I did it, I wont ever build a car that I drive without it again. The reason, rear steering.

With an arning drop on the front, and good alignment specs the rear end can become a predictable and fun toy in the curves. It's not all about drag racing.

 

It's true that among car guys a peg leg rear is uncool. I switched from 2:79 to 3:55 last year as part of an AOD conversion and stayed with the peg leg. It wan't the cost as much as I just didn't see the need for a posi. I don't drive my car in the rain or at the track. I cruise in it and occasionally churp the "tire" when leaving a stop light. Even with the occasional car guy's disapproving comment, I can't say I regret my decision.

 

If your engine is at all built, you'll burn one tire almost every time you take off, especially with the first gear ratio in the T5. I have a 3.35 first in my T5 and a 3.40 TL rear. It is stil easy to over power in the first three gears. You should have long life out of a solid TL if you change the gear oil every couple of years and add the friction modifier it requires. I have over 300,000 miles on the one I put together and it has been exercised quite well at times. I'm not at all sorry that I put one in.

 

It is not that much more in cost and I believe you will regret not spending a little extra. It also gives some degree to bragging rights when people ask what you have in your car.
Can you live without it? Sure.
Is it nice for the times you need it? You bet.

I feel it is cheaper to do it right 1 time.

 

Why go through the expense and work of changing the gear ratio and not go traction loc? The units themselves aren't real expensive and should last a long time. I think most would regret not spending the extra few hundred and getting it right the first time. JMHO, John

 

I have a detroit truetrac in my 8in and I love it.

 

I have one in my 9", it's a wonderful thing!

 

With 450 to 500HP I cannot imagine only having 1 wheel traction, its spins the tires enough with my tru trac so I am glad I did it. For 200 extra dollars it seems like a no brainer.

 

Why not have the gears changed out in the rear end that you have now?..If you decide you need a posi carrier you can buy one and have it done later....If you run a decent set of sticky tires your traction issues won't be that bad even with an open rear...Another option would be to watch for a used 8 inch out of a V6 mustang II with manual trans..ALot of them had 3.40 gears..

 

"........ Trac-locs seem to have potential clutch-life issues,........"[/FONT]

with only a fair amount of discretion when hitting the throttle, a well built clutch pack will last a long long time. I'm on 40,000 plus miles on mine and it works just fine.

Z.

 

with only a fair amount of discretion when hitting the throttle, a well built clutch pack will last a long long time. I'm on 40,000 plus miles on mine and it works just fine.

Z.

I have pulled them out of junkyards and simply cleaned them up and run them for years. I have also rebuilt them when they probably didn't even need to be. Considering the miles most people put on these cars the factory Trac-Lok is fine. I have half a dozen or so and I have only bought one, although I am not sure what to do with the 31 spline ones. 😁

 

Agree with ZRay.

Do it right the first time.

 

3:25 Trac-Loc here. Two black stripes beats one, every day.

Traction is nice too. But if you ever want to let the car get a little sideways, Trac-Loc is a must.

Plus, IMO when you put that 3.55 in, you will be smoking that pegleg constantly.

 

Do it. Yes you can live without it, but why when it's available? It's not just bragging rights... it's also a safety feature. When I ride my motorcycle I try to not ride in the rain, but every now and then it happens. Same with these cars, we try but sometimes stuff happens, and I know with how light the back ends of these cars are I would want two wheels grabbing the road over one. Introduce a little power and the point gets exagerated. Maybe you want it later... then you're tearing everything down again.

 

Like everyone said, do it. If you do the gears, might as well as do everything. I felt a big difference going from open to trac-loc. Plus if you have a shop putting gears in and then you decide to go trac loc later, you're paying more for labor. DO IT!!

 

Thanks guys, good input. I will bite the bullet and like was said so many times, "do it right the first time". I built several cars when I was youger (and poorer) and then took a break for many years. Now that I'm back at it, I still tend to look at getting things done the cheapest way possible. And as I am learning, that's not always best (or cheapest in the long run). Again, thanks for the input, and for keeping me on the right, um...trac.

 

I'll tell you what makes a limited slip differential worthwhile.....it's when you are making that quick right-on-red in to traffic and the road is a little slick and at the same moment you feel the right rear just spinning away you look up in your rearview mirror and see the Freightliner logo fast approaching.....That's when you wish you had it... (ask me how I know).

