Thread: Banjo rear end

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On the flip side, a lot of very fast drag cars back in the day ran banjos, before stronger rears came out. They did break and have some quirks, like the keys and the fact the entire brake drum would come off when an axle broke. But if you intall stronger keys and put one of the retainer kits that clamp over the edge of the drum to keep it on if an axle breaks, and drive in a sane manor, they can hold up under a mild engine.

I have a 46 rear that I bought from Paul on here and will use it under a project I am thinking about (as soon as I get the very next one done) and am not afraid to run it. But like Jerry said, I won't use that car on cross country trips, more around town and short hops.

One side note, if you use the conversion kit you are left with needing to find a way to locate the axle. The stock wishbones are NOT meant to operate without the torque tube and lots of guys who have tried to run them as lone radius rods find out they do snap in half easily. You will need to fab up proper radius rods that can take the forces exerted by a rear that wants to tear itself from under the car.

Oh, and Norm didn't exactly take it easy on the banjo in his T bucket!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4bMyrKxRdQ

Don