Junior Stock question

joe cool · 07-15-2018, 12:14 PM

I have a 57 chevy and am building it like a junior stock car would have been in the 60's. I am not trying to make it competitive nor be an exact replica just remembering the old days . Now ,I know the tri five rear ends were not all that tough and I don't want a 9 inch Ford in it . What were the tricks or modifications to get these to last ? Was anyone using the pontiac /olds rear ends then? Thanks for the help fellas.

Ed Wright · 07-15-2018, 07:21 PM

Joe, I had straps I made, 1/4" X 2" steel strap heated & shaped to fit the top of the left bearing cap. I drilled mine for long 1/2" bolts for the caps after breaking the beating boss off once. I used long 1/2" Allen bolts, drilled all the way out the front of the case. I had to use the soft Zoom gear sets to keep pinions alive. Wish I could remember what ratio I ran. Henry's Axels & spools.

When they did away with Stock, and moved us to Super Stock, lower gears, bigger tires, more power, that would not live. After NHRA did that to us, I said "Screw them!" and put a '57 Pontiac rear end under it. Bolted right in. No faster, just didn't break. I put Chevy ends on the housing so I could still use my Henry's axles, Chevy brakes, etc. Henry's made me a Pontiac spool that used my axles. Had to have a new end put on my driveshaft for the Pontiac U-joint. You really had to know what you were looking at to see the difference. I did get some comments about it staying together. Nobody seemed to notice. Felt guilty, but knew it was not making me any faster.

Bruce Fulper · 07-20-2018, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Joe, I had straps I made, 1/4" X 2" steel strap heated & shaped to fit the top of the left bearing cap. I drilled mine for long 1/2" bolts for the caps after breaking the beating boss off once. I used long 1/2" Allen bolts, drilled all the way out the front of the case. I had to use the soft Zoom gear sets to keep pinions alive. Wish I could remember what ratio I ran. Henry's Axels & spools.

When they did away with Stock, and moved us to Super Stock, lower gears, bigger tires, more power, that would not live. After NHRA did that to us, I said "Screw them!" and put a '57 Pontia rear end under it. Bolted right in. No faster, just didn't break. I put Chevy ends on the housing so I could still use my Henry's axles, Chevy brakes, etc. Henry's made me a Pontiac spool that used my axles. Had to have a new end put on my driveshaft for the Pontiac U-joint. You really had to know what you were looking at to see the difference. I did get some comments about it staying together. Nobody seemed to notice. Felt guilty, but knew it was not making me any faster.

Henry's = All ten spline right? I have some of those pieces I'll sell cheap. Pontiac spool. Short axles for a rail. PM me if you're interested.

MAURICE BLENDHEIM · 07-21-2018, 12:10 AM

Mr. Cool… It would be interesting to know how many Chevrolet Jr. Stock guys would have installed a 9" Ford from a 1957 Ford back in the day. The swap back in the 60's would have eliminated a lot of unnecessary breakage. This single modification alone may have changed the outcome of the class for many, with the 9" reliability. I have a 1956 BelAir 2dr Sedan, that is built 60's style with a 9". I am amazed how many people ask me if it's still the Original rear end? Would you consider a 8" Ford, your sleep won't be effected. I'm a DieHard Chevrolet Guy, but some things aren't worth doing. Remember you said your "not trying to make it competitive nor be an exact replica". Just attempting some sensible persuasion…Maurice.

joe cool · 07-22-2018, 09:02 PM

The 9 inch Ford would be the logical replacement .I will not be putting a lot of power thru this thing , thought if I could come up with something that would live I would try to keep it correct . Thanks for the help.
I do have a 8.8 from an Exploder, that is an alternate choice.

Jeff Kempton · 07-23-2018, 04:09 PM

Joe, Aubrey Bruneau runs a '62 409 car in Stock Eliminator and is reachable through this site. He has accumulated a lot of knowledge on how to improve the life of those rears.

07-15-2018, 12:14 PM	#1
joe cool Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: southwest iowa Posts: 53 Likes: 3 Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Junior Stock question I have a 57 chevy and am building it like a junior stock car would have been in the 60's. I am not trying to make it competitive nor be an exact replica just remembering the old days . Now ,I know the tri five rear ends were not all that tough and I don't want a 9 inch Ford in it . What were the tricks or modifications to get these to last ? Was anyone using the pontiac /olds rear ends then? Thanks for the help fellas. __________________ Joe Keightley Pacific Junction Iowa

07-15-2018, 07:21 PM	#2
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Junior Stock question Joe, I had straps I made, 1/4" X 2" steel strap heated & shaped to fit the top of the left bearing cap. I drilled mine for long 1/2" bolts for the caps after breaking the beating boss off once. I used long 1/2" Allen bolts, drilled all the way out the front of the case. I had to use the soft Zoom gear sets to keep pinions alive. Wish I could remember what ratio I ran. Henry's Axels & spools. When they did away with Stock, and moved us to Super Stock, lower gears, bigger tires, more power, that would not live. After NHRA did that to us, I said "Screw them!" and put a '57 Pontiac rear end under it. Bolted right in. No faster, just didn't break. I put Chevy ends on the housing so I could still use my Henry's axles, Chevy brakes, etc. Henry's made me a Pontiac spool that used my axles. Had to have a new end put on my driveshaft for the Pontiac U-joint. You really had to know what you were looking at to see the difference. I did get some comments about it staying together. Nobody seemed to notice. Felt guilty, but knew it was not making me any faster. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA Last edited by Ed Wright; 07-20-2018 at 09:36 PM.

07-21-2018, 12:10 AM	#4
MAURICE BLENDHEIM Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Langley (no igloos), British Columbia, Canada Posts: 569 Likes: 311 Liked 284 Times in 87 Posts	Re: Junior Stock question Mr. Cool… It would be interesting to know how many Chevrolet Jr. Stock guys would have installed a 9" Ford from a 1957 Ford back in the day. The swap back in the 60's would have eliminated a lot of unnecessary breakage. This single modification alone may have changed the outcome of the class for many, with the 9" reliability. I have a 1956 BelAir 2dr Sedan, that is built 60's style with a 9". I am amazed how many people ask me if it's still the Original rear end? Would you consider a 8" Ford, your sleep won't be effected. I'm a DieHard Chevrolet Guy, but some things aren't worth doing. Remember you said your "not trying to make it competitive nor be an exact replica". Just attempting some sensible persuasion…Maurice. Last edited by MAURICE BLENDHEIM; 07-21-2018 at 12:29 AM.

07-22-2018, 09:02 PM	#5
joe cool Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: southwest iowa Posts: 53 Likes: 3 Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Junior Stock question The 9 inch Ford would be the logical replacement .I will not be putting a lot of power thru this thing , thought if I could come up with something that would live I would try to keep it correct . Thanks for the help. I do have a 8.8 from an Exploder, that is an alternate choice. __________________ Joe Keightley Pacific Junction Iowa

07-23-2018, 04:09 PM	#6
Jeff Kempton Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 238 Likes: 1,043 Liked 66 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Junior Stock question Joe, Aubrey Bruneau runs a '62 409 car in Stock Eliminator and is reachable through this site. He has accumulated a lot of knowledge on how to improve the life of those rears.