What Breaks Next?

[Clatter]

Say you're building up a type 1 box for some abuse;
Maybe some street hooning or a trip to the drag strip..
Say the box is properly supported and no wheel-hop already..

When you decide to make things stronger, what is likely to be most important, and what is only for higher power levels?

First thing they say is to use a late-model trans in the first place - stronger Single-Side-Cover cases and ringed covers.
Plus you get stronger 10-tooth spider gears and brazed-on synchro hubs..

Then, it makes sense to get some main-shaft bearing reinforcement, with a Bruce plate or nose cone plate.
And why not? They're cheap.

Same with increasing some clearances for oil, drilling some oil holes in hubs, steel forks, etc.
Machining for 091 snap-rings, tight to 3rd, etc.
This stuff is free or cheap so makes sense.
Same with welding hubs on early gears, or 'hardened keys'.
A chromo pinion nut seems a no-brainer as well.



But then it comes time to spend money..

Earlier coarse-tooth gears are supposed to resist stripping and breaking teeth off like fine gears.
But what if you're using all new bearings and keeping things supported and tight?
How hard is it to spin the later brazed-on gears on the hubs?
It's been said that the teeth will strip before the hubs will spin.
Have any of you seen this with fresh bearings?

Is a '75-up late dual-ring side cover as strong as a cheaper cast aftermarket one?
Seems that a super diff and HD side-cover go hand-in-hand..
They both break at the same abuse/power levels?

Is an 11-tooth super diff stronger than a factory 10-spider diff?
What if you shim a late factory diff tighter?
I remember Pablo/Gears suggesting dual snap-rings on swing diffs before a super diff..


While a 300M input shaft, thrust washer, HD gear carrier, tapered bearing, etc. all have their place in full-on race/drag transaxles,
What order do you buy parts as you move up the lower rungs of the 'strength' ladder?

If you start throwing money at a build,
What parts do you throw first?