Firebird Mess85

So as far as I know I have 323 gears in the axle because it was a v6 car originally and now a 305.

I'm only able to do one wheel peels it seems and was wondering if there is any way to lock the differential?

89RS_82Z

iTrader: (2)

buy as LSD carrier is your best bet

or a spool, but with a spool you will chirp around turn and just general PITA in a street car

AlkyIROC

You can buy and install a posi but it's something that the average person can't do. A Powertrax locker is an easy installation into an open diff that just about anyone can do.

tony_cogliandro

iTrader: (3)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Camar...05127005r37593 go getum - 125 and you have got it.
for 250 you can get a 3rd gen rear end with disk breaks and posi too - but this is cheaper.
i even found one i like, but cant get it - project for the month is heads and cam.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Tony's ebay suggestion is a good one, though you'll need 28-spline axles to make it work. For a bit more info check the following link about halfway down:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...-10-bolts.html

JamesC

Atilla the Fun

The summer I had my '88 Camaro, I welded up the spiders. This is called a Lincoln locker, but I used a Miller MIG. Anyway, 3.73:1, 26 spline 7.625", car had a 355/700R-4 combo, on 235/60R15 tires. It was educational, and nothing broke, despite lots of tire chirping and hopping in and out of tight parking spaces, and several passes down the 1/4-mile dragstrip, including burnouts. Still, it's dangerous, illegal, and I won't do it again. $500 for a good posi is far cheaper than any potential lawsuit.

JPhillis

If money is the issue you can buy LSD rebuilt off of ebay for under $200, thats what I did and have had no trouble as of yet...

big gear head

You know that I'm going to recommend the Eaton posi. It's the best out there for most GM cars. A new one is $447 plus shipping. You need a set of bearings and shims to install it. You will also need a dial indicator with a magnetic base to set the backlash.

Atilla the Fun

I was hoping big gear head had some comment on the Lincoln locker.

Firebird Mess85

So just get the carrier or buy a whole new rearend posi? I'm a little confused about some terminology but that link to the other thread did help a bit. What's a spider that you said was welded? And what is Powertrax?

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

A spider is an internal gear. It doesn't "gear up" or "gear down", it's simply 1:1. It allows the left or right to turn independently, such as turning a corner...
Welding them together forces left and right to turn together - all the time. Turning a corner is harder (chirp, chirp chirp!), but straight line traction is best.

Powertrax is a brand of posi. It's a limited slip unit (limited slip=posi) that is installed in your existing OPEN carrier.
A carrier is what you bolt your ring gear to. It's the "center chunk". The carrier can be an open, limited slip (of any variety, worm gear style like a torsion, clutch style like an eaton, gear style like a Detroit locker) or it can be a spool. A lincoln locker is a homemade spool.
Putting a "mini spool" inside your open carrier is also possible. (A non-mini spool is the entire carrier).


Hope that cleared things up, rather than the other way around. Lots of info on the net though, keep researching!

oh, I almost forgot to give my opinion! Detroit true trac. It's another flavor of posi. It's a worm gear style, like the Torsions that some 4th gens got. It's only about $380 or something, and has no clutches to wear out. Same install as an Eaton clutch style (still have to re-set up the gears).

89RS_82Z

iTrader: (2)

they say a picture is worth 1000 words right????



This is an open diff, the diff case is also called the carrier





this is a powertrax, it goes inside the carrier you got






This is an LSD (posi) carrier notice the springs and clutchs, this allows it to lock up (twin tire fire) but also allows it to "slip" around turns

89RS_82Z

iTrader: (2)

this is a mini spool, it goes inside the carrier, this gives you full posi, both tires all the time, this is the same as welding the spider gears, not really for the street





and here is a full spool it replaces the carrier and you got this attached to your ring gear




i hope this clears it up for you and put some pictures to the words we talked about

big gear head

I think everybody knows how dangerous a Lincoln Locker is. Welding a heat treated gear makes it brittle. If the axle gears break then the c clips will come off of the axles and the axles and wheels will leave the car. I have seen it happen.

