The Axle Parts

[h=3]Other Strange COPO Parts[/h]
Strange Engineering didn’t just supply custom-built axle assemblies for the COPO program; their involvement went much further into other areas of the car’s development.
“We also supplied the front and rear brakes along with the dampers. The front coil-over struts are double-adjustable, as are the rear shocks. The brakes are based on our proven Pro Race units and modified for the COPO application,” says Cascio.



It’s no surprise that Strange Engineering was tapped to provide the parts for the COPO Camaro as well – they also supply the other two members of the Big 3 with rearend assemblies for their own pony cars. These factory race cars have been battling it out on the 1320 – with Strange gear – for the last few seasons in Stock and Super Stock Eliminator.
Once Pustelny had the basics of the platform roughed in, he provided the dimensions of the housing, control arm brackets, and anti-roll bar and Panhard bar mounting points to the fine folks at Strange.
From there, they were off to the races to create the bolt-in housing, gearsets, axles, and other components required to create a rearend that would stand up to Stock Eliminator abuse.
Per JC Cascio of Strange Engineering, “We started with our standard nine-inch housing and used the pickup points developed by MPR to fit the solid axle in the car. The brackets are all welded onto the housings here in a fixture that we have on-site to ensure the proper fitment when the housing gets to Michigan.”
The steel housing is supplied with one of Strange’s Lightweight aluminum gearcases that’s been fully equipped with a 35-spline lightweight spool. Gear ratios are dependent upon the engine combination selected, and a forged-aluminum pinion support is also standard, as is a heavy-duty 1350-series chromoly pinion yoke.
Heavy-duty parts are used throughout the construction of the rearend, including thick-wall three-inch tubes and Strange’s Lightweight aluminum center section. A forged pinion support and 1350 yoke is installed on the front of the pinion.

Strange’s Pro gearsets are constructed from 9310 steel and are specifically designed to handle the rigors of drag-race abuse. The high-impact shock loads seen by a racing application necessitate the use of the Pro gearsets in this application. 35-spline Hy-Tuf axles are installed in the housing along with axle bearings and 5/8-inch wheel studs.
Strange Engineering’s 35-spline axles are forged from proven Hy-Tuf material and are used throughout drag racing in all types of applications.

The Hy-Tuf ultra-strength alloy material was originally developed for military aircraft landing gear. It’s formulated from low-carbon, high-manganese, high-nickel, high-molybdenum steel and is through-hardened to provide exceptionally high tensile strength of 240,000 PSI while remaining flexible enough to handle other loads placed upon it by racing endeavors.
Strange’s Pro Race rear brake kit is also installed on the housing at the Strange facility. It includes aluminum calipers and solid slotted-surface 11.25-inch brake rotors, along with brake pads and billet caliper mounts.
The four-piston calipers use stainless-steel pistons, and are internally ported with an O-ring around the piston to assist in piston retraction when the pedal is released.
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Left - Prior to axle installation, the Chevrolet Performance technicians chase the bolt holes in the chassis to clear out any residual powdercoat. Left Middle - With the help of this roll-around cart, the rearend is placed under the car. Note the control arms already in place at this time. Right Middle - Chevrolet Performance engineered an upper shock mount that places the coilover assembly right into the factory coil spring pocket. Right - Strange's double-adjustable rear shocks are used to provide the ultimate in chassis control and adjustment.