Nick Crosby

I bought a 1985 camaro z28 with a 350 motor 350trans and 4.10 gears I rear end. All the suspension looks stock. Can I run slicks on the 10 bolt? I hear so many horror stories about how week the rear end is. Just curious if anyone else runs this rear end in there drag car.

fasteddi

iTrader: (2)

I run a 10 bolt. It has Moser 28 spline axles, Richmond 3.73 gears, alburn lsd, and a summit brand alum girdle with bearing reinforcement.

I run with 28x10 slicks. Best 60 foot of a 1.64. So far so good on it holding together.

no green

I had that same combo for 8 years, foot brake, best 60' was in the 1.6x's, like fasteddi says. Stock axles, 4.11, bargain bin locker when the stock posi went, 28x10.5 slicks.

Ran it like that for years, pulled axles and cover every fall and looked good.

Hit it with nitrous once and went 1.48 60', and it was growling on the way back to the pit. pulled it apart, and both axle splines were twisted about 30*.

I'd say if you move into the 1.5x 60' territory, you should at least do aftermarket axles. I've since went to an S60, and it laughs at the couple of 1.38's I've put down.

If your suspension is truly stock, shocks and bars, I don't think you'll 60' hard enough to hurt it, I know I didn't start getting good 60's until I changed parts and shocks, but I'd at least pull it down and inspect everything. gear lube and some gaskets are cheap, given how expensive and dangerous it would be if it broke on a pass.

I sent you a pm

DIGGLER

iTrader: (1)

dont put any money into it, but it can last down into the 1.5's if the car doesnt shock it real hard. (soft converter).

Nick Crosby

Having fast 60' times is not a problem. Took it down the track tonight consistent 2.20 60' I think I am safe.

Night rider327

iTrader: (13)

Mine lasted for about 4 years or so on stock/mostly stock suspension in a car that once had traction went 11.40's @ 118 with 1.60's 60' times.

As with most of us here, my car was/is a work in progress, so I started out with a good engine and trans package and stock everything else. My 60' times was in the 2.30's IIRC at 1st.

I did waste money on upgrading the 10 bolt which I wish I didn't do. I put in yukon axles, TA alum cover, power trax locker, etc.

Then worked on the chassis/suspension as time went on.

Once the car started hooking pretty good (1.60's) the rear end didn't last me very long. I broke the pinion on it. Swapped in another one from a parts car and next weekend out broke the ring gear on it.

Let car sit for awhile as I was saving up for the ford 9", got it in there and never looked back.

357 Camaro

The guys here are right about the 7.5 its only a matter of time before it will go. I have a 10 bolt with moser axles spool Richmond gears and it has been reinforced a lot. But the small pinion is what will kill it. So I know its only a matter of time, but like night rider this is what im starting with.


On the other hand my buddy who has a firebird with a 383 700r4 4000 stall 7.5 with 4.10 gears. He still has it in his car and has made over 150 passes with 1.5 60' times with best of 11.2. Some people get lucky some people brake it on the first trip to the strip. Like I said its only a matter of time.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

x2

vortec350s10

Broke the pinion on mine, and never ran quicker than 1.8 60ft's. Had 3.42 Richmonds, with a stud girdle cover. Wish I never invested in it, as I doubt leaving it all stock would have died any sooner. I honestly think the 1-2 shift with slicks put the most stress on mine. Lasted 3 seasons N/A and then the first time at the track with boost it was making noise on the drive home. Driving it home on the freeway I gave it some throttle in 3rd and bang, she finally broke the teeth of the pinion. Let me tell you at 70mph it does not sounds good! My guess is the teeth were cracked and just hanging on until I gave it throttle that one last time.

FRMULA88

The weak links are; the c-clips, ring gear, pinion, axle shafts, u-joints, & driveshaft
carrier, & housing. (the whole assembly!) None of these parts were engineered for the abuse of racing.

This was a cost cutting rear end engineered to reduce weight/mass & (increase fuel economy).

GM put this rear end in everything except Heavy duty trucks & freight vehicles, The ' vette had IRS.

Upgrades will help but you still only have a 7.5" ring gear, by the time you upgrade all the parts which includes c-clip eliminators.
You might as well buy 12 bolt or 9", either one will cost the same or less and you will have a bullet-proof assembly.

FRMULA88

I snapped 3 teeth off the ring gear in mine back in 2001 @ Cordova while qualifying for the ISCA, EFI 12.5 index.
Foot-braking to 3000 RPM and a sticky track killed it.

Moroso posi-carrier with 27 spline axles, 3.73 gears, cast alum cover with bearing cap supports. blah blah blah...
All a waste of time & money. Thankfully I did not waste money on the c-clip eliminators.

I replaced the ring and pinion, but did not race the car hard again until I saved my money and put a 9" .

My advise based on experience; the best thing to do if you plan to seriously race is don't spend time & money on the 7.5 10 bolt.
It is a good way to empty your wallet and WHEN it breaks ( and it will ! ) you get to do it right the 2nd time.

youthful excitement be damned ! Do it once, do it right, you will be ahead $ wise in the long run.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

when i was dead set on making a 10 bolt work (back when i was operating on about $130/week at the local coffee shop), i managed to procure a second housing, and would do ebay guts in them, never spending even half of full retail for parts. i did this for a while and was always good at keeping a rear in the car and a rear in the garage on stands waiting. we are doing something similar for my cousins car till he gets a 9".

if you can swing it, always get the 9" or 12 bolt first though.

FRMULA88

Before time was never an issue, but money was tight

Youthful shortsightedness, never grasped the concept of a nickel here, a dime there all add up and you don't get back the time you spend.

Rushing to build a cheap crappy rear end and rebuilding again and again did not matter because we had the time to invest.

15 years and 3 kids later, time is more valuable to me now.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

i cannot agree more.