I bought a 3.73 gear for my 1986 BW Trans Am rear end. How hard would it be to install the gear myself. Will what I am really getting at is if the pinon is pressed into place. I have worked with feeler gauges and that stuff. I just wanted to know if there was anything else that might come up that????

 

You really won't be able to do it yourself. There is a special tool that measures pinion depth (it measures from the end of the pinion to the center line of the ring gear) You could purchase it, but they're expensive and it would be cheaper (or almost as cheap) to get it done. The other thing is that the first diff that you do, you will use up several crush sleeves, and maybe a seal or 2 before you get the hang of it. If you want to start a new career in rebuilding diffs, then go for, but if it's a once every 5 year deal just pay to get it done. I've done them, but so infrequently that even I just pony up the bucks and that way I get it back in a day...done.
If you want to save some bucks, pull the rear out of the car and replace all the axle seals and bearings, and give it to the guy on the bench, usually it's easier for them that way and they'll knock off a few $$

 

A simple question, what rear gears do you have now??? You may have jumped the gun by buying those 3:73's first.

 

i have a 2.77 and yes i bought a bigger carrier

 

If you have 2.77s...that's a 9-bolt rear-end and none of the stuff you just bought (gears or carrier) will fit. You'll need a new rear-end.

The "3.73 equivelent" for the 9-bolt is a 3.70 gear.

2.73, 3.23, 3.42, 3.73 = 10-bolt
2.77, 3.27, 3.45, 3.70 = 9-bolt

 

Unless he bought 9-bolt 3:73 gears then he will be alright. Just hope he finds a gear installer so they will work. A lot of money for that upgrade. I would have put it in the engine first. 2:77 are not they bad if you have something upfront.

 

Hi, I have all the stuff that i need to put in the gear, as i have already stated. The ring is on the carrier and everything thing i need i have. What i need to know is how to install the gear and tools that i might use. No is was not a lot of money, I the gear, bearing etc. cost around 300. and the carrier I got from the junk yard for 50.