How do you remove axle tubes from 10 bolt
#1
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i have an extra 10 bolt housing laying around and wanted to make a hybread 8.5 axle. i already have the 8.5 complete axle, and a 7.5 housing to use. i noticed some of you have done this to a 8.8 ford already. right now i just wanted to know how to remove the axle tubes from both of them so i can try and fit them up. i know they are just spot welded, can you just cut or grind that weld and the tube comes out? let me know.
#3
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Hey Taq,
I was thinking of doing the same thing. I have a spare GN 8.5 and was taking measurements last nite. (I won't cut up my spare GN rear). The axle tube from both the F body and the GN are both the same diameter. I was thinking of going to the U pull yard and buying a 10 bolt 8.5 out of one of the mid to early 80s f bodys or full size rear wheel GM cars. Those rears should all have the same size axle tubes and 8.5 diffs. It looks like GM peened a rivit through the axle tubes and center section. Maybe someone else has tried this before also. Anyways since a have an A4 i think an 8.5 would be plenty strong enough.
I was thinking of doing the same thing. I have a spare GN 8.5 and was taking measurements last nite. (I won't cut up my spare GN rear). The axle tube from both the F body and the GN are both the same diameter. I was thinking of going to the U pull yard and buying a 10 bolt 8.5 out of one of the mid to early 80s f bodys or full size rear wheel GM cars. Those rears should all have the same size axle tubes and 8.5 diffs. It looks like GM peened a rivit through the axle tubes and center section. Maybe someone else has tried this before also. Anyways since a have an A4 i think an 8.5 would be plenty strong enough.
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#4
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yea i was talking to this guy "cam" about it. he said it is best to cut off the 7.5 axle tubes flush to the houseing and then cut the 8.5 axle tubes off 5-6 inches away from the housing. then grind down the 7.5 or find away to slid it in to the 8.5 tubes. get them were you want them at and weld them up. the 8.5 i got is from a 79 camaro. you can get them cheap. that GN 8.5 is too rare of a piece to cut it up. the hard thing is the TA mount.
#5
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Hey TAQ,
I was thinking, those axle tubes from the 7.5 and 8.5 are the same outside diameter. They could possible be welded together used are heavy walled splice. The 6.5 inch from the 8.5 rear housing and 6.5 from the 7.5 axle tubes.
I was wondering how you would hook up your ABS system with the ring that goes around the ring gear. Another option would be using an 8.5 rear out of a Chevy tahoe or truck, Those axle tubes would slide over the 7.5 fboby tubes. Also those trucks i believe have the ABS ring around the carrier.
I was thinking, those axle tubes from the 7.5 and 8.5 are the same outside diameter. They could possible be welded together used are heavy walled splice. The 6.5 inch from the 8.5 rear housing and 6.5 from the 7.5 axle tubes.
I was wondering how you would hook up your ABS system with the ring that goes around the ring gear. Another option would be using an 8.5 rear out of a Chevy tahoe or truck, Those axle tubes would slide over the 7.5 fboby tubes. Also those trucks i believe have the ABS ring around the carrier.
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#6
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well i just cut both of the axles i have up yesterday. the 8.5 that i have out of the 2nd gen camaro is bigger then the 7.5 out of the 4th gen. then i tried putting them together and the 7.5 tubes slid in perfect. i took many pics of it and was going to post them up in a couple of days. today i am going to line it up and weld them together. keep a look out for a thread about it from me, eather tommorrow or the next day. all i have to figure out now is how to make the TA mount. on the ABS, yes you will need to get a housing from a truck. the one i have doesnt have a provision for it. i might be able to get ahold of one of those with the ABS.
#7
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Hey TAQ,
Thats good to know the axle tubes from the 7.5 slide into the 8.5 fbody rear. I would think using a straight edge and protactor measuring from the flat on the rear cover mount should give you a close reading as to how the mount pads for TA need to be fixed. Or find a common flat and measure the distance in inches from that set point. I would first measure the 7.5 rear as a reference and go from there. I am sure you will have to measure the height as well to get the rite pinion angle. Thanks for keeping us up to date.
