I know I can get one, from a '99 Firebird. It has the GU4 code, however lacks the G80 code.

But considering I got 2.73 in my Camaro right now, wouldn't it still be an alright trade ? I would at least get the wider axles so I could use Corvette rims, and also get disc brakes.

Can one later on swap in a posi unit into those rear ends ?

 

Realistically, unless its already got the gear you want and a posi, its not really worth it. Its still the same 7.5" 10-bolt that these cars came with, just wider. It would cost you the same to change the ring and pinion and add a posi to the rear end you have now, as it would to do the same to the 4thgen rear end. The only thing that might make it worthwhile would be the upgrade to rear discs, if you have drums right now.

 

How much would it cost to upgrade to posi later on ?

It's really hard to find LS1 rear ends out here, heck I don't think I've even ever seen a LS1 car at the junkyards here. It's rare you even see a 4th Gen at all.

I'm trying to figure out what these numbers stand for 226026834, they were in the same location as you have the numbers for calculating the gear ratio.

 

a 4th gen rear still needs spacers for corvette rims, atleast the y2k c5 vette rims. i have the 4th gen rear and those rims and have 2" or 2.5" spacers, cant remember...

 

Huh ??? How is that possible ? I got the Corvette Y2K 5 spoke rims, 17x8.5 and 18x9.5 laying around .... how is it a 4th Gen rear end require 2 inch spacers for those rims ? So a 3rd Gen would require ... 4 inch spacers ?

 

sure? im looking at my car right now, its got the 4th gen rear w/ 3.42's, ls1 disc brakes, and spacers (mabe they are 1.5"?) on the y2k rims ill post a pic in a second

 

u got the 18's or 17's in the back? maybe different manufacturer ?

 

im crazy lol. i just did brake work and was on the front wheels sooo long i think the spacers made it to all lthe wheels in my mind. the y2k wheels do fit perfectly, my bad
----------
18's back, 17's front.

 

LOL

ok we got sidetracked though here for a few .... facts remain ... should I wait forever until I can find a posi LS1 rear end ... or for now at least get a '99 rear end with wider axles and disc brakes

 

It's going to end up costing you more in the end to buy this rear now and then buy a posi and have it installed, even with doing the labor yourself it would still be pretty close.

Yeah LS1 cars don't usually make it to your local junkyard, they are usually sold to specialty junkyards by the insurance companies. Just try searching on ebay (where I got mine for half what the local j/y wanted with shipping) or craigslist or the classifieds here.

 

<kung-fu accent>

Patience, grasshopper....

</kung-fu accent>

Get what you REALLY want, the first time. You will not save money or otherwise benefit yourself by buying some kind of crap rear end just so you can put on your new wheels.

Check www.car-part.com for 98-up V8 F-body rear ends. They're <x-files> OUT THERE SOMEWHERE </x-files> since people wrap those cars around telephone poles with unfortunate regularity; all you gotta do is find em. On car-part, there's some in Fontana, Chula Vista, LA, etc., basically your part of the world; plus a whole bunch in the northern part of the state.

 

is 250 dollars a reasonable price for a complete rear end from '99 Z28 ?

found one ... don't know whether it was an auto or manual tranny in it though

 

It will more than likely be a 2.73 rear for that price. When I was looking all 3 series rears were at around $350+. If it is a 3 series rear than it is a pretty good price meaning you probably won't find any cheaper.

 

it's a manual transmission

 

Look at the gears and the carrier.

Only YOU can decide if it's "reasonable" to YOU, for whatever gears it has.

If you're lucky, it'll be 3.23 or better, and hopefully 3.42. But until you look, you won't know, and we can all speculate out here as much as we want, but it won't be of any value without information.

I would say, if it's a 3.42 rear with the Zexel carier and disc brakes, it's DEFINITELY worth $250. Would be to me, anyway. That'd be the type of deal you need to find.

 

i picked up my 99 V6 rear axle for the disk brakes for $115 (besides 100K less miles and not rusted badly like my original), it was complete with brake cables and all, and "gears only" on car-parts.com or local pick-n-pulls are like $50-$75, so reguardless doing the work myself is going to yeild less than $200. As mentioned, insurance companies and junk yards know they are of high demand, so rock bottom prices will never be what you'll find for them. If you can do the work yourself of swapping gears later, i say get an excellenct condition rear as possible for as cheap as possible with as few miles as possible. If you would most likely pay someone else to do it, then i would suggest buying exactly what you want.

Side note, don't 4get with whatever axle you do get to get an appropriate speedo gear. With me i had a 3.08, picked up a 4th gen 3.08, so i don't have to worry about anything until i go to do the gear swap later on.

 

I know how ID the gear ratio, but how do know if it is a Zerxen Torsen differential ? could it be an Auburn one ? is there a stamp somewhere on the outside or is there another way to ID it by taking the cover off ?

 

www.torsen.com
www.auburngear.com

They switched from the Auburn to the Zexel starting in 98. AFAIK it was standard on Z28s.

I know of no way to look through the housing and cover and tell what the carrier is. Much like the gears, in that respect.

 

ok i got the rear end. The RPO on the door did say GU6 and G80, so that would make it a 3.42 posi. Only way I'll know for sure it's a Torsen one is when I'll pull the cover off tomorrow and look at the numbers stamped on the carrier.