Looking for a shop to narrow an axle housing!

[zieg]

Looking for a shop that can narrow a Ford 7.5" live axle for a kit car.. Don't need the shafts done, just the housing. I'd do it myself but there's a special technique and some tools involved if you want the axle to still be straight when you're done, especially so if you plan to race said kit car..

So, any suggestions?

[lee88]

Call these guys and see if they can help you out

https://blackbirdts.com

[never]

Call Dario at Infamous Auto - 403-803-8659 https://www.facebook.com/InfamousAuto/

[zieg]

Huh, both look promising, thanks. Hopefully one of them already has the tooling and experience..

As a mechanical designer and a gearhead I think I want a job at that first place.

[never]

Dario narrowed my 8.8 and has narrowed a bunch of different rears.

[legendboy]

is this generally how it is done? What does this job run cost wise normally?

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/narro...fashioned-way/

[zieg]

Originally posted by legendboy
is this generally how it is done? What does this job run cost wise normally?

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/narro...fashioned-way/

Yup that's basically it. In my case I only need one side cut since the pumpkin is offset to the passenger side. All I have to do is grab a second passenger side axle and cut the driver side down to match the shorter axle shaft.

Here's what happens if you don't get it bang on: https://youtu.be/IlaMq5Cj26M

Originally posted by never
Dario narrowed my 8.8 and has narrowed a bunch of different rears.

Cool, good to know. I'll start there.

[sr20s14zenki]

Dario knows his shit.

[legendboy]

yes he does. i take my stuff to him when possible

is there room inside the tube for an internal coupler that will hold the two bores concentric with room enough for the axle to slip thru or can the bore be relied upon for reference?
If the bore can be relied upon, even the OD of the tube, i think i can do that

from the hot rod article it looks like the bar alignment tool (and fancy fixture) with adapters on each end to hold the bearing races parallel, using heat to nudge the welded tube into position for final welding

if the tube goes back together with a coupler i'm thinking i can weld that without warping it. saying this never having done one or even having ever worked on a rear end. probably not the project to try it on



i am currently beta test machining/lapping subaru valve buckets down for new cam lash. thats more my thing, weird stuff, one offs, welding

[zieg]

Hmm, good question. There probably is room, I was even considering a sleeve on the outside for the same purpose if it could land somewhere between suspension mounting points. That might be a bit of a risk though, since I don't yet know exactly where all my mounting points will be.

The other possibility, I think it applies to the 7.5 and 8.8, is to drill out the spot welds holding the tube in the pumpkin and cut it there. Not really sure how that compares to the standard method of cutting a section out of the middle...

[legendboy]

i like the idea of cutting off the bearing end if that is the route.

If the tube can be removed from pumpkin via drilling spot welds i pretty much guarantee i can cut it and re weld it with close to perfect concentricity, and it shouldn't move while being re welded to the pumpkin