well in need to do something with my stock small junk weak rear-end of course i know what i need to support my horsepower and it's a call to moser currie stange ect.... i have done a lot searching for a kit and cant find anything but maybe you can help... I was wondering if anyone made a weld on kit for a stock 12 bolt for the 3rd gen provisions.... i could save a crap load of money this way.. any help would be great... and i know the width will not be the same i have not checked but im sure the 12 bolts in the chevy trucks are wider and will have to be narrowed

 

NO...to your question. You need to spend about $2500 for that rear and you will also need brakes and paint for it.

 

The expense for the 3rd gen is the torque arm mount, all the aftermarket pieces use custom cast center sections that include the mount.

Narrowing the axle, relocating/adding the LCA spring and shock brackets is easy enough but the TA mount is the real hangup point, you could weld a bracket to the cast center section but that's iffy unless you pay out the *** for a professional to do it the right way.

A custom TA built off the stamped metal (non cast) housing on a 9" is doable. The 12 bolt is all cast iron except for the tubes, you could build a bracket off of one of them but it would be really offset.

If I were going that far (and I just might) I would get rid of the TA setup entirely and do something trick like a truck arm

 

lol that's what i figured.... after 6k on the motor and 1500 on the trans i knew the cost on the rear end was inevitable . oh well ( any one want a kidney ? ) lol

 

the 12 bolt i have in my car came out of an old chevelle, i couldnt tell u what was done to fab up the TA mount, but its there. previous owner did it. so...i'm just saying some ppl do do it, i've got one of the ones like it.

 

I've seen a 12 bolt put in and the way it was done was with a four link setup; not stock at all. Fit was tight, but man what a setup. If you got a buddy who can weld you might just want to design one, buy the materials, rent a welder, buy a 12 pack and get it done! Your guaranteed to save money, unless you buy ALOT of beer....which isnt a bad way to blow the budget.

 

it takes a person with real welding skill to do the torque arm mount, the pumpkin is cast iron, you need nickle rods and good heat control to properly weld to it. It can be done, but the expense of the welding fab and resizing the rear, new axles, ect ect ect, adds up. better off just biting the bullet and getting a new bolt in deal

 

Truck 12 bolts are also different than car 12 bolts. They use a different gear set.

If you're making enough power to need something like a 12 bolt, I wouldn't trust some fabricated torque arm mount. Although some people have made the conversion, I'll always recommend buying a proper bolt in diff unless you have really good fabrication skills. If you have really good skills, you probably wouldn't be asking how to do it.

 

damn. you guys are making me nervous now. like i want to go check out my TA mount and see if it looks half-***ed or something. is that possible? i mean if its on there, its good right? or could i find some messed up welds or crappy craftsmanship or something? or am i just lucky somebody set it up for me and was able to get the job done?

 

Another option that might split the difference in cost for the DIYer is to buy a 9" carrier for a 3rd/4th gen that'll have the TA mount cast in then build the rest of the housing with a "found" factory piece.

 

The welds could look real pretty but you're welding onto cast metal. You need a special rod to weld onto cast and it needs to be properly prepped. Just because the weld looks pretty doesn't mean it's a proper weld. I can run a real nice MIG bead onto cast but it won't hold s**t.

 

ah. i see. well i've been a little hard on the car. and i'm sure the previous owner was, given how the car was built. nothing has broke off yet. maybe it was done right. i can only hope.

 

i called a friend that i have not talked to in a while and he made his own 12 bolt and custom t/a. he pretty much said the same thing about the cast iron and the welding. it can be done but he dont want to do it again it took him several hours to get it right. i just want to look at all my options / cost

 

"I've seen a 12 bolt put in and the way it was done was with a four link setup; not stock at all."

do you have any pictures of the 4 link set up?