Chuck84TA

After agonizing over the decision whether to go with a

1. 3.70 9-Bolt from Franks Pontiac Parts in Twentynine Palms,CA

scroll down 1/3 the way, He's got a nice looking used 9-bolt

http://www.frankspontiacparts.com/en...nsionparts.htm


2. Ford 9" or something from Moser or Strange from Spohn or somebody



3. Rebuild the current 10-bolt to better than OE specs.



I decided to go to door #3.

Here are my reasons:
1) Cash-
Frankly buying a new rear-end with just the basic brake package, mind you, is SCARY expensive these days. Gone are the days when you can buy a new 9" for $2000. You are easily within striking distance of $4000 just to get it out the door to your home! On the other side of the spectrum, buying a used 9-bolt is the cheap and easy way but the peace of mind of a used unit with questionable reliability, since it is used, does not seem like a wise medium/long term purchase either. The cost of a rebuild is essentially the same as it was 4 years ago!

2) My driving habits-
I have NO intention of putting slicks on the back, dropping an LS under the hood, or drive like how Speed-Shift Sofa used to drive until he realized that you can let off the gas to shift gears... (Sorry, for the light hearted jab Sofa, but I couldnt resist I love you man!!!! ). I will eventually have a 330-350 hp SBC under the hood (ZZ4 is currently in mind) but nothing more elaborate than that.

3) Testimonies on TGO-
I could not even approach the idea of a rear-end rebuild without the shared experiences of others:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...de-photos.html

Ronusmc has been a very valuable and timely resource of information both by private messaging and his own posts....Big Gear Head has also been very helpful and responsive in my differential decision making. Thank you guys!


So here is the parts list:

From Tom's Differential
http://www.tomsdifferentials.com/


1. AAM 3.73 ring and pinion = $ 210
2. master bearing kit with super shims = $ 110
3. axle bearings and seals = $ 30.00
4. 28 spline Eaton posi. Unit = $ 429 !!!!! (best deal I could find!)

From Jegs:

5. Moser 28 spline axles = $ 260.99
6. Moser Differential cover = $ 160.99
7. Wheel studs = $ 17.99

Total Parts = $1219

DIfferential/Ring and pinion choices were the most difficult (and expensive) decision to be made. It came down to a:

1-Yukon Dura-Grip - Seems like a nice diff with a good reputation. $404 at summit

2-Eaton TrueTrac - Also seems like a good diff, from what some say its almost identically similar to the Zexel/Torsen worm gear units. $420~

3-Eaton Posi - Very highly regarded. But the price is $520.. Unless Ronusmc finds it for you for $429 (SCORE!!!)

At the end of the day, the testimonies and cant beat it price for the Eaton Posi won out!

For the Ring and pinion, I looked into: Yukon Gears, Motive Gears, Richmond, Jegs brand, and AAM.

Again, the counsel of Big Gear Head to purchase a AAM ring and pinion from Tom's Differential won out. The AAM gears make essentially no noise (if installed correctly).

Which brings me to the hard part..... Finding a worthy surgeon for this major transplant.

Its not easy to find somebody who can do the job and do it at a reasonable cost. Sometimes, however you just get lucky. Just under 10 minutes from my house is a speed-shop (I think that is an understatement) that is gaining national recognition for their chassis rebuilds.

http://schwartzperformance.com/

Now I just need to lock in a date/time hopefully this month.

Stay Tuned....

Chuck

midias

Sounds good, go for it.

Ron U.S.M.C.

A killer list ,its going to be great.

1. AAM 3.73 ring and pinion = $ 210
2. master bearing kit with super shims = $ 110
3. axle bearings and seals = $ 30.00
4. 28 spline Eaton posi. Unit = $ 429 !!!!! (best deal I could find!)

From Jegs:

5. Moser 28 spline axles = $ 260.99
6. Moser Differential cover = $ 160.99
7. Wheel studs = $ 17.99

big gear head

The AAM gears are OEM, so you should hear no noise at all. Tom is the largest Eaton dealer in the country, so he has great prices on them. He also has very good installation kits. You should end up with a very nice 10 bolt.

Chuck84TA

Here are some pics. The car is now at Schwartz performance.

Some rear end shots taken 1 month ago





Some of the parts that arrived:









https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...-img-0798.html

big gear head

I can't get the links to work.

Chuck84TA

Ok,

try these..Some pics of the rear about a month ago on a lift...

Chuck84TA

Driveshaft, Axle and Cover

Chuck84TA

I was unable to get individual pics of the Eaton Posi, Ring and Pinion... Just got home from a long 6 day trip for work and had to get the car in early this morning with the parts to get it all done

Chuck84TA

Really good service at Schwartz by the way. very happy with how things are going!

Chuck84TA

They got it on the lift at around lunchtime today. Stopped by to check progress and take some pics (I will get them out later, just got called out for a trip so ill try to get at that in the next day or so)

Breaking in the new gears.....Talked to Tom and he said that as long as I'm not drag racing the car then the only thing to adhere to is to change out the diff fluid at 500-700 miles.

The original 3.73 ring and pinion looked good, no teeth missing...you'll see in the pics soon.

They will probably be done by tomorrow but I won't be back until late Friday so we are thinking Saturday morning for the pickup.

Chuck

Chuck84TA

Ok,
Lets see if I can get some updated pics on here. Hope this works..

These are the pics of the car on the lift....What you are seeing is the old Ring and differential (non-posi)..

It appears that the ring teeth look good.

camaromike222

Smells lovely don't it? Should be fun build.

Chuck84TA

Thank you Dale Schwartz for taking these pictures! Thank you also to Jeff Schwartz and the crew for a fine job!

Thank you Ericka for keeping me up to date with my "baby"


Housing only



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Old Axle-



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New 3.73 Ring/Pinion and Eaton Posi

The old Ring/Pinion still looks good. No teeth missing. Not sure if I will keep it or sell it.


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Chuck84TA

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Almost done....



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Love the MOSER cover!!!



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Chuck84TA

Verdict:

i was going to go with the Yukon differential because of cost, I found the Eaton posi at Toms Differential and I am so glad I did! This car has changed into a more sophisticated corner carving specialist.

Found a newly paved "empty" parking lot nearby. You know the feeling when you have that inkling to "see what this thing can do" well..... lets say that the parking lot looks ...ahem.... a little "aged".

Ron U.S.M.C.

Very very nice. Just goes to show what perseverance can do.