I really want to put a Corvette IRS under the 69 when we do the rebuild. I know Wayne Due makes the bracket kit for using the C4 rear. I've done lots of searching here & at pro-touring.com.

Right now I'm looking at the GM crate 454. I believe it is rated at 425hp/500tq. The question is will this rear live behind the rat?

I don't plan on pounding on the car. It will be a driver/show/cruiser when I'm done but will see occasional strip and auto-x time for club events.

Thanks

I think so. I'd try to use the manual trans rear with the Dana 44 versus the automatic unit which uses the weaker Dana 36. But even with the Dana 36, I ran nearly those same power numbers and toprque through one for several years without issue.

Jody

Angie, weren't you going to do a blower setup? Hmmm.

Thanks for the feedback Jody.

Yes Rick, I do want to do a blower setup, but I'm not sure that it will really happen. That's actually part of the reason for my interest in the crate engine. The crate engine comes with forged crank & pistons as well as a compression ratio that falls within blower range.

I figure once I get rid of my anemic over-carbed 305 I'll have plenty of fun with the BBC for a while & can add the blower goodies later once the warranty has expired on the crate engine. See, there is method to this madness. ;)

I guess that makes the real question how much can the IRS take? I guess I could always upgrade if it breaks.

Right now I'm just in the scheming stages, trying to get a plan together. Realistically, I'm probably 2 years away from starting this project. We've got to get hubby's truck back on the road first.

Well when working for ole Dickie Poo, we used the DANA 44 manual units in all of the GS-80 and GS-90 cars to include power levels of 500+ lbs/ft of torque.

As you have stated your driving habbits, I believe it will live a good long life if it isnt beaten to death....but then again, most of the cars I did were full blow road race cars that got to see nothing but abuse. I would *not* think twice about a DANA 44 unit. The 44 is pretty much all you will get from Wayne anyway.....

**EDIT for relevance of strength.

[ 04-14-2004, 09:29 AM: Message edited by: chicane67 ]

May I suggest that you look into TSM's 9" Ford IRS set-up that might be a whole bunch better for everybody's application if they plan on putting some serious power in front of it..

"The Streetrod Manufacturing Co. Inc."

www.tsmmfg.com (http://www.tsmmfg.com)

I had also forgot about the T-Bird's having IRS under a few of them, (but forget which years??), until I saw TSM's converstion...

pdq67

"ole dickie poo" Chicane?

tongue.gif

I would recommend the dana 44 rear. If you are going to beat the car (and why not), the 44 should hold up. My friends and I at Rick Roush Engineering have been putting C-4 suspension and drivetrains in tri 5 chevies for several years now and always use the Dana 44 in 5 and 6 speed cars. Just finishing a full resto on a 58 vette with a Lingenfelter 383, 6 speed, and Dana 44. What a ride. If this is the way you are going to go, buy early. The 44's are getting harder and more expensive to find.

Hey whats up John? How are things? I hope you find yourself well.....Done with school yet? LOL Me neither.

Ole' Dickie Poo = Dick Guldstrand Engineering


Dickie Poo is what Ozzy (a fellow employee) used to call him at work.

same ol' same ol' here. No time to work on the Camaro because it is in my parents' garage far away and I've got exams in two weeks. But, it looks like I'll be living at home this summer... (and not getting paid I might add...) so hopefully I'll finally get the interior back together! I haven't driven the car since last August!

Thank you for the input.