Okay I currently have the stock 10 bolt 28 spline rearend with 3.08. I want to upgrade to 3.42.

My options:

1)Buy new gears and have them installed.

2)Go get a whole rearend out of V6 or 4banger 3rd gen and just bolt it up.

If I chose option number 2 It would be alot cheaper, but would it be a good Idea? I'd probably have to get a really old rearend so would it hold up?

 

The best one to get would be a 90-92 6cyl rear-end with 3.42's.. They have the better axles and should be pretty cheap and easy to find..

 

Yeah, but only the T-5 90-92 camaros came with 3.42, and those are a bit harder to find. Most of the ones in salvage yards have already been stripped of their rearends, or ring and pinion.

How much stronger is the 28 spline compared to the 26 spline?
Is it that big of a difference?

 

Yes, it is! the more splines, the more contact. They (28 spline,90-92) are slightly thicker than the 26 spline (82-89). Although, if you
don't plan on getting like over 300hp, it really doesn't matter
if you have 26 or 28 spline axles. If you do go over that ( 300+
hp) I would recommend some custom alloy 28 spline axles
either from Superior or Moser. They are 40% stronger than
the stock 28 spline axles and are thicker than stock too.
If over 350-400+ hp, I would recommend a 12 bolt Chevy rear
from Moser!

It would be much easier to just buy a gear set with an
installation kit from Summit or Jeg's or Thunderracing.
That way, you know that you got a new set of gears.
Why would you want to buy a junkyard rear anyways?
What if you swap it in, drive it, and find out that it's junk?
Then you have to take it apart and rebuild it. Waste of time.
Don't risk that, unless your rear end housing is junk, then
replace it. It's also more work to swap it over.
Make sure you have them properly installed. It's very easy
to have someone **** up the backlash, shims, etc.

Are you sure you have 3.08s and not 2.73s? Make sure
you know that, it makes all the difference when ordering
a gear set.

 

it'd be way easier and should be cheaper also to swap in a differant rear end. however you'll have a used rear with used parts that may or maynot last a long time.

 

Well thats my whole point. I don't want to buy new gears because they are difficult to install. If I have a shop do it, it will be very expensive and there's no guarantee they'll get it right.

Yes, All 91 305 manual 5 Speed camaros came with 3.08.

 

3.08 and 2.73 units use the same series carrier. The changeover point for these rears is 3.23. 3.08 and 2.73 both use the 2 series carrier. 3.23 and up use the 3 series carrier.

 

Ah yes, I remember now! Your right. It's the 3.23 and up with
series 3 carrier. Which is in my 1991 RS with 3.1 w/auto trans.
I went up to 3.73s. I was lucky enough to have an experianced
tech help me install them correctly. Everything is dead on.


How about swtiching to a 9 bolt? Just throwing that out.
I know that they are less common. But more rigid? Is it
more of a hassle to swap in? They have bolt in axles.

 

I would, but aren't all 9 bolts disc break equipped? And besides that, they are very hard to come by in a salvage yard.

 

Yeah, I kinda figured that. But try http://www.9bolt.com.
I think that's the website. I don't know about "cheap",
but that would be cool to upgrade to disc brakes as well.
But, make sure you get the 89-up disc brake setup. I heard
that the older style had problems with the calipers. Just
some info that I read about. I maybe wrong, but you get the
picture.

EDIT: Looks like they just sell 9 bolt PARTS???

 

I don't want to go to disc breaks though because I have heard that they have a constant drag on them and will slow you down.