Drag Racing Tech - Thoughts on Billingsley lightweight 12 bolt for daily driving

I was going to do a gear swap into my normal 12 bolt, but after getting a good offer for my current 12 bolt, I figured I might as well upgrade to a lightweight one. For the price of adding gears to my current 12 bolt, a lightweight one is going to be only about $400 more if I were to sell my current 12 bolt to a buddy of mine.

After talking with Jay, he seemed to feel the lightweight 12 bolt might not be the best idea for a daily driver, and that the lightweight flanges would get ruined on things like pot holes and hard turns. However!!

I don't autocross, and there are no pot holes or rough roads where I live.

I'd be getting it with a posi, and not a spool, so I'd only be shaving 40lbs vs. a normal 12 bolt with a posi.

I could always get regular flanges vs lightweight ones I think, and not worry about those breaking. That would still leave me 35 lbs lighter.

My car is a pig and I do need to shave some weight. Also, these axles are supposedly lighter, and that would be a huge bonus.

What would you do in my shoes?

<small>[ January 28, 2003, 01:42 PM: Message edited by: verbs ]</small>

I would buy the lightweight 12 bolt sans spool and lightweight flanges and sell that old 12 bolt and shave some weight. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> 35 lbs lighter is good, your car is a pig. <img border="0" alt="[driving]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_driving3.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Nic00Z28M6:
<strong> I would buy the lightweight 12 bolt sans spool and lightweight flanges and sell that old 12 bolt and shave some weight. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> 35 lbs lighter is good, your car is a pig. <img border="0" alt="[driving]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_driving3.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Can someone "unbiased" who isn't affected by this transaction please respond! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Out of curiosity, why not go with a spool? I've heard of a lot of guys running them on the street.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by XAntivenomX:
<strong> Out of curiosity, why not go with a spool? I've heard of a lot of guys running them on the street. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">probably because it tears chunks out of your tires when you make big turns, and also lessens the tire life too.

Definately sell the old setup.

Don't worry about what anyone else says. Be a leader and not a follower. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />


<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Nic <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />


Sterling.

<small>[ January 28, 2003, 06:13 PM: Message edited by: AZLS1 ]</small>

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by AZLS1:
<strong> Definately sell the old setup.

Don't worry about what anyone else says. Be a leader and not a follower. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />


<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Nic <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />


Sterling. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Dammit Sterling! You be quiet too! <img border="0" alt="[jester]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" />

Go with the lightweight 12 bolt. You gotta save weight when you can.

PS: If those biased guys keep replying, sell the 12 bolt to me! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

I'd say lightweight. Can you get ABS and TCS with them???
I need to upgrade from my 10-bolt and am seriously considering the lightweight.

I just bought my 9" from Jay. He knows what he is talking about and will set it up for your needs. trust his advice! <img border="0" alt="[driving]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_driving3.gif" />

I researched this thoroughly and decided it wasn't for me. I went as far as looking into Mark Williams Aluminum 12 bolt center sections! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" /> Now those would be the ultimate in weight savings!!

Billingsley's lightweight 12 bolt is basically a 12 bolt carrier with the 10 bolt axle tubes to save weight. The optional axle flanges are lightened which won't hold up to street abuse, and as a fiy Moser even offers lightened (star) flanges. Billingsley's rearend is also lightened with the cut ring gear which will decrease the life and dependability. For serious racers, you'll need to upgrade to the axle tube support because the 10 bolt tubes are weak. This adds another couple pounds also.

My estimation is that you'll save maybe 40lbs over a typical street 12 bolt, 15-20lbs of that being the spool.

I just decided to order a Moser (with what many claim to be the strongest carrier/tubes available) with a spool and gundrilled axles. If you are smart enough to get gundrilled axles ($100 option from Moser) you'll save around 6lbs of rotating weight.

It's street/strip reliable and I can just forget about it and only be about 15 lbs heavier than the street friendly Billingsley rearend. BUT, I'll also have less rotating weight with the gundrilled axles. Which is more important to me.

my .02 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />