OK, I got tan 87 Z (Drums in the rear). I was going to upgrade my gears, but then I saw some talk on swapping a 4th gen rear into the car.

Could someone tell me what kind of trouble this will cause, and whether the advantage of posi/larger gears/discs is worth it? Or would it just be better to go for gears in my current setup? I've read the tech article, and the installation of the gears seems really straight-forward, and I know I can get my dad to do it.

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Trevor
87 Z28 - LG4 - 305
Hedman Headers, Y-Pipe, Dynomax Exhaust, K&N Open Air Filter

http://immortaltk.tripod.com/z.html

 

Not to be mean or anything, but I have typed my information on the whole fourth gen rear swap about five times in the last week so do a search! You can email me after reading the existing posts if you want any specific questions answered.

Laterzzzzz
Matt

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1987 GTA L98 MD8
355, TFS Heads, LT4 Hot Cam
My GTA

The Minnesota F-body Club

 

YGM

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Trevor
87 Z28 - LG4 - 305
Hedman Headers, Y-Pipe, Dynomax Exhaust, K&N Open Air Filter

http://immortaltk.tripod.com/z.html

 

Will I be able to use my aftermarket 16" rims? What about my stock 15" rims? Is the bolt pattern/spacing the same?



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Trevor
87 Z28 - LG4 - 305
Hedman Headers, Y-Pipe, Dynomax Exhaust, K&N Open Air Filter

http://immortaltk.tripod.com/z.html

 

16" rims for a thirdgen should work fine as I have no problems with my stock 16" GTA wheels. I am not sure about 15" rims.... I kind of doubt it but I am not really sure. Why would you want to run 15" rims anyways?

The offset of the rims on the rear will be off after the swap. The fourth gen rear is 3 inches wider overall than a third gen rear axle. If you ran a rim with the offset for a fourth gen car, the rear would be good to go but the front would be off since the fourth gen wheels have more offset than the third gen wheels do (especially in the front). I think the offset figures for a third gen are 0 mm front, and 19 mm rear (don't qoute me on this but I think I am close). Fourth gen cars run the same offset all the way around the car. I am not sure about 16" rim offset figures for a fourth gen, but 17x9 rims will have 50 mm offset. So if you want the offsets to be right, get a set of fourth gen wheels and some spacers for the front so that the front is as wide as a fourth gen. Check out www.skulte.com for the spacers.

My plan is to get the spacers for the front so I can run fourth gen wheels all the way around. I have my eye on some 17x9 rims with the 50 mm offset and some 275/40ZR17s...... I can't wait to gather up the cash to do this upgrade. My GTA wheels stick out 1.5" farther than the stock rear axle had them at (since the axle is 3" wider.... 3/2 = 1.5). It doesn't look real bad and a few people actually like it, but I am picky about wheel fitment on cars and I really want to get my fourth gen offset rims as soon as possible. You can check out the pics from my website for some ideas on how a third gen looks with a fourth gen rear (All the pics are with the fourth gen rear already installed).

Laterzzzzzz

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1987 GTA L98 MD8
355, TFS Heads, LT4 Hot Cam
My GTA

The Minnesota F-body Club

 

I was actually planning on putting my car on the 15" stock mags during the winter when it's parked. But I guess if I can't do that, then I'll suffer and leave my 16's on.

Question though, I do NOT want to get new rims, so would I be able to buy something to adapt my current wheels to a 4th gen rear? And what exactly would this be called?



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Trevor
87 Z28 - LG4 - 305
Hedman Headers, Y-Pipe, Dynomax Exhaust, K&N Open Air Filter

http://immortaltk.tripod.com/z.html