Right now I'm faced with the either one of two choices.

First, I have to decide whether or not I want to keep my stock rear or switch to an LS1 rear with the Zexel-Torsen differential.

The stock rear is a 10 bolt 2.73 posi traction unit with drum brakes. (RPO Codes GU2, G80). I want to know could I upgrade to a 3.42. How much would it cost and would I have the same performance as my other choice.

The other rear is from an 01' Camaro that has 3.23 gears and the zexel-torsen differential. However, I need 3.42 gears which no place in Michigan seems to have for a reasonable price. One place was asking $950. Anyway, I wondering if I could just get the rear and swap out the gears for the 3.42. If I was do this I wouldn't have to change the differential just the gears, right?

What ring & pinion set would I need to swap out gears on both rears?

The main reason I want to switch from the stock rear is because I don't want drum brakes anymore and I have heard alot of good things about the Zexel-Torsen Differential.

I'm a kinda new to rear-ends so any help with correct terminology would be greatly appreciated?

Thanks in advance,
Jay

 

Can anyone give any input?

 

I can't imagine who, in ANY state, would be brazen enough to do themselves the favor of selling you a set of those gears for $950. That's beyond mere highway robbery; that's more like international piracy on the high seas.

Here's gears for the 7½" rear, all gears fit all years. http://www.drivetrainspecialists.com...5/randp-1.html

You could use the exact same gears in either of your 2 rears, if you used a spacer in the 2 series one; or, you could use the "special" thick gears in the 2 series. I'd recommend using the spacer rather than the thick gears; not because there's anything wrong with either setup, but rather because the "special" gears will ONLY work with a 2 series carrier. In other words, your choice would be irreversible if you went that route. Cost is not much different.

You'd need a "gear install kit", which consists of all the bearings, shims, seals, etc.

If you've never set up a gear, get somebody who knows how it's done to do it for you while you watch; and learn the easy way, by watching a successful install, rather than trashing a couple of sets while you acquire the OJT.

You'll also need wheels with the 4th gen offset, if you go with the 4th gen rear; if you put your existing wheels on that rear, they'll look SUPER stupid with that silly-a$$ r¡cer "skateboard" effect. Few things look more "poseur" and ghetto than some skinny stock wheels hung way out in space past the fenders.

I would also not recommend spending money to swap from 3.23 to 3.42. There's not enough difference to be a good "bang for the buck". 2.73 to 3.42, yes; 3.23 to 3.73, yes; but not 3.23 to 3.42.

 

Thanks for the help.


Jay

 

I'm guessing the $950 gears included the install? If so, that sounds about right. My brother paid $1200 to have 3.23 gears installed in his ford 8.8, and he supplied the gears! That was robbery. Stealership.

I hope sofa didn't confuse you on his post, it sounds like you're not too familiar with rear end stuff eh?

The way I see if, you have a handful of options. Just plain swapping in the 4th gen rear accomplishes most of your goals, except having the wheels stick out further

I'm assuming the 4th gen rear has the disc brakes on it eh?

If you want, you could swap the 3.23 gears, and posi, from the '01 rear, into your '91 rear, because your '91 would have 28 spline axles. The downside there is you'd still have drum brakes, and you'd need to pay for a gear install (or do it yourself, either way, more $). I'm not sure if you can simply install the 4th gen rear disc brakes onto your 3rd gen rear, or if you'd need different axles (disc brake axles?) to be installed in the 3rd gen rear. I don't quite understand how the axles themselves necessitate which brakes can be bolted on, but i've never worked on drum brakes before so...

 

Sonix,

The guys said $950 was for the rear only. I laughed at him and told him was out of his mind.

I'm still trying to learn about rear-ends along with all the correct terminology and things of the nature. So any help would be more than appreciated.

So your staying it would probably be more cost effective to just buy the 4th gen rear that already comes with 3.42 gears?

I am really not to worried about having the wheels stick out since I have 4th gen wheels that I can put on. Plus, working on drum brakes it a PITA.

Thanks,
Jay

 

Well then yea, just buy the 4th gen rear and bolt it up. Use the 4th gen wheels if you can then. You won't even have to tear into the rear, if you don't want to. *I thought it had 3.23 gears?* Either way, that's close enough to 3.42...

You'd only have to dink around with your proportioning valve so that your rear discs work as they should. I'm not sure whats involved, either an adjustable proportioning valve or grab a 4th gen one perhaps.

 

Yeah it has 3.23 gears, but I still I had my computer tuned for 3.42 gears I should probably get the 3.42 gears.

By the way if I had my computer tuned for 3.42 and I still have 2.73 gears is it possilbe that my trans won't shift right? Because the shifting tables are set-up for a 3.42 gear ratio?

Thank again,
Jay