Thats good to know the axle tubes from the 7.5 slide into the 8.5 fbody rear. I would think using a straight edge and protactor measuring from the flat on the rear cover mount should give you a close reading as to how the mount pads for TA need to be fixed. Or find a common flat and measure the distance in inches from that set point. I would first measure the 7.5 rear as a reference and go from there. I am sure you will have to measure the height as well to get the rite pinion angle. Thanks for keeping us up to date.
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#8
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yea that sounds like a plan. i still have the 7.5 center section that i was going to use for the measurements for the TA mount. are you going to planing on doing the same thing to your car or where you just thinking about it?
#11
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Hey TAQ,
It is nice to know that there are other options for the fbody rear. An 8.5 rear for my A4 will be plenty strong enough. I have two 7.5 rears, i bought an extra just in case the inevitable happens. My car is not making the high HP so i am safe for now. Anyways at this point i am just thinking but will eventually go the 8.5 route. Please keep us posted on progress with pix.
It is nice to know that there are other options for the fbody rear. An 8.5 rear for my A4 will be plenty strong enough. I have two 7.5 rears, i bought an extra just in case the inevitable happens. My car is not making the high HP so i am safe for now. Anyways at this point i am just thinking but will eventually go the 8.5 route. Please keep us posted on progress with pix.
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#13
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Ok man, i couldnt resist it. here is a couple of sneek preview shots. so far this is what i have done.
1. completely measure up to 7.5 houseing. checking lenghts and angles of every thing.
2. cut off the 7.5 axle tubes with a torch and clean ends. (no need to have a perfect cut here since it would be inside the other tube and out of site)
3. measure up the 8.5 axle.
4. dissassemble 8.5 and cut off tubes 5 inches from the houseing. (for this i used a pnumatic cut off tool because this cut has to be as perfect as possible since you will be welding up to it.)
5. drill holes in 8.5 tube ends in order to have more welding penetration. i drilled four, 1/2" holes on each side.
6. power wash all parts i am going to use since there was all kind of shavings, dirt, and chispas all over the place.
7. bang, hammer, pry, punch, bend, ect 7.5 tubes into 8.5 houseing until i come up with the exact measurements and angles as the origanal 7.5 houseing had.
now i just have to weld the tubes together and come up with a TA mount and i will end up with a hybreed 8.5/7.5 housing that will bolt up into any 4th gen F-body. maybe even the first, or one of the first. then when someone ask me what i am running for a rear, i can still say, just a Chevy 10 bolt.
here is some pics of the progress. i already did a little bit of measureing of the TA mount and i think i know what i am going to do with it already but it will take about another week or so.
1. completely measure up to 7.5 houseing. checking lenghts and angles of every thing.
2. cut off the 7.5 axle tubes with a torch and clean ends. (no need to have a perfect cut here since it would be inside the other tube and out of site)
3. measure up the 8.5 axle.
4. dissassemble 8.5 and cut off tubes 5 inches from the houseing. (for this i used a pnumatic cut off tool because this cut has to be as perfect as possible since you will be welding up to it.)
5. drill holes in 8.5 tube ends in order to have more welding penetration. i drilled four, 1/2" holes on each side.
6. power wash all parts i am going to use since there was all kind of shavings, dirt, and chispas all over the place.
7. bang, hammer, pry, punch, bend, ect 7.5 tubes into 8.5 houseing until i come up with the exact measurements and angles as the origanal 7.5 houseing had.
now i just have to weld the tubes together and come up with a TA mount and i will end up with a hybreed 8.5/7.5 housing that will bolt up into any 4th gen F-body. maybe even the first, or one of the first. then when someone ask me what i am running for a rear, i can still say, just a Chevy 10 bolt.
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Last edited by taqwache; 06-30-2004 at 01:02 AM.
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#16
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sort of. i am only useing the 7.5 axle tubes. they slide right into the 8.5 tubes and overlap 6 inches or so to insure straightness. the axle shafts will have to be custom since the outers will be 7.5 and the inners 8.5. stange or mosser should handle this with ease. all the other internals will be pure 8.5 stuff. the other problem is that the pinion sits almost 2 inches foward compared to the 7.5 so the driveshaft will need to be shorten.
#17
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Originally Posted by NA$TY-TA
More pic's Steve...... so you will be using 7.5 axles but with a 8.5 center sectiona nd gears???? They mount up the same way were the axles meet the ring gear?? Im sure ill see it when you get back from Great Lakes.....