I purchased my 87 camaro Z28 t-top last year in november. Since ive got the car home, ive not drove it. I started a complete restoration right away. The car originaly had a factory five speed in it, but b4 i bought the car, somebody had put a built TH350 with a B&M Mega in it. I know it was a five speed because the clutch pedals still in the car, and i looked up the V.I.N. And dont worry, i plan on putting the five speed back into it, but not right away, wich brings me to my question . The car has a, i believe its a 456 rearend. I hope thats right . Is this a good redlight to redlight rearend. Would it be ok to run on the freeway at 55-60mph with both the 3 speed TH350, and the 5 speed after i convert it back to that. I plan on racing the car, and driving to, and from the track, so i need something dependable as well. Somebody told me that the rearend would be fine with the TH350 if i put a locking stall in it, but hes not that good of a source. Im not sure what spline the axles are because ive yet to pull the axle apart, but im pretty sure the whole rear is stock. Are they buildable at all, or should i just go with a Ford 9 inch. Im good with building motors, but im lost when it comes to rearends. Jeromey C. From Mentor, Ohio

 

that's alot of gear for the street if you go on the highway 50-60 mph your motor is gonna be screaming . Most people go with somewhere between a 3.73 - 4.11 gears for street strip use.

 

If it's a stock rear end then it won't be a 4.56. If somebody put 4.56 gears in it then you don't want them if you will be on the highway. Even with overdrive this is too much gear for highway use. A lock up converter will do you no good at all, so forget about that. You're right, he's not a good source.

An '87 Camaro will have 26 spline axles if it has the 10 bolt rear end, or 28 spline axles if it has the 9 bolt. Be sure that you know which rear end you have before you think about getting any parts. Axle splines have nothing to do with the ring & pinion gears. You can build this rear end to hold up to about 350 HP, but don't count on beating it up too much. It won't take a huge amount of abuse. You can upgrade the 10 bolt to 28 spline axles with a new 28 spline Eaton Posi. I recommend a Moser 12 bolt over the 9 inch Ford.

 

26" tall tires, 4.56 gears and no OD isn't a good combination for the highway. At 60 mph, you'll be somewhere in the 3000-4000 rpm range. Even putting a taller 28" tall tires would be pushing it.

My truck has 28" tall tires, 4.10 gears and a 4L80E. At 60 MPH, it's somewhere around the 2800-3000 rpm range.

 

I have 4.56:1 gears, but a 700 as well. Not a good Idea with the TH350. On the highway I'm about 2750 RPM's @ 60 MPH.

 

Thanks alot for the input guys. Keep it comming