so i have 3.73 gears and a posi with 28 spline axles that i would like put in the Z28. random thought: i was just browsing and i think i have the carrier too? idk i bought this stuff a whilee ago. anyways. so i have never built a rear end before, then again before this car i never worked on one, i learn as i go. so although i may not know much about one thing, i have an incredible amount of patience. should i attempt in putting the gears and posi in, or should i pay someone else? about how much would it be if i paid someone else? if i did it myself, what kind of tools would i need?

If you have the patients to do the job right then go for it. Setting up a ring and pinion set requires assembling and disassembling the rear end several times to get the pinion depth right. You have to put a pinion shim on, install the pinion, install the differential, set the backlash, check the contact pattern, take everything back out, change the pinion shim and do it all over again until the contact pattern is correct. I can coath you through it if you have the tools to do it. I've helped many people do their first set of gears by email.

If you don't have the tools and don't want to try it then the cost would be around $250 to $400 to have someone else do it.

interesting,

how much are the tools, or, what exactly would i need?

i think i'm going to go to the shop near me and ask them how much they would charge, and if its ridiculous then i'll do it myself

http://community.webshots.com/album/55411986qgnRwr
Here are some of the tools that I use. You don't need all of them, but you do need a press, bearing seperator, torque wrench, dial indicator with magnetic base and a few others.

The hard part isn't the tools. It's the knowledge to set it up CORRECTLY.

Suck to spend all that $ on tools, to blow it up on your first drive around the block!

If you can learn to do it good, GREAT! Farm yourself out to others, cheaper than a shop.

I had a neighbor in an old duplex that used to do that. Helped pay for part for his Pro Street Monte.

hmm i think i'm leaning more towards building it myself.

the only part thats causing me to hesitate is that 1. like Stephen said, its the knowledge thats the thing. 2. the worry of knowing the importance of getting it right.

usually when i dont have great knowledge on the subject and it's just time consuming, i'll dive in.

like i said i'm leaning more towards doing it myself, big gear head if you're willing to talk me through it with detail over email i'll be in, and if you have any pics that would help a lot, i'd be sure to take pics as well.

The hardest part is reading the contact pattern. You can take pictures and send them to me and I'll read it for you and tell you which way you need to go. Setting the bearing preload and backlash isn't that hard to do. You will need a press and the tools that I listed above. If you need prices on the parts I can help with that too.

yeah that could help, where would i get them?

at any autozone or pepboys?

or would i have to order online from summit or something

PM sent.

There is a shop in my town that will set up a rear end for $150.

intriguing, though i have no idea how much it would cost to send the rear end + the axles&posi

You're killing me Smalls.

Call around, see if you can get it done somewhere local for cheap.

buy the tools, learn to do them properly, and then charge others to do theirs. it's the american way. JUST MAKE SURE YOU DON'T SCREW YOURSELF OR OTHERS!