Ok im new rear end issues, im getting ready to drop 450 HP and 460 TQ in my 86 z28 with a new TH350. Iv heard that the 10 bolt i have is a complete wast of time for that much power and it will just puke. Since iv never dealt with rear ends, i was wondering how hard installing a new 12 bolt will be. Will i have to pay someone to weld things into place, do i need special tools, and is this a good idea in general, or is life easy and everything just bolts into place......(high hopes)?

 

As long as its a bolt in rear end...thats all you'll need to do is just bolt it in. Relatively easy and quick.

Support it with a jack, unbolt shocks, lower control arms, sway bar, panhard bar, torque arm, and brake line. Don't worry about the springs, they will fall right out.

When re-installing it you may find it easiest to bolt up the torque arm first, that way you don't have to worry about rotating it forward or backward with something else attached to it which can get hard. Rear ends are quite heavy.


The only thing that could possibly need welding is if you decide to install lower control arm relocation brackets. But don't worry about these yet. Once you get the rear end all installed and get the car on the road you can decide whether or not you want them.

 

Thanks sounds good. will my stock torque are work with a 12 bolt case?

 

it should work just fine

 

As long as you are using one of the aftermarket 12-bolt housings that were designed to be used in these cars, thats true.

It should go in the same way the 10 bolt came out. Reverse of disassembly. It MUST have the torque arm mount cast into the side of the center section to work - only the aftermarket ones will have this provision. You won't find one under a truck at the junkyard that will work.

 

true, i figured if he's getting a 12 bolt it would be one of the rears designed for our cars

 

it's easy as pie

 

I assumed he would know too, but thought I'd say that just to make sure he knew about that little detail. Having been an automotive service advisor in a past life, I've met alot of really stupid people - and they are usually cheap to boot - bad combination when it comes to performance parts!

(PS - no offence 79frankenstien, I'm not talking about you, just people in general )