Jester

how much help would it give in adding strength to the rear? I was thinking of using 1/2-1" square tubing, cut it to more or less conform to the cover, and weld on some strips. Do you think that laying them in a stat pattern out from the center, say 6-8 legs would be better, or welding them in a grid pattern?

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"American made baby. 100% American iron. The muscle among the masses. My hero. Yep, you can take your ergonomically designed, space age, computer controlled, 4 door, cup holding map lighted split double wishbone split fold down retractable cargo covered moon roof piece of transportation and keep it. For I have felt the thunder. And I know the difference!"
JSP Motorsports
ICON Motorsports

[This message has been edited by Jester (edited February 06, 2001).]

TomP

Just a wild guess, but I say a grid- Isn't most of the stress from left-to-right on the cover, from the bearing caps?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
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ede

i'd weld the axle tubes and forget bracing the stock cover. if i braced the stock cover i'd use 3/16" plate made into channel and copped to fit the cover and add brackets to add braces to the outside ends of the axle tubes to the cover brace, using heim joints.

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ICON Motorsports

1st & 3rd

AlkyIROC

Buy an LPW Ultimate cast aluminum cover and get the reinforcing braces for it. The cover also has the bearing support bolts to keep the carrier bearing caps from trying to walk out the back of the diff.

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87 IROC-Z Pro ET Bracket Race Car
383 stroker (carbed) with double hump cast iron heads and pump gas
461 Big Block installed and ready for the 2001 racing season

Best results before the 383 blew up
Best ET on a time slip: 11.857 altitude corrected to 11.163
Best MPH on a time slip: 117.87 altitude corrected to 126.10
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP based on power to weight ratio: 476.5
Best 60 foot: 1.662

Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
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87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley

82z

You really want to make sure the flange is reinforced along with the cover itself otherwise it coulde flex and crack between the mounting flange and the bracing you add. most of the stress will be up and down from the pinion gear trying to walk up the ring gear. Definately run a bead around the axle tubes. I would however, consider an aftermarket brace because they typically offer bearing caps supports.

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82 z28 350cid, vortec heads, comp 262h cam, Holley 600cfm carb, 2in twice pipes, MSD ignition, turbo 350 trans, 3.73 posi, manly b&m megashifter