Okay so i have a friend with a 78 camaro. It has a 8.5 ten bolt in it that hes getting rid of for a 9".

i know it is set up for leaf springs, but i know I can fab it to take my springs and shocks on it, but the HARD part is the torque arm correct.?????? It needs to be dead on accuracy wise.

Has anyone done this here? I searched but the search tool sucks something serious right now.,

Also does anyone off the top know how much wider or shorter a 78 rear is compared to a thirdgen diff or 4th gen diff

 

I think second gens diffs are wider.

As for the torque arm mount, it has been done but a lot of fabrication work needs to be done. It can be a lot cheaper and easier to just buy an aftermarket bolt in diff.

 

I recall a 2nd gen rear being 3/8" narrower. Or something like that, I believe it was a hair narrower.
Moving brackets over should be easy, but as you've already determined, the Torque arm will be tricky.

There are many schools of thought for this, so be sure to tell us how you decide to go about it.

 

The tricky part is welding to the cast diff.

 

Ya I was curious if someone had any tips for that torque arm part
I mean it's a free 8.5 so what's the hurt

 

If you have the fabrication skills to do it then go for it. If not you are going to be spending a good chunk of change to have someone else fab up the mounts for you.

 

I'd do it, if it were me.
If/when I destroy my 7.5", this is the route I will take.

Either machining a TA bracket and brazing it to the cast, or pre-heating, and using a ~95% nickel-rod and welding it on. Either way I think it's a good option...

 

There's a recent thread on here about using an 8.8 ford. I posted pics of how I built a torque arm suspension using it.

 

The second gen Camaro rear end is 61 inches wide overall. This is going to take a lot of work, as you already know.

 

I'll look maybe if you have the link just pm too cuz I can get a 8.8 for a 100 bux

 

Big gear head, what's our overall width?

I want to say some members on here have done this, and mentioned that the second gen is less than half an inch narrower. I cant for the life of me remember who it was though...

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabr...axle-swap.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...n-10-bolt.html

I can't search via 8.5" because it's a number... frustrating... As per sofakingdoms post in the above thread, I may be wrong!

 

Here are a few pics I saved from a 8.5 build someone did on this site. I dont know who did it

 

A couple more pics if the mods dont mind.

 

Not sure on these pics, and not sure what rear, but might use the pattern.

 

decided on getting a 8.8. im looking in to two designs for a torque arm mount.

Those pics are VEry helpful. Thanks!!!!!!

 

Your welcome!

 

Nice thing about the 8.5" is that the wheel bolt pattern is right.
With a Ford 8.8" you'll need custom axles, or mustang wheels.
Just a heads up.

 

I have double pattern greg welds
They'll fit mustang bolt pattern

 

Obviously you don't need to, but you could also re-drill the flanges for the GM 5x4.75 pattern/

The 8.8 is stronger stock and stronger with the aftermarket support. It is on par with a 12-bolt.

 

I can't remember what the total width is on the 3rd gen rear ends.