I was always want to do an I6 to V8 conversion but as of recently Ive decided that a hopped up I6 is the best and most affordable route for me. Besides it will be fun to roast some V8's with an I6. SO the answer is not i will not be converting it. I have no idea what rear is in it now. Its bone stock and never been changed. When talking about engine mods on here someone suggested that I bump up to an 8 inch. So i figured Id ask about it.
The stock I6 rear was the 7" integral carrier design. Unless you are going all-out in upgrading your I6, the 7" should hold up. The two most common ratios on 7" rears was 2.80 and 3.25. Naturally, the 3.25 is better for your purposes. The best was the 3.50, but it is extremely rare. I have seen one. It was also an Equalock, and it sold for some serious money.
A few years ago one of teh six-cylinder performance outfits was working on getting the 3.50 gears made, but I never heard any more about it.
I wonder if that 3.50 geared unit was a 5 lug rear ? If it was I know where one's at. Got pics of it too in my photobucket page.
Very true, but when I swapped in a '57 9" from a wagon into my '65 fastback, I had to have a new driveshaft made since the 9" uses larger U-joints.
Sixes can and do develop a lot of torque, if you're going to upgrade, you may as well go to an 8.8 or 9 inch rear.