 

Of course this can always backfire as the posi or trac loc can also allow you to spin it all the way around (if you are the type that likes to pull fast out in front of semi's)..Then you have that Freightliner logo staring you right in the face through the windshield!:shocked:

True Story: I just watched a kid, who was obvioiusly joy riding his dads C5 Corvette this summer do exactly that. He pulled out fast making a right turn into traffic and thought he'd impress some girls by getting on it. Well he spun that thing around like it was on an oil slick (it was actually kind of cool). But then you saw that "Oh Sh*t" look on his inexperienced face, and then he overcompensated it and ended up swinging it completely the other way (now facing oncoming traffic) and it ended up high siding on to the concrete curb median thing that separates the lanes. I pulled over to see if he was ok. Both alum rims were completely busted. The front lower arm looked like it was severely bent and pulled under, and the fiberglass rocker was cracked in half. I felt bad for him (only about 2 seconds) as he had to call dad and laughed my a$$ off as I got in my car and drove away looking in my mirror at that mess. It was a nice car but man that was something to see right in front of you. Posi is great, just make sure if you have lots of HP, that you can harness it in a "drift"!

 

I've debated the same issue 8in open vs posi vs 9in upgrade. good read from all!!!

 

To Posi or not to Posi.. That is the question? "do it"

I haven't had a problem and can't imagine my '65 with a peg leg. My '67 is a 6cyl peg leg and I love it - has the light weight smooth ride the V8 doesn't have.

The '65 is tight with the posi and a little scary in corners with bumps but get a new set a tires (BF Goodrich TAs) and it's actually very controlable.

 

still doing research on my way to getting a 3.40 TRAC LOC for my 8" .I like to go around corners at speed ,such as Watkins Glen on opening weekend and just driving the twisty on the way home from work,and of coarse the occasional burnout just because will a TRAC LOC be ok for this ? according to some post it could make handling unpredictable ? the last kinda sharp corner I went around with the peg leg 2.80 at speed felt a little hairy :shocked: it was a right hander and the right side tire started spinning and the left side tire really did nothing but hold the car up:shrug:

 

"..it's when you are making that quick right-on-red in to traffic and the road is a little slick and at the same moment you feel the right rear just spinning away "
Ha! Took SWMBO shopping shortly after upgrading my F150 to 3.55's (as it happens). Went to beat traffic out of a mall exit that was on a slight grade and did nothing but smoke the right rear tire. SWMBO's looked at me and said "Well, what did you do THAT for?" Embarrassed me enough that I put a Traction-Lok in it the next week.
By the way, as a Ford forum the word "posi" has no place here. Unless some of you guys have transplanted Chevy 10 bolt rear ends into your cars. But given that there is nothing so stupid that somebody somewhere hasn't done it...sigh.

 

By the way, as a Ford forum the word "posi" has no place here. Unless some of you guys have transplanted Chevy 10 bolt rear ends into your cars. But given that there is nothing so stupid that somebody somewhere hasn't done it...sigh.

One of my peeves, too. Positraction™ is a General Motors trademark.

Traction-Lok™ and Positraction™ operate exactly the same way, with a preloaded clutch pack that uses differential gear side thrust to increase friction pressure on the pack. The generic term for this is "limited slip", which is why the axle tag code for such an axle on a Mustang is "L".

 

It's always easy to do things the cheapest way possible. That is, of course if you like doing things more than once. Posi all the way. Do it right, do it once and it's cheaper in the long run.

 

pet peeves aside it's kinda like asking for a KLEENEX instead of tissue I didn't start the thread just brought it back from the dead while doing research .I just wanted to know if a TRAC LOC is going to go around corners ok and what kind of service life I can expect from one

 

Trust me. You'll be fine. If you want to worry, then get a Detroit locker. From what I've read and testimonies here, it's a nightmare with them turning corners. Trac-loc, you'll be good on turns and cornering. I have it and works well. There's your physical and verbal proof! Don't hesitate doing it. Had it on for 5 years and still works excellent.

 

thanks :thumbsup:that's what I wanted to hear ,I keep read story's about how the clutches don't last though :shrug:

 

I wouldn't worry about clutches wearing down unless you're riding on the clutch. If you're doing auto cross everyday, drag racing, or road racing, then your clutch might wear out fast. Daily driving, I wouldn't worry.

 

not the trans/clutch.. but the TRAC/LOC clutches /??
also while this thread is still hot whats the deal with the copper washers around the diff cover ? could I use regular lock washers or? do I need to buy the special (for what reason) copper washers?

also looking in CJPP cataloge they list the Currie center section they sell as a POSI 4 spider :shrug:

 

I couldn't imagine not have having a trak lock with the 3.55 gears.

Slow speeds would be a giant peg legged smoke show lol.

 

example
Ford Copper Washers Fairlane 9" inch Falcon 8" Rear End | eBay

example
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Ford-Copper-Housing-Washers-9-Inch-8-Ford-Rearend-Axle-NEW-/371112398110

seems they help seal the diff ?