REAR AXLE CONVERSION

[CARCARE]

Hello,

I am hoping some Avanti enthusiasts can help me here.

I have a customer with a 79 Avanti II that would like me to upgrade his rear axle to a 12 bolt posi-traction. He recently installed a high horsepower engine & 700R4 transmission upgrade, and he feels he needs to upgrade here as well.

I am curious if there are any members here that have performed this type of axle conversion, and if so, can help me source parts to accomplish this. What I need to know is what housing from a different vehicle would work best in this car. He preferably would like a disc brake axle, but it is not absolutely necessary as I can convert a drum set-up to a disc set-up if I have to.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[SBCA96]

The Avanti II should have the flanged DANA 44 rear axle. Thats a pretty strong

axle, and wouldnt really need to be replaced with a 12 bolt. It is also debatable

whether the 12 bolt is actually stronger then a DANA 44. Also a 12 bolt would be

a GM bolt pattern, and not match the current "Ford" pattern in the front.

Studebaker powered Avantis put lots of hp and torque through the DANA 44 axle

with little problems. Only the tapered axle cars had issues:

http://patriot.net/~jonroq/Text/flangedaxles.txt

Tom