i have a 3.42 posi in my 85 iroc that refuses to lock up anymore, so i got a 3.08 posi that locks up good and im waiting to put it in. i have a few questions though,
1. how hard is a rear end swap?
2. will i notice a big differecne from 3.42 to 3.08?
3. how hard is it to swap 3.08 gears to 3.73?
4. whats all this i keep hearing about "carriers" and will a 3.08 carrier "carry" a 3.73 gear?
i respect your advice, youve helped me a lot already in other posts. *** bless thirdgen.org
"yea though i walk through the valley of the burners of r*ce, i shall fear no turbo, for the torque is with me"
1. how hard is a rear end swap?
2. will i notice a big differecne from 3.42 to 3.08?
3. how hard is it to swap 3.08 gears to 3.73?
4. whats all this i keep hearing about "carriers" and will a 3.08 carrier "carry" a 3.73 gear?
i respect your advice, youve helped me a lot already in other posts. *** bless thirdgen.org
"yea though i walk through the valley of the burners of r*ce, i shall fear no turbo, for the torque is with me"
Senior Member
1. A rear end swap is very simple provided that you have a jack and a set of stands. Its basically just a unbolt/bolt in procedure. Even a Haynes or Chiltons manual could get you through it.
2. You should notice a difference going from 3.42s to 3.08s.
3. If you want to swap from 3.08s to 3.73s and keep the same carrier then you will have to buy 3.73 gears specifically made for a 2 series carrier. You can get these from Richmond gear.
4. Simply put a carrier is what the gears in the rear end actually ride on. There are two kinds in the 7.5" 10 bolt rear. A 2 series carrier and a 3 series. Two series carriers use 2.73 and 3.08 gears in the F-Bodies. Three series carriers utilize 3.23 and numerically higher gears. As stated above, if you want to use 3.73s in a two series carrier you need to get 3.73 gears for a two series carrier.
HTH.
2. You should notice a difference going from 3.42s to 3.08s.
3. If you want to swap from 3.08s to 3.73s and keep the same carrier then you will have to buy 3.73 gears specifically made for a 2 series carrier. You can get these from Richmond gear.
4. Simply put a carrier is what the gears in the rear end actually ride on. There are two kinds in the 7.5" 10 bolt rear. A 2 series carrier and a 3 series. Two series carriers use 2.73 and 3.08 gears in the F-Bodies. Three series carriers utilize 3.23 and numerically higher gears. As stated above, if you want to use 3.73s in a two series carrier you need to get 3.73 gears for a two series carrier.
HTH.
ok thanks a lot. another potential disaster avoided by consulting the board
alloy
Supreme Member
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Jul 13, 2025
Since you already have the 3.42 gears, why not get the SLP zexel posi for $99 ,and a set of 28 spline axles out of a bone yard and put in the rear you have in the car.
http://www.slponline.com/view_produc...TNUMBER=64501T
I just went the other way, from 3.08"s to 3.42" with a zexel and couldn't be happier. The 3.08's were just too high for my car. You had to slip the clutch everytime you took off from a stop, and it was extremely difficult to start off in the wet. With the 3.42's it's much better. Not to mention the two solid black marks I leave now when I get on it from a stop. The zexel is one of the smoothest posi's I've ever had. And the price from SLP can't be beat.
The zexel unit is a drop in install provided you have 3.23 gears or higher, (you have 3.42's so you are set that way), and you have 28 spline axles. 28 spline axles can be found if you look hard enough. They come in 90 or newer 3rd gen cars. If you decide to go this way and can't find a set of axles, let me know. I have an extra set.
Good luck.
http://www.slponline.com/view_produc...TNUMBER=64501T
I just went the other way, from 3.08"s to 3.42" with a zexel and couldn't be happier. The 3.08's were just too high for my car. You had to slip the clutch everytime you took off from a stop, and it was extremely difficult to start off in the wet. With the 3.42's it's much better. Not to mention the two solid black marks I leave now when I get on it from a stop. The zexel is one of the smoothest posi's I've ever had. And the price from SLP can't be beat.
The zexel unit is a drop in install provided you have 3.23 gears or higher, (you have 3.42's so you are set that way), and you have 28 spline axles. 28 spline axles can be found if you look hard enough. They come in 90 or newer 3rd gen cars. If you decide to go this way and can't find a set of axles, let me know. I have an extra set.
Good luck.
