I have been using a 2.73 limited slip drum brake rear end. Just found out it was leaking when I got home from the track today so... should I rebuild what I have or try and hunt for something else? What ratio should I go with (I was thinking 3.23 or 3.42)? What kind of unit, posi or limited slip (would LS be better for AutoX than the posi would)? What kind of housing? What kind of brakes? How much do you think it will cost?

I have no experiance with this.

 

limited slip and posi are the exact same thing to start. and brakes = disc. try to get a ls1 rear w/ posi, discs, and 342's

 

3.42 or 3.73 gears.
Torsen T2R LSD unit.
LS1 rear brakes (and do LS1 front brakes as well.)

 

I don't want to buy an LS1 rear because my IROC wheels will stick way out and not look good. So, I was thinking about 3.42 gears and would like to switch to a disk rear. How much would the LS1 brakes cost if I got the front and back? Do you know a price on the Torson T2R... I couldn't find it?

However, since I still plan on buying the Koni yellows, sfc, and rear package from UMI I figured I would just have all the seals and bearings replaced for about $200 and stick with what I have for now. The mechanic quoted me about $1,000-$1,400 if I wanted to completely rebuild the rear end (new gears, new posi, axles, seals and bearings, labor and all that stuff). I figured for that I might as well buy a brand new rear.

Will changing the gear ratio help improve my times at all for autox? I thought that would really only help for drag racing and add some more fun to driving around town.

 

well it'll make your car accelerate faster, so i dont see how that would not make u faster

 

You should be able to get the Torsen T2R from here,
http://stranoparts.com/

I think it is about $550 or so.

LS1 Brakes for the fronts are about $650, Ed Miller sells kits, not sure what the backs cost and what needs to be done to get them on.
http://bigbrakeupgrade.com/

 

The best gear ratio also depends on how many miles you put on the car and how much you care about gas mileage. I swapped from 2.73's to 3.23's with a clutch type posi out of a newer f-body. The gears are good (reasonable cruise rpm with much better acceleration), but the clutches in the posi are slipping and keeping me from getting on the throttle very early out of turns. I'd beware of buying one of the clutch types used. If you have the money, go with a torsen. You might not actually need to change anything right away, though. Maybe the gasket is just leaking? Definitely go to disc brakes all the way around...I'm hoping to be able to upgrade to ls1 front and rear soon.

 

I dropped the car off today after school. He says it is just a seal that is leaking but I told him to go ahead and replace all the bearings and stuff right away since he is gonna have it out and taken apart. I figured with what little power my 305 makes, I dont need anything real nice for now.

But thanks for the help/tips everyone. You gave some ideas of what to go with when the time comes for me to replace it with a 12 bolt.

 

Old thread, I know. But I wanted to clear this up & show this pic of a car with a 4th gen rear, but 3rd gen rear offset stock wheels..

16" I assume? They won't stick out. They'll fit virtualy flush with the fender lip.

 

Thanks for the pic, but if it is flush with the fender lip, wont that mean it will cut into the tire if I would go over a big enough bump?

 

Even bone stock, it'll rub on a big enough bump....IF your bumpstop allows it too.

As for THAT car, I'm not sure. I'll ask him if he ever rubs.. My GTA is the white car next to his, on the left, just in the pic.