jdmick

Well maybe not but I can't believe it. Don't ever try to fix a Corvette on a budget. I haven't gotten past the rear tires and half my budget's gone into a total rear suspension and drivetrain overhaul. Now it looks like one of my half shaft yokes has tore into the case after mushrooming on the end so bad the C-clip is gone. I guess this is the time to find a replacement since I've got everything tore apart. I guess it's not all lost since I had the 2.73 ratio (On a Corvette? What the he!! were those guys thinking?). I'm thinking a 3.36 might be about what I need (Check my post in the parts section). Sorry for the rant. John.

GrandSportC3

I might get my Ford 9 inch sooner as expected... Found a shop that will be able to do the conversion pretty soon

Scooter70

A solid axle C3.... you should be ashamed. Buy a Camaro or Mustang or something..... It's a sports car damnit!

GrandSportC3

.. If someone would make a IRS that can hold up to 1000 HP for a few drag race seasons without any necessary maintanance it would be nice... but anything that uses u-joints won't hold up for too long...

isosceles

Olivier tore up his diff with his OLD motor. Imagine what the NEW one will do to it?

GrandSportC3

Well - the new engine will have a AT attached to it which is much less violent than a manual tranny...

jdmick

You're gonna have to post some pics once you get that 9" in. Something tells me it won't be quite as simple a project as the one I just put in my old truck. All I had to do was move the spring perches.

GrandSportC3

BTW - I found a shop in my area that quoted me even less than the shop that I was planning on doing the swap.. They quoted about $2300 for parts and $1200 for labor + $500 for the rollbar...

ML67

Check out Tom's Differentials 12-bolt and 1480 kit. It will hold up to more HP than you're likely to throw at it. I know of several serious 800 - 900 HP IRS Corvettes running Tom's setups, both 3rd members and the 1480 kit. Not cheap, but it works.

Of course a solid axle Ford 9" is ultimately stronger, but it does detract from part of what makes a Corvette the well rounded supercar it is. IMO.

Good luck w/ your project.

Mark

Schmucker

I think the best solution is a 9" IRS. If I could figure out how to make the side yokes and seal thrm I'd be all over it.

What kind of 9" are you going with though? What case? Nodular? Aftermarket?

SmokedTires

If staying IRS, why not consider the New gen Corvette rears, or maybe the vipers IRS

Solid axle is nice because of the ability to without worrying about leaving rear suspension parts all over the track Also a great time to improve wheel/ tire width clearance!

A C

IRS is part of what makes a Vette a Vette. If you put a solid axle in, you might as well buy a Nova because it's not a Vette anymore. If you want a pure drag car, there are better cars to make it out of than a Vette.

yellow 72

I couldn't agree more

GrandSportC3

Well - you'll still have U-joints which will not last a few seasons without maintanance... The setup will also be too expensive... It's not only the differential internals.. it's also the axles etc. that need to be upgraded.. The whole kit kosts over $4k and won't last as long as a Ford 9 inch..
IRS is not necessary unless you are autocrossing or road racing.. The main reason for the swap is because I don't want headaches... One less part of the car that I have to worry about...

GrandSportC3

I'll most likely go with a Moser setup...
IRS setups have U-joints which is the weakest link... It's not an option for me.. A Ford 9 inch IRS is also way out of the pricerange that I would be considering...

GrandSportC3

I disagree.. Corvettes had solid axles at one point.... If you say that a Vette isn't a Vette if it has a solid axle - it would exclude several years of Vettes from being Vettes

GrandSportC3

The new generation IRS setups hold up better.. but by far not as good as solid axles...
I'm a Drag Racer and IRS's weren't build for Drag Racing.. They are for Road Racing and Autocrossing...

Glensgages

The only cornering that O is concerned about is making the turn-off, onto the return road...

A C

Ok, then buy a 53-62 and throw a different solid axle in it. 63 and up Vettes came with IRS and they are not the same car if you throw in a solid axle.

Your 68 didn't have a solid axle in it at any point unless you put it in.

GrandSportC3

exactly!!