37 BANGO vrs. 8 inch FORD / Input please....

[Jeff Norwell]

Here is the deal,just finished installing a 42 truck tranny(converting the coupe to open drive) the next step was to decide if I should keep the banjo rear and install 3:54 gears with 16 inch rear wheels 'n tires(16 7.50 with stone champions)....OR use a complete 8 inch rear I picked up from a buddy($100) The new banjo gears are about $400.00 and a bearings and gasket kit is around $250.00...never did one one of these and I wont attemp. The fella who is building my 32 chassis will do it for around $400-500 bucks.The 8 inch most likley will need a rebuild and presently has a 2:79 gear(non posi) out of a Maverik.The banjo presently has 4:11 and is kill'in me on highway drives.....Any input or tech help is GREATLY app.
Brush

Can the rear be easily seen and are you buildins a period perfect car? If the rear is hidden under the car I would look for a 9 inch out of a Ford truck that has the right gears and the right bolt pattern for the early Ford wheels.
Clark

[seldom scene]

You didn't say what eng you are running, but the 8" is much stronger than the banjo, also comes with much better brakes. I am running an 8" in my 40 behind a chevy v 8. The 2.79 is great on the freeway and fine around town. I don't get dragster jumps off the line, but my car is a custom, not a race car. The 8" is a lot cheaper and easier to maintain. You don't need to worry about breaking keys or losing wheels . It is traditional to use the safest, most reliable parts you can, especially something a critic has to crawl on the ground to inspect, then the jokes on them, they have the grimy shirt.

[Bruce Lancaster]

Does not compute...
The main reason to convert to open drive is to allow use of stronger trans with more speeds, yes?
Banjo converted to open becomes the same problem for suspension geometry as the modern rear--this seems to give you the limited rato choices, expense, and weakness of early components combined with the disadvantages of streetrod suspension. Why this combo?

[Jeff Norwell]

The rear is quite visible and can be seen easly from behind...yea this is a vanity thing I guess, the engine is a 241 Red RAM...tri-powered...no heavy hitter but peppy just the same.I trashed the 39 due to second gear was blown and did not want the closed drive due to the fact if any thing went wrong in that area...I'd be screwed....This could also happen to the present banjo as well.I do have a 57 9-inch in stock but the floor would have to be modified..........Since I have a vehicle under construction..I didnt want another.I guess I just have to way the pros and cons http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Jeff Norwell]

Bruce/ In the beginning of this fiasco..I soley intended to place an S-10 5- speed tranny to the small hemi.....The frames center section allows no room whatsoever and the pedal assembly would be a nightmare....(I did not build this car,I traded a 34 for it) I would be a body-off type of deal...This starts to get hairy and $$$$$$$.The prevouis owner/builder mostlikly built this coupe with body off until the very end....When I ( we) looked into the floor to see where the inspection plate around the tranny was....there was none!...ya couldn't get to the bolts in or around the top end of the bellhousing......Had to cut the floor open around the 39 shifter!..Dont get me wrong.the workmanship is beautiful..just no thought in repair or replacing things.

[flatlandman]

[ QUOTE ]
Does not compute...
The main reason to convert to open drive is to allow use of stronger trans with more speeds, yes?
Banjo converted to open becomes the same problem for suspension geometry as the modern rear--this seems to give you the limited rato choices, expense, and weakness of early components combined with the disadvantages of streetrod suspension. Why this combo?



[/ QUOTE ]
I disagree somewhat. The weak link in the banjo rears has always been the keyed and tapered axles. Convert to a late style splined and flanged axle and you got it made. Hot Rod Works makes up the axles for banjo rears. Winters and Currie also has some sort of a kit for them I think...They also have new posi center sections but never seen one. Other plus is that have the option of early or late model brakes and backing plates. A pal used their axles and had no probs for over 20,000 miles.
BUT for the sake of cost (Canadian cost no less http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif) I'd use what came cheapest. But that's me. I'm a cheapskate!

[Jeff Norwell]

Also the rear wishbones are split and serve as a 4-bar set-up...from axle to frame....Dont know if this is the proper terminolgy....

[Paul2748]

Use the 8 inch if the period thing doesn't bother you. These are almost as strong as a 9 inch. Lots a trouble free driving with this rear, plus you can always change the ratio if you want.