I have a 92 RS Heritage 305 TBI. I had a leak in the rear differential and I tore up the rear-end. I took the car to a shop that I somewhat trust. The mechanic informed me that he needs to do a replacement or rebuild. He quoted me $2700 - $3200 for the replacement. The blue book on the car isn't even that much. He quoted $1800 to rebuild. I think that is still too much. I asked him how much it would be if I went to his shop with a rear-end and asked him to swap them out - $350. That's more like it. Now, the question is, where to get the rear-end and what rear-end to get. I need a recommendation on this. Do I look in a yard, online, or try to find remanufactored? Do I look for an exact replacement being a 3.08 out of a third gen with drums or do I consider a fourth gen rear-end (as I saw that tech article on this website about putting a 4th gen rear-end in.) I have also noticed people like to put Ford 9" rear-ends in.

I am a software engineer, unix-geek, electronics guru. I can tear down televisions, radios, computers, anything like that. Vehicle mechanics are a mistery to me. I have wanted a 92 Camaro since the first time I saw one. After my career started and I could get a car of my choice I found my heritage edition 92 and I love it. But I am not a car buff and I don't know anything about these rear-ends, how they go in, what I should look for, or anything like that. All I know is that I will have to park my Camaro if I can't get something done for cheaper than $2000. Then I am going to have to find some cheap Honda or Nissan or something to drive to work in (not to mention get stuck with a second car loan to go with my wifes car loan.) I want to avoid that so help me out here guys! Thanks.

 

That guy sounds like a rip off to me. To rebuild a rearend with new parts and labor should be around the $1100-$1300 dollar range. Ask him what is broke and see what he says. Just an example for parts :
Eaton Posi $519
Superior axles with bearings and studs $260
new ring and pinion $135
install kit $80.00

Which is $1000 total. And you could find cheaper parts.

 

I have a complete rebuilt rear end for sale for $550. It won't do you any good because it doesn't have the right gear ratio or brakes for your car, but this is just an example of what you should be paying. This guy's prices are way out of line.

 

Welcome to TGO. The quoted price is incredibly steep, IMO. I'd check the JY's and craigslist for something with a better gear ratio (3.23's or 3.42's would do nicely) and with disc brakes. If the latter, you'll need the proportioning valve and e-brake cables. You'll also need a drive and/or drive gear for the trans to make the speedo work correctly. Both third and fourthgen are bolts in pretty much, though the fourthgen is some four inches wider. All this can be done with basic handtools and a gallon of penetrating oil and some foul language.

JamesC

 

yeah thats a rip off there are cheaper places and swapping a rearend is very straight foreward. I don't think it would be too much for a novice to tackle, maybe I'm wrong. If you don't care to learn then I think any shadytree mechanic could do it for half or less. I'd do it for $500

 

A used rear end at a JY should run less than $250. A drum rear end from a 6 cylinder shouldn't run more than $150-175 and you can be 'fairly' certain it hasn't been abused. Sixes are also more likely to have the better ratios. You probably don't want to go above 3.42 with the 700R4 due to its low first gear and 3.23 would be ideal, imo. 3.08 isn't too bad though.

The speedo gears aren't much of an issue. You may be able to get them from the donor car and they can be swapped in pretty simply.

I wouldn't consider a used posi rear end unless you plan to replace the likely worn-out posi unit-which can always be done at a later time after you're back on the road.

As for disc brakes, unless you score a later (change over was '89) rear end with the PBR's it will come with the old style saginaws that were marginally better than the drums, require a recall kit to correct some deficiencies along with changing the prop valve and MC.

Stay away from earlier 82-84(?) rears as they used a different brake hose fitting, or so I'm told anyway-never physically checked.

Call around for prices. Even if you have to rent a truck or trailer you're certain to come out better than paying for a rebuild. There's threads here, somewhere, that show what's entailed in a swap and we can always help. Even if you've got to buy a $50 wrench set you'll come out ahead of the $350 install charge. 'Course plan to spend a day and another $30 or so on fluids, etc.

 

*hell I got a drum rear end with 3.42 ill sell 100 bucks+Shipping nothing wrong with it I just upgraded to disc

*My motto: "if your going to replace, upgrade"

*swap over to disc is a pricey job if your not doing it your self and most shops don't do performance upgrades and if they do they do it at a premium, and you won't know if they did it right like replacing the proportioning valve or brake line as previously mentioned

*the main reason to do a 4th gen swap is for the upgraded disc brakes. see previous point

*so I recommend getting a rear end that's still drum but maybe a new gear ratio like 3.42. it is a good gearing nice take off and decent fuel economy (I'm not just saying that because I'm selling one lol)

 

Well I got things worked out fairly well. I called a JY and they had a complete rear in a 91 that they would give up for $150. I don't know if it is auto or manual so I am not sure if it is going to be the 2.73 or the 3.08. It really doesn't matter to me right now. I need to get my vehicle back on the road. I thought about it a bit and called the place back up. I asked them how much it would be for them to pull it out, load it up, and deliver it to the shop. No charge... so the total is $150 delivered. I payed for it over the phone so I never had to leave my chair. The shop will get it on Monday and they will put it in for the $350 quote. I would love to do it myself and gain a little knowledge in the process but my time is very limited until at least the end of the year.

I'm not concerned about what goes in there right now because I have plans for this car. I have wanted one for a long time and now that I have one I want my son to have it when he is old enough. He is 4 so we have a lot of time. When he is old enough to help and learn I will park it and we will begin working on it and we will learn together. Some plans I have include a completely new paint job (I currently have the red on white heritage but I would love to paint it to match the black on red. They look great.), a 350/383 stroker, maybe a better rear-end, etc. It has a nice sound system but it will be outdated by then. I am sure that we will have plenty of ideas for really making it a fun car for my son.

Thanks for the welcome. I have been registered for a year. I should have posted sooner.

 

I went from a 3.08 to a 2.73 in my TA when the rear went out as soon as I got it. Not much difference between the two, but you'll still need to eventually swap the speedo gears. Until then your speedo will be off 308/273 or 1.12. Your speedo will be reading slightly lower than you're actually going (50mph read will be 50 x 1.12 = 56.4 mph. IF the new rear is a 2.73.

You may consider going by the shop and nabbing any extra pieces/parts, in particular if either rear has aluminum drums, a second set of brake cables or a good set of shoes.

Oh and the 2.73 came out of my camaro, which got the upgrade to a 3.27 disc rear. I drive the TA everyday, the camaro's my work in progress.

 

local shop quoted me at about $800 gears locker/posi instalation kit and labor. that was on my 86. i i bought used gears axles posi and gear oil and did mine for under $250 but i did the labor myself.