Friday’s Feature

Thanks to all of you who commented on the “keeping the flame burning” blog.  I am happy that you feel the same way I do.  The flame today is burning in LA with temperatures in the 80’s and bright sunshine.  I started on the patio structure which is long overdue for a fresh coat of paint.  I need a power washer to clean it good and have been eying the one at Home Depot.  I think I could put it to work on my car projects also but don’t tell the wife.  I started scraping the paint and sanding some places but soon figured out I would be there for months and hurt myself that way.  I put the job off until tomorrow and came back in for a cold one.  The day is gone so I thought I would write the last post of the week.

I have not discussed quick changes in a while but I still receive a lot of questions concerning which way to go V8 or Champ.  The choice is yours if you are running under 300 hp stick with the V8.  If you are over 400 hp be sure and run the Champ.  Winters is the only way to go today if you want a unit with parts and service availability.  The Halibrand units are pricey and very difficult to find parts for repairs.  I built mine from eBay bidding and it took me a year and about $4400 by the time I was finished.  The differential for the Champ is the problem.  No one makes a direct bolt in unit due to the low demand and the availability of the Winters performance line of quality quick changes and parts.  I still love the looks of the Halibrand but would not go through the trouble again.  Lucy has the last one I intend to build myself.

I forgot to mention the B&E Kustom open house is this Sunday in Chatsworth.  This is always a nice gathering of Valley rods and customs and they serve great Taco’s.

Have a great weekend and put some fire ahead of the quick change and burn a little rubber for the grandkids.

Stay Tooned!

Lynn

Here is my Halibrand Champ after I had it bead blasted.  I purchased this one on eBay and it was a cherry unit with no cracks or abuse.  This is the 12 bolt model which is more popular than the 11 bolt models.

The side plates are the hardest pieces to locate.  These are NOS CAE units which are more beefier.  Not the bearing race and provision for an oil seal which is required to have a  non leaking QC.  Look under most QC’s at the show and you will see what I mean.

This is a DPI off eBay and I had Ron’s Rear End do the machine work.  Note how much has to be turned down to fit the carrier with side plates for early axle tubes.  He assured me it is still a safe differential.

Here is the final assembly ready for Lucy’s rear.  I bead blasted everything for a nice OEM look.  The ends and axles are from Dutchman, Frantic did the machine work and I finished welding the brackets prior to installing the bearing ends.  An alignment bar is required to be perfect, but I have welded them in a home made jig and never had any trouble.  These units are quite strong and lightweight.

Here is the big bearing Ford 9 inch end after machining to fit into the ford axle tubes.

Here is the nine inch bearing end (available used from Currie) with a machined insert to slide in the early Ford housing.  The fit is tight but I like this style better than  butt welding.  Please note your housing must be straight to do it this way.

Pretty isn’t it.  My welds are not this perfect but someday I hope to be this good.  You need to make sure the bearing end is lined up correctly or your backing plate won’t be in the center of the housing.

You can save a lot of time by purchasing a new Winters unit with new early Ford tapered housings.  Next time I will go this way for sure.

Here is my recent Winters QC and differential.  This was a new unit and I was really pleased with the beauty and casting polishing Winters did.  Bobby is putting this one under his sedan.  You should note that SO-CAL also sells the axle tubes ready to bolt on your QC.

Today’s quickchange….dreaming!

I love seeing this view at the PRC.  This is a recent build RPU in today’s color Washington Blue with maroon steelies.  Right on in my mind.