I have a non-posi, 2.73 geared, drum brake rear-end in my 82 camaro. I am in serious need of an upgrade, and I'm looking at pulling a 4th gen rear from a junkyard as a cheap solution.
1. What all do I need to pull to make the rear end and brakes work properly?
2. How can I tell if it is a 3.23 or 3.42 geared 4th gen rear end.
3. How much wider is the 4th gen rear from the 3rd gen?
4. How difficult is the swap?
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82 Camaro:
350, Erson cam, ported heads, Crane Hi-6 ignition, Accel supercoil, Comp Cams 1.6:1 rocker arms, TH350 tranny with 2500 stall.
SLP 1 3/4" headers
1. What all do I need to pull to make the rear end and brakes work properly?
2. How can I tell if it is a 3.23 or 3.42 geared 4th gen rear end.
3. How much wider is the 4th gen rear from the 3rd gen?
4. How difficult is the swap?
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82 Camaro:
350, Erson cam, ported heads, Crane Hi-6 ignition, Accel supercoil, Comp Cams 1.6:1 rocker arms, TH350 tranny with 2500 stall.
SLP 1 3/4" headers
AlkyIROC
Moderator
close
May 15, 2026
It's a direct swap but the 4th gen diff is wider by 2" on each side so you'll need the proper backspace rims or your tires will stick out.
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87 IROC-Z SuperPro ET Bracket Race Car
461 naturally aspirated Big Block
Best ET on a time slip: 11.242 altitude corrected to 10.89
Best MPH on a time slip: 121.52 altitude corrected to 125.89
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP: 497.9
Best 60 foot: 1.546
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87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley
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Follow my racing progress on Stephen's racing page
and check out the race car
87 IROC-Z SuperPro ET Bracket Race Car
461 naturally aspirated Big Block
Best ET on a time slip: 11.242 altitude corrected to 10.89
Best MPH on a time slip: 121.52 altitude corrected to 125.89
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP: 497.9
Best 60 foot: 1.546
Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association
87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley
Junior Member
mcconahay37:
If you go to "APPEARANCE AND DETAILING" board
and look under "4th GEN REAR IN 3rd GEN - PICS" by OVRCLCK350 on the 18 Jun 2001 you will see pics and details of 4th Gen rear in '82 T/A. If you get rear from junk yard, make sure you get e-brake cables with it, as the ends are different on '82 drums. You will need to strip the outer casing back to expose the same length inner cable as your existing cables. About 10". Also some people say to change the prop' valve and master cylinder. I didn't and it worked OK. Maybe I was lucky as many have changed these and still have bad brakes. Also make sure the brake lines are on axle as the nuts are different at the cylinders but should be the same at the 'T' on the diff, mine was. I also had a 3.23 gear and went to a 2.73 (not by choice, thats what was in the rear)and have noticed no change to accel, still pulls hard and uses less gas. Alot better for hwy cruising. This may help you. If you need more details on the swap let me know.
If you go to "APPEARANCE AND DETAILING" board
and look under "4th GEN REAR IN 3rd GEN - PICS" by OVRCLCK350 on the 18 Jun 2001 you will see pics and details of 4th Gen rear in '82 T/A. If you get rear from junk yard, make sure you get e-brake cables with it, as the ends are different on '82 drums. You will need to strip the outer casing back to expose the same length inner cable as your existing cables. About 10". Also some people say to change the prop' valve and master cylinder. I didn't and it worked OK. Maybe I was lucky as many have changed these and still have bad brakes. Also make sure the brake lines are on axle as the nuts are different at the cylinders but should be the same at the 'T' on the diff, mine was. I also had a 3.23 gear and went to a 2.73 (not by choice, thats what was in the rear)and have noticed no change to accel, still pulls hard and uses less gas. Alot better for hwy cruising. This may help you. If you need more details on the swap let me know.
Supreme Member
You can find a mid-eighties 2.8 V6 Camaro/Firebird... they came with 3.42/open/drum axles. That way, you wouldn't need new wheels.
Either way, you'll have to play with your brake lines. '82-'83 f-bodies used standard (SAE) brake line fittings & flares, '84-Now used metric fittings & ISO "bubble" flares. If you do get the 85-89 3.42 rear drum axle, you can just put your rear brake cylinders & hard lines onto the new axle.
Oh and GM didn't make a weaker axle to go under the 2.8's; they're as strong as the V8 axles of the same years.
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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!
Either way, you'll have to play with your brake lines. '82-'83 f-bodies used standard (SAE) brake line fittings & flares, '84-Now used metric fittings & ISO "bubble" flares. If you do get the 85-89 3.42 rear drum axle, you can just put your rear brake cylinders & hard lines onto the new axle.
Oh and GM didn't make a weaker axle to go under the 2.8's; they're as strong as the V8 axles of the same years.
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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!
Ok. So what I need to get is:
The rear-end and brakes
The E-brake cables
The brake lines
Proportioning valve
Are there any other little things I should make sure and get to make the swap as easy as possible? Also, does anyone know of a link with detailed information on this swap? I want to get as much info as possible before doing the swap.
The rear-end and brakes
The E-brake cables
The brake lines
Proportioning valve
Are there any other little things I should make sure and get to make the swap as easy as possible? Also, does anyone know of a link with detailed information on this swap? I want to get as much info as possible before doing the swap.
Supreme Member
It's pretty much an "unbolt old stuff, bolt new stuff in". What kind of rear brakes are you after? If you're getting rear drums, I don't think you need to change the prop valve.
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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!
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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!
I'm after disc brakes. After autocrossing, I realized how inadequate my brakes were, and this would be the easiest and cheapest way of improving my car. Coming out a turn one-legged and having to brake very early don't make for spectacular times. I found the tech article on this site and that answered most of my questions. I've never pulled the rear-end, so I just want to get as much info as possible before tackling this project.