replacement 12 bolt rear

Alan Roehrich · 09-22-2007, 11:38 PM

Most all of the companies that sell rear ends use the KTRE housing for their heavy duty 12 bolt stuff. The KTRE housing is great, because it is thick, and stiff, and you can get it with a 3.250 carrier bearing bore, so you can use an aluminum spool and 35 spline axles.

Oldtimer · 09-23-2007, 01:29 AM

If you are going to get a Moser rear check prices then call Lynn McCarty at 317-839-8378 and he will beat any price. The rear will ship from Moser direct to you. Any other questions call me 903-277-9947.

Mark Yacavone · 09-23-2007, 02:43 AM

I think you will find that most of the replacement 12 bolts have the upper trailing arm mounts already raised up, which is another good reason to go with the new unit.

NovaMan · 10-05-2007, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Most all of the companies that sell rear ends use the KTRE housing for their heavy duty 12 bolt stuff. The KTRE housing is great, because it is thick, and stiff, and you can get it with a 3.250 carrier bearing bore, so you can use an aluminum spool and 35 spline axles.

It's interesting that you point that out. I was internet recently researching aftermarket 12-bolt options, and I wondered how many companies actually cast their own center sections.
The companies I looked at are Mark Williams, Moser, and Strange. MW says they use DTS Express/KTRE cast ductile iron center sections with cast caps, available with stock 3.062" carrier bores or larger 3.250" carrier bores for people who want to run 35 spline axles.
Strange claims they use a "Strange designed 12-bolt case with torque arm provision." It's nodular iron, and the caps are chrome-moly. They make no mention of carrier bore diameter, but they don't offer 35-spline axles in any of their crate rearend packages.
Moser uses nodular centers with high nodular content cast iron caps held in with 1/2" bolts. They don't mention carrier bores, and they don't package 35 spline axles with these rearends.
Based solely on that information, I think I would go with the MW/DTS/KTRE unit with the larger 3.250" carrier bore so I could use 35 spline axles. I also think it's cool that MW makes FED chassis kits and parts for '57-64 Olds/Pontiac rearends.

rx dealer · 10-05-2007, 01:04 PM

I use the DTS 3.25 12 bolt with strange 40 spline gun drilled axles and chrome moly tubes in my firebird...luke

Joe Martens · 10-05-2007, 07:19 PM

Mike Pustelney from MPR set me up with the Mark Williams stuff, which the housing is made by DTS, with the 35 spline axles. Great guy to deal with and great prices. Call him at 810-798-8998.

RocketBlock · 10-05-2007, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Most all of the companies that sell rear ends use the KTRE housing for their heavy duty 12 bolt stuff. The KTRE housing is great, because it is thick, and stiff, and you can get it with a 3.250 carrier bearing bore, so you can use an aluminum spool and 35 spline axles.

Then this is the aftermarket block of rear ends? Looking at the rulebook it says "same type from the automobile manufacturer"

Dwight Southerland · 10-06-2007, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocketBlock

Then this is the aftermarket block of rear ends?

Yes. Some have'm; some don't. Same deal. The rich get richer and the poor still have to struggle.

Alan Roehrich · 10-06-2007, 02:08 PM

Seeing as how one of the services I provide at the shop is rear ends, I looked at the prices for building them, and I also looked around to see how hard it is to find cores. Considering that around here a USED, 35-40 year old 12 bolt housing, with no guarantee that it is suitable to build a good rearend from, is about $400 to $600, and you'll spend another $500 or so
prepping the housing with caps, studs, and other parts/labor, at a minimum, the aftermarket unit is cheaper.

Dwight Southerland · 10-06-2007, 02:36 PM

Alan - I agree with you 100%. If you are wanting to build a top quality rear end, and I think it is a good investment, the aftermarket pieces are definitely the way to go. Looking at the stocker population, the majority of the cars are serviced by aftermarket housings - 12 bolt GM, 9" Ford, Chrysler 8 3/4 & Dana 60. Maybe there should be an accepted "definition" that says any GM product can use a 12-bolt, any Ford product can use a 9" and any Chrysler (and I guess AMC) can use an 8 3/4 or Dana 60. It's almost like that now; in fact, most would argue that it is. It would just simplify matters to make it a ruling and put it in writing.

09-22-2007, 11:38 PM	#1
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,105 Likes: 1,564 Liked 1,789 Times in 408 Posts	Re: replacement 12 bolt rear Most all of the companies that sell rear ends use the KTRE housing for their heavy duty 12 bolt stuff. The KTRE housing is great, because it is thick, and stiff, and you can get it with a 3.250 carrier bearing bore, so you can use an aluminum spool and 35 spline axles. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

09-23-2007, 01:29 AM	#2
Oldtimer Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Arkansas Posts: 87 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: replacement 12 bolt rear If you are going to get a Moser rear check prices then call Lynn McCarty at 317-839-8378 and he will beat any price. The rear will ship from Moser direct to you. Any other questions call me 903-277-9947. __________________ Bob Pagano L88BOB@aol.com www.dyainc.org 4033 AA/SA

09-23-2007, 02:43 AM	#3
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,814 Likes: 2,903 Liked 5,117 Times in 1,949 Posts	Re: replacement 12 bolt rear I think you will find that most of the replacement 12 bolts have the upper trailing arm mounts already raised up, which is another good reason to go with the new unit. __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

10-05-2007, 01:04 PM	#5
rx dealer Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lake Orion, Michigan Posts: 337 Likes: 12 Liked 53 Times in 13 Posts	Re: replacement 12 bolt rear I use the DTS 3.25 12 bolt with strange 40 spline gun drilled axles and chrome moly tubes in my firebird...luke

10-05-2007, 07:19 PM	#6
Joe Martens Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: North Olmsted, Ohio Posts: 787 Likes: 627 Liked 196 Times in 69 Posts	Re: replacement 12 bolt rear Mike Pustelney from MPR set me up with the Mark Williams stuff, which the housing is made by DTS, with the 35 spline axles. Great guy to deal with and great prices. Call him at 810-798-8998. __________________ Joe Martens AA/Stock 3969

10-06-2007, 02:08 PM	#9
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,105 Likes: 1,564 Liked 1,789 Times in 408 Posts	Re: replacement 12 bolt rear Seeing as how one of the services I provide at the shop is rear ends, I looked at the prices for building them, and I also looked around to see how hard it is to find cores. Considering that around here a USED, 35-40 year old 12 bolt housing, with no guarantee that it is suitable to build a good rearend from, is about $400 to $600, and you'll spend another $500 or so prepping the housing with caps, studs, and other parts/labor, at a minimum, the aftermarket unit is cheaper. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

10-06-2007, 02:36 PM	#10
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 2,000 Likes: 64 Liked 775 Times in 193 Posts	Re: replacement 12 bolt rear Alan - I agree with you 100%. If you are wanting to build a top quality rear end, and I think it is a good investment, the aftermarket pieces are definitely the way to go. Looking at the stocker population, the majority of the cars are serviced by aftermarket housings - 12 bolt GM, 9" Ford, Chrysler 8 3/4 & Dana 60. Maybe there should be an accepted "definition" that says any GM product can use a 12-bolt, any Ford product can use a 9" and any Chrysler (and I guess AMC) can use an 8 3/4 or Dana 60. It's almost like that now; in fact, most would argue that it is. It would just simplify matters to make it a ruling and put it in writing.