Atilla the Fun

I don't agree about everybody knowing it's dangerous. Many have heard of it, but when I explain, these people don't believe just one guy saying so. The few I've talked to about it later have all, without exception, gone in search of other opinions. Probably happened a few times to any automotive machinist. So many teens just getting started in this hobby, we hafta try to stop them from trying this.

big gear head

You are right. I have run into the same problem with spools and mini spools. People don't understand how dangerous these things are on the street. Not only to themselves, but to other people who share the road with them. Might be my wife and kids that they kill when the axle and wheel come out.

Huffty500

So following up all this I live over in England and my thirdgen has been giving me posi ache (understatement). Basically I wrecked one 2.73 posi and after having it rebuilt it started clunking again. Opened it up and sure enough one of the clutch plates has been cracked and the metal pushed out by one of the springs in the corner. So anyway I've got myself a 3.23 open rear end in great nick but I just cant live with a one legger (espescially as i have nitrous.)

My question is where can I get a mini spool from and lock it? Ive welded several posis before on small powered cars where they shouldnt and havent broken, but I dont fancy doing it on a third gen. How safe is a mini spool? Obviously getting parts for me is tricky so I dont want to get an eaton, detroit etc and have that break on me.

What would you guys do? 3.23 open ender, but want it locked on a budget. cheers guys.

big gear head

I don't think you would ever have any problems with the Eaton. If this is a race car then the spool would be all right, but not in a street car. The little 7.5 rear end isn't strong enough to handle much power anyway, so anything that you put in it is subject to break.

Huffty500

Thanks for that i knew you'd be the man to help. I basically have 2.73 gears pretty stock but I run nitrous so that could grenade it. Ive got the 3.23 axle so that'll help put more force on the tyres :-). So ok for racing but not street? Just quickly is that because it's considered a handfull to drive on the street with rampant understeer? Im fine with it being a handful just not fine on it grenading. And ok ok a few doughnuts in the past never helped my axle lol.

big gear head

I've seen cars with spools on the street that broke all of the studs off of an axle, broke axles, cracked wheels and other things. A spool puts a lot of stress on parts when you have to turn corners a lot. If you want something stronger I can fix you up with a Moser 12 bolt. I know shipping is a big expense for you, but you won't break any more rear ends. I've shipped these all over the world.

Huffty500

yeah something like that is ultimately what i need. shipping, import tax all that adds up, oh and the dollar rate. How much do you charge and what's the spec of the axle? I would prefer a good reconditioned axle which bolts straight in. Some sub frame connectors wont go a miss either lol

big gear head

I sent you a PM.

I H8 WWD

iTrader: (5)

Correction, you have 3.42's if this is an original 85 v6 car.

Please verify
https://www.thirdgen.org/1985-chevy-camaro

rebel1222

What's the difference between a 4th gen rearend and a thrid gen rearend?

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

You'll find the answer in the following FAQ:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...-10-bolts.html

JamesC

rebel1222

Thanks JamesC for the link. I have a specific question and I did a search and couldn't find a thread that addressed my specific problem.

All of a sudden my sons car started making a clunking sound and actually slips during take off. After tightening the rear tranny mount, and inspecting the drive shaft and looking at the rear end area, everything looks fine. It sounds like the rear end is missing a couple of teeth and is slipping when those missing teeth get around during take off. This only occures during take off. Would it be easier to replace the whole rear end or just the gear?

Or, am I way off base and it possibly be something much simpler?

I also noticed a glaze covering the differiental as if to suggest the grease has leaked all out.

I'll take the diff cover off tonight and inspect it.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Zepher

iTrader: (1)

my friend did that on his 87 z28.
turning on wet roads was pretty interesting in that car.

mooch1

i don't recommend a spool for a street car...i got a rebuilt posi unit and got it installed by a pro ,,,not really expensive .. there are auburn's ,,and eaton being really great units ,,just be careful of the spline count in your car ,,,the axles and the posi unit you need for a 1982-1988 camaro/firebird is with 26 splines ..and 1989 to 1992 you need 28 splines....as for the rest ..i kept my ring gear off the open rear and installed on the new posi without removing the pinion gear,,then he installed it and adjusted it and filled it up with new fresh oil.. now i find it takes off quicker and i have 2 tire marks!....good upgrade...