Cheap, strong, and narrow rear ends?

Looking for suggestions on a rear end for the VW Challenge project. Cheap and narrow are firm requirements. Strength is relative, but I'm planning for at least 200 hp and 200 ft/lbs. IRS and/or limited slip obviously would be great.

I'd been planning to use a locking Audi 200q rear from my donor car, but it's wide and doesn't have a limited slip. I can get an LSD from an Audi V8, but it's not free and it's still a bit wide. The axles and carrier would have to be narrowed.

---edit---

The subframe would need to be narrowed, not the carrier. Oops.

s10 rears are cheap, plentiful, and newer blazer ones come with disc brakes and lots of them have 3.42-3.73 gearing. they are solid axles but 200hp/200 ft lbs is not going to hurt one. limited slips are out there and cheap.

if you werent so far away i'd give you one to try

lincoln mk vii/t-bird - ford 8.8 irs - would need to narrow. solid axle chevy s-10, jeep - dana 44s in some older cherokees or dana 35s, bmw e-30/e-28

Not sure on actual width. I'd say a 85-87 gsl-se rx7 rearend would be fun. Clutch pack lsd, designed for independant rear... etc.

In reply to patgizz:

Thanks. That reminds me that I have to update my profile. I just moved to Raleigh. Still faaar away, though.

7.5" soild axle from a ranger or a mustang or the IRS version in a low end t-bird from the '90s or so...

The 8.8" would probably be a little over kill.

Front end from a hi-lo is narrow and strong as heck.

Early Jeep CJ's had a Dana 44 axle with a 48" track and some later ones had a 51-52" track.

wait, i think i have the ex's phone number around here someplace... er, oh, you said narrow.. sorry..

Giggity.

My friend Tim who is a died in the wool Ford guy tells me these Taylor-Dunn untilities have a narrow 9" out back.

Another IRS option would be the explorer 8.8. Not much different than the other 8.8's mentioned, but they are plentiful, cheap and many have LSD.

Lots of older forklifts apparently had dana rears in them. Do a little research and get back to us HMMMM Kay.

splitime wrote: Not sure on actual width. I'd say a 85-87 gsl-se rx7 rearend would be fun. Clutch pack lsd, designed for independant rear... etc.

GSL-SE was 85-86 only and a solid axle, not independent. It is very narrow even compared to the Mustang, Explorer, etc units mentioned.

87-89 S4 FC IRS units from the GXL and GTU were 5-lug viscous LSD units.

Check under an old postal Jeep.

P71 wrote:

splitime wrote: Not sure on actual width. I'd say a 85-87 gsl-se rx7 rearend would be fun. Clutch pack lsd, designed for independant rear... etc.

GSL-SE was 85-86 only and a solid axle, not independent. It is very narrow even compared to the Mustang, Explorer, etc units mentioned.

Yep, I bought one of these (4.10, LSD, rear discs) for this very reason... then sold the MG Midget race frame I was dropping it into. Available complete with calipers for $100 in Frederick, MD...

Nobody's said Miata! '94+ should get you there.

In reply to wcelliot:

You're talking about the solid axle? Don't they have the diff offset to one side?

I'll be passing Hagerstown on I-81 in a Uhaul on Memorial day weekend. We could meet somewhere.

kreb wrote: Nobody's said Miata! '94+ should get you there.

How strong are they? How much should I expect to pay and where should I look?

The '94+ rears seem to be able to handle up to 250 RWHP without blowing up, unless you're a drag racer. Many models came with a Torsen limited slip. Availability depends on where you live. In California, you can't leave the house without tripping over a Miata. I bought a '95 with a ratty body and interior, but good mechanicals, BBS rims and LSD for $500. Check Craigslist and the junkyards. You'll likely want to get the entire subframe - it comes out easily.

My buddy's got two Jag IRS rear ends with the inboard brakes, don't know how strurdy they are, but more easily narrowed than a solid axle.

Dan

iceracer wrote: Early Jeep CJ's had a Dana 44 axle with a 48" track and some later ones had a 51-52" track.

They might also have an AMC 20 which would be even cheaper to acquire.

angusmf wrote: In reply to wcelliot: You're talking about the solid axle? Don't they have the diff offset to one side? I'll be passing Hagerstown on I-81 in a Uhaul on Memorial day weekend. We could meet somewhere.

Yes, solid axle. No, to my knowledge the diff isn't offset.

I won't be around that weekend, but could give you directions here (about 35 minutes off your route) to pick it up if you were interested.

Bill

In reply to wcelliot:

I'll get touch with you.