Spool or locker
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On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2013
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Spool or locker I'm building 84 camaro z28 for real street. Stock suspension turbo car on 275. 3.90 gear th400. Is there a non spool carrier that will support power up to or beyond 1200hp? I do plan on putting it on the street. I already know a spool will hold but I know they aren't street friendly.
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 513
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From: Moose Jaw SK, Canada
A spool can be very street friendly in my opinion, just depends who you ask.
After piloting and owning vehicles with spooled rear ends, I don't feel ill ever have a reason to buy anything other than a spool in the future.
The ONLY time I was ever slightly turned off by a spool was in an f body that still had the stock LCAs/bushings. Turning corners felt sloppy. The same car with rod ended arms is a wonderful car to drive.
If you're concerned I would try and find someone in your area with an f body with a spool (and good suspension parts) and go for a ride. You likely wont even be able to tell under normal driving conditions.
Best of luck!
After piloting and owning vehicles with spooled rear ends, I don't feel ill ever have a reason to buy anything other than a spool in the future.
The ONLY time I was ever slightly turned off by a spool was in an f body that still had the stock LCAs/bushings. Turning corners felt sloppy. The same car with rod ended arms is a wonderful car to drive.
If you're concerned I would try and find someone in your area with an f body with a spool (and good suspension parts) and go for a ride. You likely wont even be able to tell under normal driving conditions.
Best of luck!
A locker and a spool are two different animals and in my experience a locker is ten times worse to drive on the street and drag race with. If you do not want a spool your only other option is looking at something like a Strange S-Trac but those come at a hefty price.
Though I have driven a vehicle with a spool for many years and even my daily drivers/weekend warriors.
Though I have driven a vehicle with a spool for many years and even my daily drivers/weekend warriors.
A spool has to be bad for fast cornering though, no? I know OP is talking about a drag setup but just wondering. I've only ever heard bad things about spools on the street until I bought a 4th gen and joined this site. Seems like a lot of guys run them.
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
not noticeable to me except during slow speed cornering.
I vote spool. Is it a racecar that you'll occasionally drive on the street, or a street car you'll occasionally race?
If you can determine that it would better help you narrow down which way to go. A spool will be more friendly on the street than trying to keep a posi living at the track with 1200hp. My $.02 anyway.
If you can determine that it would better help you narrow down which way to go. A spool will be more friendly on the street than trying to keep a posi living at the track with 1200hp. My $.02 anyway.
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Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 190
Likes: 6
I vote spool. Is it a racecar that you'll occasionally drive on the street, or a street car you'll occasionally race?
If you can determine that it would better help you narrow down which way to go. A spool will be more friendly on the street than trying to keep a posi living at the track with 1200hp. My $.02 anyway.
If you can determine that it would better help you narrow down which way to go. A spool will be more friendly on the street than trying to keep a posi living at the track with 1200hp. My $.02 anyway.
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Joined: Oct 2016
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From: PDX-OR-USA
I used to road race a car with a spool in the rear, above about 80 you'd never know, you did have to get used to the sliding through corners at lower speeds though.. steering was heavy on pace laps.. manageable but heavy.
Don't drive a spool in the wet or ice/snow with a rear wheel drive unless your into adventure..
A Detroit will handle the power, but you have to learn to lift off the gas and cost through turns to allow it to unlatch for the turn.
Don't recommend a torque sensing(Thorsen, True-Trac etc..) diff in any high HP/Torque application, I destroyed a couple of them.. They don't like high torque.. The working surfaces of the gears can spall, and lots of sharp metal bits and bearings don't play nice..
Don't drive a spool in the wet or ice/snow with a rear wheel drive unless your into adventure..
A Detroit will handle the power, but you have to learn to lift off the gas and cost through turns to allow it to unlatch for the turn.
Don't recommend a torque sensing(Thorsen, True-Trac etc..) diff in any high HP/Torque application, I destroyed a couple of them.. They don't like high torque.. The working surfaces of the gears can spall, and lots of sharp metal bits and bearings don't play nice..
I daily drove a spool for years with my old Formula. Ran DRs and barely noticed it was back there. Only noticeable in parking lots and slow speed corners. Never a question of power to both wheels. Spool hands down.
--Alan
--Alan
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2013
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[QUOTE=ABA383;19633772]I daily drove a spool for years with my old Formula. Ran DRs and barely noticed it was back there. Only noticeable in parking lots and slow speed corners. Never a question of power to both wheels. Spool hands down.
-thanks spool it is! Thanks for you guys input.
-thanks spool it is! Thanks for you guys input.
Once I get the car moving it's find on a spool. Pulling out of the driveway, hard right turns at red lights honestly is no fun.
But I do like when the wheels let go the car stays straight.
If I was to get a diff it'd be a wavetrac
But I do like when the wheels let go the car stays straight.
If I was to get a diff it'd be a wavetrac