I snapped my rear axle a while ago (slid into a curb sideways... long story) so I need a new one... It was a 2.73 non-posi so it was probably the first thing that needed to go anyways. I'm planning on getting 3.42 gears and probably an SLP posi takeoff unit.... and am looking at getting a used axle. It may not even be possible, im not sure, but would i be able to replace the old axle with a 28-spline? and if so, is this recommended? Any pro's/con's, or is it pretty much the same? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

you can't replace a 26 spline axle wit ha 28 spline without changing the carrier to match the axle spline.

 

ok, so i guess i'm gonna go with finding a used 26-spline and buying gears/posi?

 

Yes, find a used 26 spline axle and just get a posi unit (auburn or eaton or something). That would be the easiest thing to do.

 

why don't you just get a junk yard v6 rear with the 28 spline 3.42 open rear and drop the slp posi into that?

 

conlinj: Because you Did V6's come with 3.42 gears? that'de be surprising.

 

Smaller engines have to have the lower gear to get their pull... you can also find an old wrecked S-10 and get the gears out of them... they had 3.42 and lower gears....but if i was you i would go ahead and swap to 28-spline axles while im into the rear, those 26 spline aren't much pumpkin

 

The SLP take-off is a 28-spline carrier. So, you'll be meeting ede's condition if you go that route.

Yes, the 6-cyl cars typically had better gears than the V8 cars. On the other hand, their transmissions also had much wider ratios; so you ended up with the effect where you had to wind it all the way up in one gear past where it quits making power, otherwise it would stall after you shifted to the next and the RPMs were below idle speed. But, mate that short gear with a close ratio trans and a motor that likes to wind, and all of a sudden you have a racing setup instead of a dump-truck one.

 

So what would be involved in swapping from a 26-spline to a 28-spline? what new parts would be needed? Also, is this commonly done when messing with the rear end?

 

what i said, axles and carrier that match. you'd have to match the same series carrier to the gear set. there are 2 series, below 3:08 and 3 series 3:08 and up.

 

Just a quick correction ede, the series 3 starts with 3.23

 

ok then, sounds like im goin with a 28-spline axle with 3 series carrier (3.42 gears) and the SLP posi unit. thanks for the help.

 

yeah i knew that reguardless of what i typed or was thinking