Going over a few options here and compair upgrading my 8.5 axle for my 72 or going to a built 9" Leaning towards the 8.5 more, got all the info on spool, axles, housing ends etc. Was wanting to see some pics of what ppl have done to help brace the tubes. I know LPW makes a cover similar to TAs and has a spot to bolt a rear brace bar to running to some welded on tabs through heim joints. In my mind I would just pivoit on the joints if the tube tried to bend or twist?? Thinking of just cutting tube's to run from the pinion area back towards the outer area of the tubes and just having them welded in. As long as the heat was controlled any problem with this ?
Welding to the pinion seal area like shown above is little sketchy, but I've seen it done. The lower brace is very beneficial for strength, tie down, etc. The forward braces are ay a big part as well, but a similar bar as the lower but layed over the top of the center chunk will work great. Wrap the center chunk in a leather welding jacket to slow the cooling down to help minimize moving. It's best to have a true bar made to keep it all stable. Pretty easy to make the bar needs to be 1.5 to 1.75 cold rolled or machined bar which is little pricey but a good tool to have
The pic is of and 8.8 Mustang rear.....I've seen a lot of them with bars in the front bolted to the pinion casting......that looks like it had something bolted thereally at sometime. I like the bottom bar to.....will have to see if the local exhaust shop can bend me some tubing up to fit tight as I have no good way to bend tube
I’ve done some 8.8 Mustang rears,and some A-body rears where I welded a brace to the rib of the pumpkin,and welded the other end to the tube,above the lower control arms. If this will interfere with your exhaust,and it might,you can weld it to the inner mounting bracket of the lower control arm.
