Me Venting Some Anger
Well, I have to bore you with a story because I feel I need to tell someone because of how ridiculous it is. As the next step in my quest to find a new rear end for my car, I went to the local junk yard. I let the people know I was going back to have a look at the Camaros and they said go ahead.

I found a nice IROC in the back with a disk brake rear end that I was looking for. While I was back there, I heard some faint yelling off in the distance which sounded like the neighbors. Thinking nothing of it, I looked over the rear end once more and then headed up to the office to ask how much it would cost.

To my surprise, when I go to open the door, it is locked. After some knocking (and slamming into the door because I expected it to open and not be locked), I realize no one is there. I turn around and notice the inner gate is closed and locked. At this point I was getting pretty angry since they should not have closed for another 45 minutes, but figured it would be no big deal.

I hop the fence and get to my car only to realize the driveway gates are locked. Now, becoming very very frustrated, I throw a bunch of log barriers and rocks out of the way and drive across their front lawn to the next driveway. I was already pissed off that I had to do that, but to make it better, I hear a squealing noise. I get out and look at the tires and sure enough, I tore some door molding off and it was up against the tire. So I had to bend that and then I drove home.

The Important Stuff
Yeah, just felt I had to say that, but anyways here is my question. The rear end at the junkyard is from a pre 88 IROC (I get this year estimation solely by the fender molding because the car has no doors) with a 350. I have heard things about only the PBR disks are good to get, would this have them? Also, there are no calipers on the rear end, can I get a good set and make the disk brakes work good even if they are not PBR?

Thanks

 

89-92 cars were equipped with PBR's. Many on this site complain about Delco-Moraine calipers, but with the fix-kit in place, I never had a problem with them. You could, however, swap on PBR's. Note the following link:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/faq-...iscs-89-a.html

JamesC

 

Thanks JamesC, very helpful information. I am probably going to get the rear end from the junkyard as long as I can get it for $100 or under since the rotors are junk an the calipers are not even there. Once I get that, I'll put some new rotors and calipers on like you did .

The main reason I want to change the rear end is to get the posi traction and v8 gearing. I think that the rear end out of an IROC with a 350 should accomplish that since I would assume its posi traction and obviously has the v8 gearing.

One more question, if I do the swap, will I need a new master cylinder and brake booster? I don't see why I would, but I have heard things like that and I am not so sure about all the brake stuff. That could decide whether or not I do the swap since I am looking at about $500 (you got to love that 1 rear caliper is more than the price of a pair for the front) for the rear end and am going through money like paper .

Thanks again

 

Validate whether it's limited slip or not (drop the cover and look). While you're in there, check the gear ratio:

The numbers are stamped on the ring and pinion:

41 : 15 = 2.73
41 : 14 = 2.93
40 : 13 = 3.08
42 : 13 = 3.23
41 : 12 = 3.42
41 : 11 = 3.73

If your car is currently a disc/drum car, the master cylinder is the one you need. You'll need a combo valve. A search will provde the part number.

JamesC

 

You already have V8 gearing though right? V8 gearing is typically 2.73 Less than desirable. I'd rather have the V6 gearing (3.23 or 3.42 )

 

The rear end gearing in my car is stock for the 2.8 Liter engines which I thought was the 2.73 gearing.

When I was on the freeway, my engine would be running 3,800 - 4,000 RPMs doing 70 miles per hour. At 105 MPH, the engine was just below yellow line. I found this greatly disturbing because the 350ci engine cars are supposed to be able to do 145 mph according to GM. Granted there is no way mine could do it in the shape that it was in, but I don't think the engine should have been at its max 40 mph below rated speed.

Also, the car seemed to have way more power and acceleration at 4,800 RPMs than at any other RPM, almost felt like a turbo kicking in. I also thought the gearing could have something to do with this.

I did some research and found that it could be the rear end gearing. I figured it was because the rear end has v6 gearing. Are my thoughts on this just way off? Thanks

 

"IF" what you have is stock, the following link should provide the info you need (scroll down a bit and you'll see 3.42's):

https://www.thirdgen.org/1986-chevy-camaro

JamesC

 

You also have a V6 tach, which is most likely reading pretty far off, (and stock tachs are notoriously inaccurate anyway...)
And yea, 3.42's sound right, i'd try to keep that.

The 350 TPI engine makes best power between 3000-45000RPM typically. That's the TPI for ya.

 

Well, I swapped my gauge cluster with one from a 1989 RS which I believe was a 305. I think my tach is somewhat accurate because the car switches gears right when it hits the start of yellow zone on my tach. I do think it is about 200 RPM off though.

The only reason I am worrying about the setup the car currently has is because while driving on the freeway, I went to pass people and because I was already running at a very high RPM, I stepped on the gas and could get beat by a honda civic. Somewhat unsettling.

 

Quick check for the Tach.....In OD at 1000 RPMs you should be at 40 MPH anything else and your Tach or MPH are incorrect.