Transmissions and Drivetrain Need help with your trans? Problems with your axle?

Rearend swap

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-14-2010, 03:18 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
PT3BOOMER's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NORFOLK VA
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 84 Z28 / 99 S-10 ZR2 4X4
Engine: STOCK CARB'D 305 WITH 350 HEADS
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: STOCK
Rearend swap

I got a 84 z28 with a non posi rear end.....so if I go the salvage yard, what vehicle would bolt up? S10, isuzu rodeo, c10, silverado? I'm really only worried about leaf springs because my camaro has shocks and not leafs so any help would be appreciated.....Hoorah
Old 08-14-2010, 03:25 PM
  #2  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (14)
 
//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 12,652
Likes: 0
Received 46 Likes on 44 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am, 92 Firebird
Engine: 408 sbc, 3.1L of raw power
Transmission: TKO600, T5
Axle/Gears: Moser 9", 3:70 trutac, 3:23 torsion
Re: Rearend swap

you can only use a rear from a 82-92 f-body (camaro firebird), keeping the stock width, or a 97-02 4th gen f-body rear, but they are about 1.5-2" wider on each side.
Old 08-14-2010, 03:31 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
PT3BOOMER's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NORFOLK VA
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 84 Z28 / 99 S-10 ZR2 4X4
Engine: STOCK CARB'D 305 WITH 350 HEADS
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: STOCK
Re: Rearend swap

Originally Posted by //<86TA>\\
you can only use a rear from a 82-92 f-body (camaro firebird), keeping the stock width, or a 97-02 4th gen f-body rear, but they are about 1.5-2" wider on each side.
Wider how? Wheel spacing from the frame? All I want is positraction but I thought the driveshaft would fit the same.....it's the bolt to the body I'm concerned with also. But why stick with camaro and firebird rearends?
Old 08-14-2010, 04:59 PM
  #4  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (14)
 
//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 12,652
Likes: 0
Received 46 Likes on 44 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am, 92 Firebird
Engine: 408 sbc, 3.1L of raw power
Transmission: TKO600, T5
Axle/Gears: Moser 9", 3:70 trutac, 3:23 torsion
Re: Rearend swap

wider side to side, so your wheels will sit 1.5-2" further out from where they sit now. driveshaft will still work.

you can only use those rears, because they are the only gm rears setup with the torque arm setup that the 3rd and 4th gen use. the torque arm is the unique part. There are aftermarket rears available from Strange, Moser, Currie, ect, is the chevy 12 bolt, ford 9" and dana 60 variety, but are all over 2k for the setups.
Old 08-14-2010, 10:01 PM
  #5  
Supreme Member
 
big gear head's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,777
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Rearend swap

The 3rd and 4th gen F body cars have a different suspension from all other cars and trucks. Just like 86 TA said, these are the ONLY factory rear ends that will work, NO EXCEPTIONS. You can get the after market rear ends if you want something stronger and have the extra money.
Old 08-17-2010, 04:14 PM
  #6  
Junior Member
 
91_fbird's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: SMall Block 350 TBI
Transmission: 5-Speed
Axle/Gears: Stock(for now)
Re: Rearend swap

like today i bought a rear end off a 86 T/A with posi and rear discs....$150 and i have a feeling it may be built because it has a aftermarket diff cover with a drain in it and the car n the yard had gears n the boot....so its a toss up until i pull the cover n count the teeth but im optimistic....i jus had to rid of that open diff
Old 08-18-2010, 01:45 PM
  #7  
Member

 
bluers91's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Wild Blue Yonder
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 1991 RS Camaro
Engine: 350 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Posi
Re: Rearend swap

I'm thinking of going this route as well to get the gears I want. I called a couple shops in town today and they quoted me $625 & $675 to swap to some 3.73's to replace my 2.73's. That's not something the wife would go for! I had one guy say he would get me a used set installed for around $475?

A used 10 bolt is starting to become pretty appealing. It would be different if I was trying to build something seriously strong for racing.

What are your thoughts big gear head? Any advice?
Old 08-18-2010, 01:56 PM
  #8  
Banned
iTrader: (12)
 
Stephen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: Rearend swap

Originally Posted by 91_fbird
like today i bought a rear end off a 86 T/A with posi and rear discs....$150 and i have a feeling it may be built because it has a aftermarket diff cover with a drain in it and the car n the yard had gears n the boot....so its a toss up until i pull the cover n count the teeth but im optimistic....i jus had to rid of that open diff
The stock 3rd gen 9-bolt diffs came stock with a drain plug.

If your counting teeth to get the ratio, that is the hard way. Just spin an axle and count how many times the pinion spins for the axle to make 1 full revolution. That will give you the gear ratio inside.
Old 11-20-2018, 12:56 PM
  #9  
Junior Member
 
JojoDacosta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 26
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Rearend swap

Originally Posted by PT3BOOMER
I got a 84 z28 with a non posi rear end.....so if I go the salvage yard, what vehicle would bolt up? S10, isuzu rodeo, c10, silverado? I'm really only worried about leaf springs because my camaro has shocks and not leafs so any help would be appreciated.....Hoorah
stay away from them Isuzu rearends, parts are hard to find and when you find them, the ring and pinion is $840.00
Old 11-21-2018, 06:58 AM
  #10  
Supreme Member

 
midias's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Henrietta NY
Posts: 4,373
Received 191 Likes on 150 Posts
Car: 1984 Trans Am L69
Engine: Sniper EFI Powered 355
Transmission: WC T5 w/ Steel Support Plate
Axle/Gears: 3.42 10 Bolt Posi
Re: Rearend swap

Hopefully in the last 8 years he figured it out
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Nervous2
LSX and LTX Parts
8
03-10-2016 09:49 PM
theshackle
Tech / General Engine
2
08-22-2015 06:52 PM
Hello, Michael
Engine Swap
8
08-20-2015 03:19 PM
355sbcTPI
Electronics
2
08-19-2015 04:38 PM
86White_T/A305
LTX and LSX
0
08-17-2015 12:16 AM



Quick Reply: Rearend swap



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:24 PM.