I have a gm 10 bolt with a series 3 carrier. I am installing a set of Precision 3.73 gears. I got the Richmond install kit. It goes on an 82 trans am with a disk rear.

I do not have any of the special tools to install this (dial indicator, needle guage, whatever). I don't have a place that I can rent these either. Is it absolutely necessary to have these for the installation or can I just do it with the marking compound and road tests?

Can I just use the factory shims for this installation? Basically I need any suggestions you can give me. I am nearly clueless about this install.

 

Jack up your car and remove the rear wheels.
Remove the diff cover. Rotate the Diff until you have access to the retaining pin holding in the cross-pin. Remove the retaining pin and then the cross pin. Push the axles in and remove the c-clips. Remove the axles. Remove the diff, making note of which side each shim and cup come from.

Then take out the old pinion. Take it to a rear-end shop. Have them place the same shims from your old pinion on your new pinion and install a new pinion bearing on the new pinion.

Install the pinion/bearing, the crush sleeve, the other pinion bearing, the yoke, the washer, and the pinion nut. Torque pinion nut (This is hard). You want about 15-20 inch-lbs of effort to turn the pinion alone.

Remove old ring gear from diff. (Bolts are reverse threaded). Using new bolts, put on new ring gear, torque to spec. Place the diff back into the rear end using the respective shims/cups.
Torque girdle to appropriate spec. Place axles back in, install c-clips, crosspin, and retaining pin.

Use marking compound to check mesh of gear teeth.
Install cover, suspension components, and, oh yeah, add posi diff fluid.

 

tpi guys method might work but i'd never do it. i'd check pinion depth and back lash. they sell the tools to do it with every day, why don't you buy them? especially if you're going to be doing this sort of thing.

 

The only one I can get a hold of is the dial indicator (for backlash)

Do I need the depth tool??

 

In my defense, I have done it this way personally, and have beat the car like a red headed stepchild for about three years. A good friend of mine used the same technique (or rather, lack thereof), runs 12.20@115, and beats the car daily.

P.s. Breaking Stuff is cool

 

i've gotten pretty good, or lucky ,measureing the new bearing, the old bearing, the pinion depth and figuering out what the shim should be and hitting it the first time. most if not all 7.5 10 bolts will need a .035 shim. the back lash is something that would be hard to guess at, i ithnk it's best to check it with an indicator. ask around someone ought to have a dial caliper or depth mike you could borrow, or look to buy a cheaper one. sears has soem good cheap stuff.

tpi guy i'm sure it'd work, i just wouldn't do it. then again i'm always looking for a reason to buy a new tool to add to my collection.

 

Don't forget you'll have to press the bearings on the pinion.