I tried doing a search. But couldn't find what I needed. I want to findout what these rearends can hold stock then modded.

1. 10 bolt (both)
2. 9 bolt
3. 4th gen rearend
4. 12 bolt
5. Dana 44

The car is a 86 Z28. It has the one legger in it with 2:73 gears and drum brakes. So I want to swap it with one that has disk brakes and a limited slip. I don't know how much power I am going to trough at it. Maybe 350/400. It's going to be a daliy driver with a few passes down the 1320. But I am going to manley use it on twiste roads. So anyways. I just wanted to know what rearend would be the best for me. Thanks in advance for all the help!! Adam :-)

 

Easy:

1. Ford 9-inch [Currie, etc] no limit
2. 12 Bolt [almost no limit]
3. Dana 44 [very high limit]
4. 4th Gen 10-bolt [medium limit]
5. 9 bolt [medium limit, but ugh, no parts available]
6. 10 bolt [low limit, hold breath, pray at WOT]

 

I'd rank the 4th gen 10 bolt below the 9 bolt.

 

The 4th gen rear is the same as the 3rd gen rear in strength except it is newer. Another option is the ford 8.8, which probably around the same strength of the GM 12 bolt.

 

Stick with a 12 bolt and keep it all chevy.

 

If all the rears were ranked as in new condition, that is correct -- but the reality is most 9 bolts have 100+K miles and won't take much abuse without breaking. And when they do, only the salvage yards have parts. There are tons more 4th gen rears available and 3rd party add-ons. Although not as physically strong as the 9 bolt, it's close enough to be a much better choice than trying to repair and maintain a 9 bolt.

 

I was talking about absolute strength, not desirability. You couldn't pay me enough to take a 9 bolt.

 

Well it looks like I am down to 2. The 9-bolt and the 4th gen 10-bolt. The 12-bolt from what I can tell is going to be a little costly. Later if I have the money and done everything else to the car. Then I might do it. And there is no way I am putting a ford part in my chevy! lol. I like the idea of having the 9-bolt. Because that is what the car would of came with. Plus I could still use my rims till I get new ones. But then your looking at hard to find parts from what you guys are telling me. The 4th gen 10-bolt seems like the logical way to go. There easy to find parts for and there plentiful. Plus from what you guys say is that there just as strong as the 9-bolt. So if I have both that are rebuilt. Which would you go for. And what kinda of power can I trough at them till they go pop. Thanks again for the replies! Adam :-)

 

a fresh 10 bolt will hold to the high 11's unless your planning on using a transbrake. 12 bolts will basically handel anything you can through at it.

 

i got a 9 bolt in my car. came from a car with 200kms on it. its still alive even after 75+ 11.50 1/4 mile passes ,1.6 sixty foots on slicks. id say there pretty strong or maybe i just have good luck.

 

I was faced with the same choices when the 10 bolt blew out in my '92 Z28. I wasted almost 1K$ trying to get it fixed properly in an area in the middle of nowhere. Then I looked around for 4th Gen rears and scored two for about $125 each. They have big PBR disks that actually stop the car, instead of faking it like the iron calipers. Oddly, I found a donor car with a 10 bolt rear cheap so did that instead. Yes, I still have the 4th gen rears as spares. The 4th Gen rears are not as strong as a 9 bolt, but they are 28 spline and are way heavier than the 3rd Gen 10 bolts for some reason. The 4th Gen rears stick out a little on each side with 3rd gen wheels, but I like it. Big tire guys on low cars have to roll the fender lip. For about $2,000 more the F-9-inch makes the most sense, but thats just my opinion [after of course the two standby 4th Gen rears are used up, heh].

All-in-all, the 4th gen rears are cheap and available -- and they have great brakes, this alone makes them a worthwhile upgrade.

 

Thanks again guys for all the help! I think I might go with the 9-bolt. If you guys are doing what you are doing with a 9-bolt. Then I think that's more than what I am going to do with mine. I want to run atlest 13.5 in the 1320. But I will try and get it down to 12.5 if I fill like I want more. The car is going to be used more for autoxing and road racing. So I really don't need to worry about a lot of hard launches. I also plan on getting the baer track brake kit front and rear from yearone. So I won't need to worry about not haveing the 4th gen brakes on that rearend. Plus I can still use the stock rims with the 9-bolt till I get new ones. So now all I got to do is find me one. Thanks again for the help! Adam :-)