79 F150 shortbox... should I spool it?

[mudduck]

Ok, here's the details, I got a 79 F150 stepside, 4x4, 4sp soon to have a 351W, and a 4inch (I think) lift, 35" tires. The rear end is in need of brakes and some other love, but the carrier is complete and good.. I have another complete matching rear, that I could put in right now to replace it. What I was thinking of doing is put a mini-spool in the carrier I take out of the truck, and put it in the new rear. The minispool is free, and I already have it from a prior project.
I know the problems I'll get into (tire wear, handling and such). I've driven detroit locked rears before but never a spooled rear. I understand the differences. I just want to hear from some people who have run a spool or minispool on a short wheel base vehicle (Broncos and short beds) and get their responses and experiences.

Good and Bad, what can you tell me? :confused:

[Blue79]

I drove my old street car locked up for a long time. My opinion- if you know how its gonna react and you benefit from running a spool in some way. Then go for it. Just dont forget one wet day and pull out of the burger joint and sideswipe a transit bus.

[Johnny]

I run a mini spool in my old hot rod 78 F100... It was a long wheel base, and I mainly just raced it.... but If I were building another one, and I already had a mini spool... then yeah, I'd probably throw it in it.... but If I planned on driving it a whole lot, then I'd go with the detroit...

[mudduck]

I have an 82 F100 long bed with a True Trac in it. Yeah you have to be careful in the wet stuff.

Ed is that a voice of experience? A transit bus? Wow.

I plan on using this truck for some fun and a beater to drive when the weather is bad. I just wanted to know if there is a big difference between the spool and a detroit. If they handle close to the same, I'm ok with putting the mini spool in because it's the best thing.... FREE!

[Border Patrol]

Spool it and be done. You know its back there and how squirrly it will be. I`ve been driving my wheeling bronco for 3 weeks now and love how people get out of my way at stop lights (over a foot of snow on ground now). ;)

[blythe_mechanic]

how does the spools hold up on the street and off roadng, been thinking of doing this my self,spools are cheap

[redmt79]

Spools hold up great. You will break something else before a spool lets go.

We run the $35 mini-spools in our derby cars. We have a fair amount of carnage with axle shafts and center sections...

[Border Patrol]

I`ve put over 2000 miles on this - street and hard wheeling - with no breakage of anything yet. It also was a used third member when I got it with spool already installed.

[blythe_mechanic]

my concern is how reliabel this is , i dont want to be replacing broken axels all the time, just bought a trac loc for the front of my truck , not sure what to do with rear diff yet

[jr78f150]

unless your into heavy wheeling i dont think youll have any problems at all other than worn tires.probably the street on blacktop is rougher than most people would be on a spool IMO

[flyn4hi]

I figured saving the money up and getting a selectable locker would be cheaper in the long run then you can have the best of both worlds. That said if you have an extra third member than you can swap them out in a short amount of time anytime you want which also gives the added benefit of being able to inspect all your parts and adjust up the brakes and such.

[blythe_mechanic]

i was thinking about that too, getting a xtra set of parts to get the truck back on the road if i blow up the rear axel, and i have blown up every diff known to man,

[mudduck]

I've broken every part in a 9inch before. From twisting the pinion off to busting the third member in half.

This truck is a short bed and 4 spd with 35" tires. I do have an extra rear drum-to-drum that I can swap if I break anything.
The idea of the spool was becasue it is free. I already have it, so no money out execpt for rear diff oil when I change it.

[blythe_mechanic]

i like the ford 9" rear but they are not he strongest axel setups for trucks, i like them cause parts are cheap and easy to get, hell just look on ebay right now tons of parts there for them. i also like the ground clearance you get with them, with a dana 60 there stronger but you loose ground clearance and parts are more money

hense why i'm looking to build my 9" axel i want to do a locker or spool and rear disc's

[mudduck]

I think a 9inch is a pretty stout rear as long as you don't over do it. I try and limit the tires to 35" and a decent motor the rear will withstand a lot of beating. If you get much bigger it starts to put stress on the axle. A D60 is really strong, but you do lose to the size of it.

What disc conversion are you gonna use?

[blythe_mechanic]

i'm thinking of using this kit as its bolt on and not weld on my welder is small
http://www.bcbroncos.com/rearbrakes08.html

[blythe_mechanic]

yes heavy foot, any wheel the piss out of it, why eles would i own the truck

[68Mercury250Ranger]

some experience with spool in rear 79 Bronco, 35 bfg muds.

Always watch your tire pressures! even 2psi difference made it squirelly, torque steer>brake steer> YEEHAW.>M<: If you have A**hole cops in your area forget it, seriously.
Strictly offroad on 35s? go for it, but keep some spare shafts along. It will be worth it..... doesn't matter where you steer its going where it wants to.:D

trac loc front on 35s, might as well forget it, unless its mostly street use. It won't last through a weekend's light play. Hey at least you won't break shafts or yokes/joints.

Rocks and mud Woohoo:)

[blythe_mechanic]

i still have not bought any thing for the rear of the truck, i'm doimg a track loc up front, not sure what i want in rear yet