Hello.
We're building up the wife's 84z for a big 355 this winter and we're scrapping the peg leg w/ 3.23's for a Zexel-Torsen heavy duty differential and some Richmond 3.73's.

Her axles are 26 spline and the diff is for 28...

I understand that 4thgen axles are a bit wider than 3rd, so my question is what is the easiest approach...

1. Swap a disc brake rear from a scrapped 4thgen and throw in the posi/gear combo?

2. Get 28 spline axles from a 87-92?

3. You make a suggestion in case i've missed something or messed some facts

Much appreciated!!!

 

get 28 spline axles for a 3rd gen f body

 

...because that's easiest?

Would the 4thgen axles work? I've heard they're a bit wider.

They're definitely easier to find though

 

No they will not work. The place where the bearing goes on them is nearly 2" different (same amount of difference as their length).

No one in his right mind will sell just the axles out of a rear end, especially not out of one as highly sought-after as the late-model 3rd gen ones are, unless the rest of the rear is trashed. You can buy axles at the junkyard; but in reality, you're actually buying a rear end, and you're being granted the provilege of leaving the now useless and worthless junk behind to be melted down.

Go find a 90-92 6-cyl Camaro or Firebird in the boneyard, and snag the rear. That's usually cheaper than buying just the axles. In fact, ask for a 6-cyl rear, that way they won't think you're a hot-rodder that's looking for hot-rod stuff and will pay anything to get it, and jack the price accordingly.

 

Okay so viable choices are...

1. Entire 4thgen rear-end, swap in our posi/gears.

2. 90-02 3rdgen rear end, steal the axles.

THanks!

 

There is also one other choice; which is to buy a set of new axles. They'll cost roughly $125 per axle from any of a number of sources; so if you get quoted anywhere near $250 or so for a whole rear, it might be better to buy new, better-than-stock axles instead.

http://www.footeaxle.com/Pages/start.html Look at their "Evolution" series... a much better alternative for a stock replacement configuration of axle, than a "custom" axle such as Moser or Strange.

 

I suppose the chances of finding used ones from a 3rdgen that aren't TOO used might be even tougher

Thanks for the suggestion...

 

Update...think i've found a set of 28spline axles from a 91... going to check them out and see that they're in good enough shape.

Thanks again for the help guys!