8.5" GM Ten Bolt

[5448]

I have been running an 8.5" in my '71 Nova for the past 12 seasons with no problems. Car is 3240 lb with me in it, 500 hp small block, auto, footbrake car. My quickest 60' is 1.39, for reference. I haven't fully welded the tubes to the housing(yet), and I run a stock cover.
I agree with Chad that you should fully weld the tubes to the housing for piece of mind. The girdle cover may be cheap insurance as well. I may even take my own advice and add these upgrades to my 8.5"!

Eric

[greg fulk]

My cutlass has an 8.5 stock axles with a best 60' of 1.63 & E.T 12.51 in a 3600 lbs carhttps://www.autoimagery.com/store/cgi-bin/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=NHRA_Division_3/2008_Division_3_events/Columbus_-_NHRA_Divisional_-_Jul_2008/Stock&image=0830-09029.jpg&img=12&tt=&tfile=tn_0830-09029.jpg

[Tod Lane]

Thanks for the info guys, it looks like a usable alternative for what I have in mind, the extra $$ for a 12 bolt could be used elsewhere!

[Tod Lane]

Originally Posted by 5448

I have been running an 8.5" in my '71 Nova for the past 12 seasons with no problems. Car is 3240 lb with me in it, 500 hp small block, auto, footbrake car. My quickest 60' is 1.39, for reference. I haven't fully welded the tubes to the housing(yet), and I run a stock cover.
I agree with Chad that you should fully weld the tubes to the housing for piece of mind. The girdle cover may be cheap insurance as well. I may even take my own advice and add these upgrades to my 8.5"!

Eric

Good axles and spool?

[5448]

Tod,
I just run 28 spline Moser axles with C-clip eliminators and a standard Strange steel spool.

Eric

[Bobby Zlatkin]

For comprable size (width) rears, the axles are interchangeable.

The axles in my 8.5" '73 Nova came out of a '68 Camaro 12 bolt.

[CrateCamaro]

I run a 10 bolt out of a GN in my Malibu wagon. 11.80@114...1.50 60ft. 35 spline mosier axels, mark williams spool and 4.88's from richmond. I got the housing for free but if I had to buy one I would definitly buy a 12 bolt for a g-body. The GM 8.5 10 bolts for a g-body are like hens teeth and super expensive to buy compaired to a 12 bolts from strange for 6-700 bucks (housing only). For a Camaro-Nova...if you have a 8.5...dont be scared. They will last under extreme abuse...and GM 12 bolts for these cars are way expensive...i think some people think there made out of platnum and gold. In factory form there garbage...my 2 cents.


PS...LPW girdle is a must for a 10 or 12 bolt. Plus they look cool. Not as cool as a Gold Moroso tin cover though

[bobby]

10.50's in a 68 Firebird. 1.44 60' time. Just finished my 12th year with it and had only cracked 7 of 10 teeth on the Richmond pinion gear.

Moser axles and spool 30 spline. 3300 lbs.


As far as price goes. A 10 bolt and 12 bolt are close only on the guts, it's the housing that cost more $.


Don't be scared of a 10 bolt

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by CrateCamaro

I run a 10 bolt out of a GN in my Malibu wagon. 11.80@114...1.50 60ft. 35 spline mosier axels, mark williams spool and 4.88's from richmond. I got the housing for free but if I had to buy one I would definitly buy a 12 bolt for a g-body. The GM 8.5 10 bolts for a g-body are like hens teeth and super expensive to buy compaired to a 12 bolts from strange for 6-700 bucks (housing only). For a Camaro-Nova...if you have a 8.5...dont be scared. They will last under extreme abuse...and GM 12 bolts for these cars are way expensive...i think some people think there made out of platnum and gold. In factory form there garbage...my 2 cents.


PS...LPW girdle is a must for a 10 or 12 bolt. Plus they look cool. Not as cool as a Gold Moroso tin cover though

Who carries this girdle? "LPW girdle is a must for a 10"

I like the idea of the 35 spline axles and spool. Advantage is the cost of the housing. Disadvantage is the selection of gears. I've seen up to 5:57's, this would be more than you'd need in a stocker motor that likely will never exceed 7000 rpm.

What kind of times you turn with your H/CM car? You running the 330 HP crate motor?

[CrateCamaro]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

Who carries this girdle? "LPW girdle is a must for a 10"

I like the idea of the 35 spline axles and spool. Advantage is the cost of the housing. Disadvantage is the selection of gears. I've seen up to 5:57's, this would be more than you'd need in a stocker motor that likely will never exceed 7000 rpm.

What kind of times you turn with your H/CM car? You running the 330 HP crate motor?

LPW, Mosier or Strange make the cover. Gear selection is alright I guess. I turn my crate motor 7100 on a good day with 4.88's and 30-9 Radials. Its the 330hp motor. I run H and the index is 12.00. I have run 11.35 with no tricks. I have a 12 bolt in the Camaro and an 8.5 10 bolt in my station wagon. I drive the wagon on the street but its legal for I/CM.Its my backup...haha. It will run 11.80's...still under the index and will still qualify in street trim. Vortec motors are great!!!