I will be ordering a Ring & Pinion, Master Overhaul Kit, and New Positraction carrier from Randy's Ring and Pinion later this week or earlier NExt week. The gentleman that i spoke with suggested I buy the OEM Parts b/c they would make less noise (for one reason) than aftermarket parts. It's going to cost me a little over $800.00 just for the parts, should I be ok going with the OEM parts? (I'm going with 3.73 gears)...I plan on doing more mods to my LO3 at a later point in time (cam swap, chip tuning, bigger tires, ect.) I already have a full exhaust, good inducton, and a shift kit.

There are many brands of gears that will be quiet; AAM (Motive), Dana/Spicer, US Gear, Precision, to name a few. DO NOT get the drag-racing Richmonds; those will be noisy and short lived in a street application, in spite of the fact that they are far superior in a drag-racing ONLY use.

I'd recommend an Eaton HD carrier, and just about anybody's "rebuild kit" will be fine.

Get a couple of extra cruch sleeves.

crush sleeves? i thought solid spacers is a better way to go.

If it's a 9-bolt you'll be pretty limited.

Here's what I got... YK GM7.75BW (7.75" Borg Warner 9 bolt install kit without side shims)

YG GM7.75-373BW (7.75" Gm 3.70 R&P,_ Noisey (3.07 and up case) Aust 9 bolt cvr

BTW when I ordered on 9/9/03 Prices were the following:
Gear - List Price $367.64 R&P Price (the one you pay) $190.89
Install kit - List Price $299.77 R&P Price $126.83

Shipping WA to IL: $16.61
Total cost: $334.33

Yes, a solid spacer is "better"; it is considerably stronger and more reliable, as far as that goes. Whether that really matters or not, only the owner can decide. I didn't really see anything in the description that made it look like it was too much of an issue. Plus, the person setting up the rear end, needs to know how to install it. So it would be wise to ask them first.

It should be a 10-bolt. The base-model cars like SCs didn't get the 9-bolt.

Yes, thats right, its a standard open differential 10 bolt, with the stock 2.73 gears...will be going to 3.73 w/positraction...and other thoughts?

I've never had a noise issue with Yukons, actually I think they are OEM quiet, and I've installed them in about as many different applications as possible (trucks, cars, vans, etc.).

I would use a solid spacer as opposed to a crush sleeve. Better longevity and strength.

The Eaton is a good unit as well. I would recommend either it or an Auburn for a limited slip.

Does anyone know of a company that makes a ring gear spacer for a b /w 9 bolt?thanks

A lot of people say that the Motive brand gears are every bit as quiet as the oem ones. They're lapped to ensure that they're quiet when set up properly. I've also never heard any complaints about the Yukon brand either. Just stay away from the cheap, knock off taiwanese gears whatever you do. I agree that the solid spacer is a better deal. As long as the installer knows what they're doing, the solid spacer is actually easier to use than a crush sleeve because you can keep shimming it until you get it right, unlike a crush sleeve where you overtorque it once and have to start all over again with a new one. Also, if you want the best quality install kit, go with the Timken kit with the interlocking super shims.

I second on Yukon gears. - Yes a solid pinion spacer is stronger/better, but takes a little more set-up time getting it shimmed properly. I would reccomend an aftermarket posi(I like my tru-trac) - Going ahead and stepping up to some decent aftermarket axles would be a big plus if you intend on putting decent power down.