametert, cost of ring and pinion link to what sort of LOOSE SURFACE suitable diffs, not twirly gear shit for fucking pansies?
Got any..??

Whatabout Ford transit 1973 with 1725 Perkins diesel?

Whatabout BENGHAZI!!!!!!!

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Yeah, the whole idea is to not improve to the point of stalling the project.

I'm thinkin' the easy button is an old Ranger 7.5" with two right side axles. Left side is something like 3" longer, so two right side axles and a little hack and zap to unplug the left tube and shorten it and we're good. A lot of them had the left side axles taken since two left side axles convert a Fox body to five lug wheels. Ratios I want are easily available and a bunch of diffs too. Probably a Lock-Right would be the simple route.

As a bonus, since THIS car will probably be the one to get my T5, a Ford trans to Ford rearend is probably going to be inexpensive.

---

Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

Quote
Pete
Yeah, the whole idea is to not improve to the point of stalling the project.

I'm thinkin' the easy button is an old Ranger 7.5" with two right side axles. Left side is something like 3" longer, so two right side axles and a little hack and zap to unplug the left tube and shorten it and we're good. A lot of them had the left side axles taken since two left side axles convert a Fox body to five lug wheels. Ratios I want are easily available and a bunch of diffs too. Probably a Lock-Right would be the simple route.

As a bonus, since THIS car will probably be the one to get my T5, a Ford trans to Ford rearend is probably going to be inexpensive.

let me know i have a ford 7.5 lsd i will make you a deal on
jegs has R/P for $159

---

I would rather drive a slow car fast as a fast car slow!
first rule of cars: get what makes you happy, your the one paying for it!

Why? I can get one with a 4.10 gear in it already for a hundred bucks. Not looking to go shorter than that for this car given the small diameter tires it will be running.

---

Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2017 06:56PM by Pete.

options

---

I would rather drive a slow car fast as a fast car slow!
first rule of cars: get what makes you happy, your the one paying for it!

Pete


Just curious...

What car is this for?

Or is this a "secret project"?

---

................................................. .....................

Support your Local North American Rally Forum!!

While they are still around-and get the hell off Farsebook!!

We still have Specialstage & RallyAnarchy.

Post up Here:

https://rallyanarchy.com/phorum/posting.php

and here:

https://www.specialstage.com/forums/forum.php

Mike,

Here, only 'cause he's got us all curious, and hasn't yet posted nice piccies, and you missed the comment (cause things are so hectic here these days! )

Quote
Pete
I accidentally bought a twin dizzy RX-3 that is screaming to have the Group 4 Escort manual translated to Japanese.

Pete,

come on piccies...

Oh an RX-3-excellent!

---

................................................. .....................

Support your Local North American Rally Forum!!

While they are still around-and get the hell off Farsebook!!

We still have Specialstage & RallyAnarchy.

Post up Here:

https://rallyanarchy.com/phorum/posting.php

and here:

https://www.specialstage.com/forums/forum.php

RX-3's suck. They're essentially a Mk2 Escort with unobtanium body parts.

That being said, a Volvo 240 axle is just about the right width. If you use Volvo 240 struts in the front on the stock RX-3 arms, you'll end up with a rear that's very slightly narrower that the front, but it's (apparently) OK. Haven't driven it, just know that's how the geometry worked out.

I haven't gotten around to taking apart and comparing 1030 vs 1031 axles closely yet, but near's I can tell the diffs are the same and it's the ring/pinion that're different. I can't really tell for awhile because the 1030 I have is blown to smithereens and all I've been able to find at the junkyards are 1031's (post 1980ish cars), so it's hard to compare. If'n something doesn't show up soon, I may have to figure out how to make a 1031 work, which may involve ordering shizzle from Selholm or the like. Or borrow/rent/watch the Whizbang RX7 and see how blowy-uppy the Toyota axle solution is.

If you really want it, I can put you in touch with a guy who's cutting apart a V6 MkII Capri *right now* (I'm not naming names) and may be willing to sell you the Atlas out of it, but you'd prolly have to pay for shipping from CA. Also, Garth Ankeny in OR is sitting on a couple, but when I last talked to him it was his opinion that here in the US it's just not worth building. If you need the strength you can build a Ford 9" for less moolah and end up with a lighter axle; if you're worried about size there're a couple other options that're feasable: Volvo, Toyota, recentered Ford, etc.

---

Self-righteous douche canoe

I've already built a 9". It's not what I would call "cheap" and the jury is still out on if it is light or not. I need a scale to weigh it, my goal is 140lb with brakes. I think a Ford 8.8 would still have been the lighter way to go, certainly it would have been lighter than if I had used an iron pumpkin.

---

Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

Quote
Pete
I've already built a 9". It's not what I would call "cheap" and the jury is still out on if it is light or not. I need a scale to weigh it, my goal is 140lb with brakes. I think a Ford 8.8 would still have been the lighter way to go, certainly it would have been lighter than if I had used an iron pumpkin.

There are lighter options I'm sure...But the Ford 8.8" is super durable and has almost limiltless options when it comes to axles, gears, diffs/spools/etc. But one out of a Ranger for cheap and weld your own brackets on.

Then narrow it and either keep the 8.8" ends or weld on 9" ends. Axles can be had relatively cheap from Moser or Strange, and they'll make them in any length you need.

A good set of 31-spline axles built to your specs with a rebuilt Explorer diff(31-spline, can be built with carbon fiber clutches) will be super reliable in an average rally car.

Quote
hoche
RX-3's suck. They're essentially a Mk2 Escort with unobtanium body parts.

That being said, a Volvo 240 axle is just about the right width. If you use Volvo 240 struts in the front on the stock RX-3 arms, you'll end up with a rear that's very slightly narrower that the front, but it's (apparently) OK. Haven't driven it, just know that's how the geometry worked out.

I haven't gotten around to taking apart and comparing 1030 vs 1031 axles closely yet, but near's I can tell the diffs are the same and it's the ring/pinion that're different. I can't really tell for awhile because the 1030 I have is blown to smithereens and all I've been able to find at the junkyards are 1031's (post 1980ish cars), so it's hard to compare. If'n something doesn't show up soon, I may have to figure out how to make a 1031 work, which may involve ordering shizzle from Selholm or the like. Or borrow/rent/watch the Whizbang RX7 and see how blowy-uppy the Toyota axle solution is.

Judging from desert, rock crawler and 700hp drifty boys if you're having diff problems with a Toyota 8" unit, then you did something wrong..Like (I hain't saying names) forget to put oil in it..

But this is merikuh, land of do it because there no sensible reason, but a gut feeling! What look at numbers like the RX ring gear is what? 6.29" ring gear and the half shafts are 20 or maybe tops 22mm, why bother, numbers are elitist!!!

Cue Stephen Colbert rousing speech on Truthiness!

He did already say by the way that he's doesn't intend to go the Toyota 8" route...
a Full 2.5 inch bigger seems about right in the over-the-top-school-of-overkill

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.