i want to swap rear ends in my 3rd gen camaro.. but cant find a dang rearend with a 8.5 carrier. so i heard i can swap a 4th gen in there.. am i wrong? please help me.. thanks much.. oh and im trying to keep it simple as well.. i have roughly 2 months before i ship out for the military so i want to get it back on the road to spank some imports before then

it swaps directly, but adds 2 inches on each side. its wider.

And depending what year the diff is that's already in your car, the fourth gen diff isn't much stronger, if at all. If your car is a 1990 then the fourth gen diff is the same strength, just a little wider.

The only bolt in 8.5" available is the rare Dana 44. If you manage to find one in good condition, it will cost you about the same as an aftermarket bolt in 9", 12 bolt or Dana 60.

well im not so much looking for strength.. cause the one i have should be strong enough im not trying to go wild... just a little mild.. like i said i have 2 months before i leave.. sooo im just trying to do a little something.. but are those rears 8.5 carriers??? cause all the third gens i find have 7.5 and its driving me nuts. but i have stock wheels from a 4th gen with dot slicks on it.. if i swap the rears will those wheels and tires fit in my fenderwells??

99.9% of third and fourthgen rears will be 7.5 or 7.6. For general info about 10-bolt rears, check the following link:

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/tr...-10-bolts.html (FAQ About 10-Bolts)

JamesC

Third and fourth gens did not come with an 8.5" diff. Standard issue is the 7.5" which was upgraded to 7.625 around 1986. A few cars from 1986 to 1989 got the BW 9 bolt which is slightly stronger and cars such as the SLP Firehawk got a Dana 44. The Dana 44 was also available over the counter from GM many years ago as an upgrade.

There are no other factory options for a diff.