Alrite

so, winters coming, along with more mods to my heap.

the car is an 89 firebird.

So, I was quoted a price of 250$$ for a rear from a 4th gen camaro.
I have read the tech article, and it talks about proportioning valves,wheel spacers....and I have read a couple of posts here that says its best to get new sphon control arms to get the proper alignment.

I was also quoted 750$$ to have a 3:42 posi installed at the local trans shop, although I dont know what kind of posi it would be.

So, all in all, what is the best way to go?
How likely is it that the 4th gen posi would need to be replaced due to wear?
To anyone who has done this, how much did it end up costing for the 4th gen?

 

You won't need those wheel spacers for the rear, in fact, just the opposite. You need to run 4th gen wheels so that they don't stick out. Then you'll need the spacers for the front so you can run the 4th gen wheels on the front to even everything out.

You only need to swap proportioning valve if you are going from disc to drum or drum to disc.

Spohn control arms to get proper alignment? Other than being wider, the rear axle is the same, so your existing control arms will mount the same. If you car is lowered, however, it is highly reccomended that you get LCA relocation brackets for proper LCA geometry.

 

To add to 4L60bliss's post....
Don't worry about the 4thgen posi being worn out....chances are its ok. I've swapped in a 4thgen rear into my 89 when I had it. I even used the stock IROC wheels, and the tires ended up even with the fenderwells. This swap is a direct bolt-in..
Don't pay those crackheads $750 for a posi unit. You can get a new pull-out Torsen usit from SLP for 100 bucks.
$250 for a 4thgen rear is an excellent price!

Good luck!

 

hey, thanx for the fast replys

I am the sort of person, and they are rare in my experience, that completley love my 3rd gen firebird wheels. I do not want to lose them.
so how much are these spacers? I dont mind the wheels sticking out a little bit.
Im sure the 250$$ does not include wheels anyways, and I would not want to be spending 200$$ per tire for those 17 inch tires anyway.
I thought all 4th gens came with the disc brakes?
the 750$ was for the gears, and posi unit installed, I thought it was a goo price

 

I am doing this as well. Do you know the part number for the proportioning valve?

Also, how do you handel the T fitting? I have a 2001 rear with ABS and it has two seperate lines. From a brief inspection, the new lines look larger than my old ones so I am not sure I can simply swap the fitting.

Anyone else come across this?

Josh, can you please foward me the tech article?

Thanks,
BILL

 

You need:

Rear (I'd hope so)
Fluid (if you want to change it)
Black Paint (may as well, since it's off the car)
Rotors
Pads (May or may not want to change these)

If you're upgrading to discs
Proportion Valve (WIL 260-2220 I believe at summit)
3 (3/16") inverted flare tubing nuts
2 (1/4") inverted flare tubing nuts
1 (3/16") inverted flare female "T" fitting
2 (3/16" inverted male flare to 1/4" inverted female flare adapters

Any Brake tools, benders, flarers,
Jack and Jack stands
New speedometer gear (if your changing gears, I'd hope so)

This should be it? I'm about to do the swap, and this is my list, so I hope I'm not forgetting anything. Don't take this as gospel however.

 

i just got a rearend, well i can still back out of it but i told him i will send him a deposit...its a 2002 SS rear end with 3k miles on it for 300 bucks

It has no brakes on it whatsoever, backing plates, calipers, rotors, etc. First, am i getting ripped off? i don't think so but can i put my drums from my original axle onto it for now. I want discs eventually but i just don't have the cash right now. Do the 3rd gen backing plates bolt up to the 4th gen rear?
Thanks
J

 

The thing is with SS rear ends is that *I THINK* they got a tougher positraction unit. This is where the SLP Takeoff comes from, because they take off the OEM posi units from Z28's and put in tougher ones to make an SS. I don't know if it will bolt up, however.

 

My guess is the backing plates will bolt right on. It's just four bolts. You might have problems emergency break cables because with the longer length rear.

Where do you plan to get the T fittings?

BILL

 

If you mean how am i going to run the brake lines, i dont know yet. I will just see when i get there. I have a double flaring kit and pipe bender so getting a couple universal lines from napa and bending them in really no big deal at all. Might get the T from a junk car or just from napa. Have to see lol. I don't even know if it has lines or not cause i haven't see it yet... i doubt it though.
I hope the drums work...but from the post above it looks like i may have to spend the money sooner than later.