[Jay S]

A moser 12 bolt would be the way to go if you want to throw money at it and keep it looking stock. OEM 12 bolts are generally too pricey, by the time you make upgrades to a 1200 open rear end with 2.73s your most of the way to the cost of the Moser, and the Moser is quite a bit stronger.

If you have a N case 8.2 I would get a TA cover and run it and not replace it until something breaks, in the 12s with drag radials, that might be never. But it could be the first pass too, that is drag racing..LOL

The 3.36s seem to be the toughest gear set in an 8.2, a little stronger than 3.55s. Also versus OEM gears, the aftermarket gears also do not have some of the tapers on the pinion machining and are a little stronger. See the photo..

The offset of the 9” rear end is pretty noticeable under an A body. If your going after a OEM type look, it does not fit that. We fabricated had a 9” in a A body before all the kits were available. We did an 8.75 Mopar in an A body also. The 9” with upgrades for power get’s pricey pretty quickly, nodular case with the bigger front bearing support are pretty important upgrades.

For the money, it is hard to beat buying a 8.5, then depending on how quick it is do other upgrades. I bought a 8.5 a few weeks ago from a 72 Cutlass for $350. There was a salvage years that had several 8.5s from 72 Chevelle’s and Buicks, he wanted $350 also. I have seen some asking $500. There were several million of those 8.5s made in 71 to 72, you just have know where to look for them, they put them in every 2 and 4 door combo of A body there was later end of 72. They cost a fraction of the price of a 12 bolt, parts are cheap too.

I have broke quite a few 9” rear ends. I split one grey case open and broke the back pinion support off with a 300 6 cylinder. Split the carrier in 2 on another. I have 2 friends that have broke pinion shafts. JMHO. The Ford 9” are the most expensive rear end to build properly. They run pretty hot compared to other rearends, the worst part of the 3% loss in efficiency shows up in the form of heat.