Grassroots Motorsports

Register Log in to GRM
- Community

Birthdays
Recently on the Classic Motorsports forums

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Cheap, strong, and narrow rear ends?

May 12, 2010 12:46 p.m. angusmf Reader

Looking for suggestions on a rear end for the VW Challenge project. Cheap and narrow are firm requirements. Strength is relative, but I'm planning for at least 200 hp and 200 ft/lbs. IRS and/or limited slip obviously would be great.

I'd been planning to use a locking Audi 200q rear from my donor car, but it's wide and doesn't have a limited slip. I can get an LSD from an Audi V8, but it's not free and it's still a bit wide. The axles and carrier would have to be narrowed.

---edit---

The subframe would need to be narrowed, not the carrier. Oops.
May 12, 2010 12:49 p.m. patgizz SuperDork

s10 rears are cheap, plentiful, and newer blazer ones come with disc brakes and lots of them have 3.42-3.73 gearing. they are solid axles but 200hp/200 ft lbs is not going to hurt one. limited slips are out there and cheap.

if you werent so far away i'd give you one to try
May 12, 2010 12:55 p.m. oldtin Reader

lincoln mk vii/t-bird - ford 8.8 irs - would need to narrow. solid axle chevy s-10, jeep - dana 44s in some older cherokees or dana 35s, bmw e-30/e-28
May 12, 2010 12:57 p.m. splitime Reader

Not sure on actual width. I'd say a 85-87 gsl-se rx7 rearend would be fun. Clutch pack lsd, designed for independant rear... etc.
May 12, 2010 12:57 p.m. angusmf Reader

In reply to patgizz:

Thanks. That reminds me that I have to update my profile. I just moved to Raleigh. Still faaar away, though.
May 12, 2010 12:59 p.m. RossD Dork

7.5" soild axle from a ranger or a mustang or the IRS version in a low end t-bird from the '90s or so...

The 8.8" would probably be a little over kill.
May 12, 2010 4:52 p.m. DrBoost Dork

Front end from a hi-lo is narrow and strong as heck.
May 12, 2010 5:51 p.m. iceracer Dork

Early Jeep CJ's had a Dana 44 axle with a 48" track and some later ones had a 51-52" track.
May 12, 2010 6:28 p.m. 924guy Dork

wait, i think i have the ex's phone number around here someplace... er, oh, you said narrow.. sorry..
May 12, 2010 9:46 p.m. Knurled Reader

Giggity.
May 13, 2010 5:47 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork

My friend Tim who is a died in the wool Ford guy tells me these Taylor-Dunn untilities have a narrow 9" out back.
May 13, 2010 6:02 a.m. bravenrace Dork

Another IRS option would be the explorer 8.8. Not much different than the other 8.8's mentioned, but they are plentiful, cheap and many have LSD.
May 13, 2010 8:20 a.m. egoman New Reader

Lots of older forklifts apparently had dana rears in them. Do a little research and get back to us HMMMM Kay.
May 13, 2010 8:23 a.m. P71 SuperDork

splitime wrote:

Not sure on actual width. I'd say a 85-87 gsl-se rx7 rearend would be fun. Clutch pack lsd, designed for independant rear... etc.

GSL-SE was 85-86 only and a solid axle, not independent. It is very narrow even compared to the Mustang, Explorer, etc units mentioned.

87-89 S4 FC IRS units from the GXL and GTU were 5-lug viscous LSD units.
May 13, 2010 8:49 a.m. Woody SuperDork

Check under an old postal Jeep.
May 13, 2010 9:07 a.m. wcelliot Reader

P71 wrote:

splitime wrote:

Not sure on actual width. I'd say a 85-87 gsl-se rx7 rearend would be fun. Clutch pack lsd, designed for independant rear... etc.

GSL-SE was 85-86 only and a solid axle, not independent. It is very narrow even compared to the Mustang, Explorer, etc units mentioned.

Yep, I bought one of these (4.10, LSD, rear discs) for this very reason... then sold the MG Midget race frame I was dropping it into. Available complete with calipers for $100 in Frederick, MD...
May 13, 2010 9:31 a.m. kreb Dork

Nobody's said Miata! '94+ should get you there.
May 13, 2010 11:34 a.m. angusmf Reader

In reply to wcelliot:

You're talking about the solid axle? Don't they have the diff offset to one side?

I'll be passing Hagerstown on I-81 in a Uhaul on Memorial day weekend. We could meet somewhere.
May 13, 2010 11:36 a.m. angusmf Reader

kreb wrote:

Nobody's said Miata! '94+ should get you there.

How strong are they? How much should I expect to pay and where should I look?
May 13, 2010 12:36 p.m. kreb Dork

The '94+ rears seem to be able to handle up to 250 RWHP without blowing up, unless you're a drag racer. Many models came with a Torsen limited slip. Availability depends on where you live. In California, you can't leave the house without tripping over a Miata. I bought a '95 with a ratty body and interior, but good mechanicals, BBS rims and LSD for $500. Check Craigslist and the junkyards. You'll likely want to get the entire subframe - it comes out easily.
May 13, 2010 12:41 p.m. 914Driver SuperDork

My buddy's got two Jag IRS rear ends with the inboard brakes, don't know how strurdy they are, but more easily narrowed than a solid axle.

Dan
May 13, 2010 12:57 p.m. sachilles HalfDork

iceracer wrote:

Early Jeep CJ's had a Dana 44 axle with a 48" track and some later ones had a 51-52" track.

They might also have an AMC 20 which would be even cheaper to acquire.
May 13, 2010 2:56 p.m. wcelliot Reader

angusmf wrote:

In reply to wcelliot:

You're talking about the solid axle? Don't they have the diff offset to one side?

I'll be passing Hagerstown on I-81 in a Uhaul on Memorial day weekend. We could meet somewhere.

Yes, solid axle. No, to my knowledge the diff isn't offset.

I won't be around that weekend, but could give you directions here (about 35 minutes off your route) to pick it up if you were interested.

Bill
May 13, 2010 3:13 p.m. angusmf Reader

In reply to wcelliot:

I'll get touch with you.

You'll need to log in to post.