Eight is good, nine is better. Those eight inchers are tough as nails and have run them in many 375-400HP cars at the strip. Built my Fairmont five years ago and used existing parts from a parts car Mav. Fabricated front and rear spring mounts to use the 6cyl springs and 8inch under it. Worked great until I switched to a 331 last year and decided to go with the 9in. Narrowed one up and being a bit on the cheap side, used the eight inch axles in it. No Problems. seems the Mav axles are a bit stronger than other Ford 8inchers, thats what I was told anyway. Still have them in there and running 9in slicks(max width because of the leaf spring positioning) 4.86 gear. 7.20-30's in 1/8th @92mph . 9.30's-40's in 1000ft @ 105mph with a wore out 302(331 is back together and awaiting its installation). If you were using a trans brake or silly gas, the nine would be the choice with 31 spline axles. Must add a bit on yesterdays races, very humid and could only squezze out a 9.52 on a crappy track. (normally 1.55-57 60's but was getting 1.60's). Went three rds. and then red eyed myself on the trailer. Must give last rights to Mavman's alcohol, toilet bowl injected windsor, ran two 8.45's in 1000 @ 121mph then something decided to exit the block and eat up various internal pieces. Think a main cap or web broke to start the quick but violent death of a fine piece of machinery. Will pull it today and find out what is going to be buried. Got one windsor block left and no cranks(seems his is in several pieces) Not a good year for our team, my 331 first and then Jr.'s 302 running lean and burning pistons, and now the track champion from last year has lost the 351. They always say bad things happen in three's, but we will be back full strength and kicken a**. Got Jr's stang back running yesterday and damn if it wasn't faster than the old mans fairmont by two tenths. Got some trash in the fuel after three rds. and farted off the line to send him to the house also. Next time, lady luck may be on our side??????
Main webs broken on 1,2,3,4 mains....rear one was ok. The 4 main web is not totally gone, but there is a crack running parallel with the smaller oil hole (it's actually in the oil hole) from main saddle into the cam bore, which is probably why the pressure was slightly lower than normal.
