Help , I need to shrink a 12 bolt posi.

[TERPU]

I just inherited a 12 bolt posi rear from a great buddy, Problem is it's 63 inches wide and I need 57". No more than 58" for sure. Is there an easy way to put the groove back in for the c clips? The housing isn't that hard to narrow I am just concerned about the axles. Or is there a housing and axles that will accomodate this without narrowing mine? A simple gear switch would be killer. This is for a 54 Chevy 2 door post.


Thanks,
Tim
Tim

[choprods]

sticks in my mind the 12 bolt axles are larger at the spline area that the mid axle diameter is -so narrowing them is out.I think you end up resplining an axle from something else that is uniform diameter and adapting them to your housing?Im crazy so dont panic........ http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[yorgatron]

ya wanna know what i think? probably not,but here goes anyway http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif sell the 12 bolt posi to a musclecar guy for an obscene amount of money (musclecar guys are notorious for spending the dough for rare stuff like that),then get hold of a 9" ford to cut down-george

[NealinCA]

That George is a pretty smart feller. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I agree, sell the 12 bolt and buy a 9 inch.

Neal

[38Chevy454]

I agree with the consensus, sell the 12-bolt and get a 9-inch. More availability and easy to narrow.

However, if you really want that 12-bolt, you will have to get new axles made. They neck down after the splines, so they can not be narrowed. Moser sells new axles for around $300/pair. You might as well go with the C-clip eliminators when you get the new axles as well, better for safety and probably how the new axles will be set-up anyway. Then you will have a narrow 12-bolt.

BTW, your set-up can probably do just fine with a 8-inch Ford rearend. Get one out of a Granada, about 57.5 inches wide. Or a Maverick is about 56 inches if you want narrower. 8-inch will hold up fine with any small block on street tires.

[ray]

i say if you're gonna narrow the axle, go all the way and go PRO STREET! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[TERPU]

Eureka! what if I traded the 12 bolt for a 9" Ford. Hey one of them there muscle car dudes would want that wouldn't they? Plus my brother in law is pretty handy with a hacksaw and a grinder. This should be simple (like us) the family that is. All kidding aside any trades out there?

Thanks, Tim