So, now I know the stock rear will blow sooner or later with my ls1 swap, simply because it is not strong enough.


So here is my situation.

-I have to run a 4.10 or 4.11 gear.
I need rear disc brakes, or atleast be able to convert
-A have acquired most of my lsx parts, so money is getting tight, therefore a S60, or other new aftermarket rear end is out of the question, (for now)

-And here is the curveball, I have after market wheels that require a 1" rear spacer with my stock rear end.

I wont be driving the car hard until next year. So it will only see the street, with no hard launches on street tires. Just occasional full throttle while rolling, and shifting it easy. You guys think the 10 bolt with 4.10 gears and a T/A girdle will hold until I can afford to buy a nice new rear end?

So spruce up the stock rear and not do any hard launches untill I can get a s60 next year?

Or look for another rear such as a 9" or 12 bolt?


if I go with a 9" or 12 bolt, exactly which one do I need? From what car?

 

A 10 bolt may last for a little while if you only run street tires and do not attempt any hard shifting or banging through the gears. Another solution for a rear end is a ford 8.8 It is lighter than a 9" but will be just as strong as a 12 bolt. The only catch is that it will have to be completely custom made. However, it can also be pretty affordable if you can assemble it yourself. Member Pocket has a thread where he built a bolt in 8.8 for something like $200.

 

Why ?

 

Thanks Eric-86.

Vette0z, I will be running a large cam, and it will benefit greatly with a 4.10 gear.


So the 10 bolt, might just get me by, for now?

 

T56, do a 9" if you plan to beat on it. Get a 1" narrower 4th gen style housing and should eliminate the need for adapters

 

if money is an tight, and you have the fab skills, the 8.8 is the way to go. actual cost for my rear was $378. it can be done cheaper, just depends on what you have to pay for the 8.8. i found one that had a low miles, a posi, and 4.10 gears so i didn't have to add that stuff in.

my 10-bolt w/3.23s was doing OK, definitely not enough gear, and i was always afraid it was going to leave me stranded.

 

I ran a beefed up 10 bolt with 4.10 gears on the dragstrip for about a year before swapping to a 9" because I needed the extra strength and deeper gears.

You're rolling the dice with a 10 bolt. You can spend money to beef up a 10 bolt to make it a little stronger and you still risk the chance of breaking ring and pinion teeth or you can spend a little more for a better diff right from the start.

Spend money now on something better or spend money on the 10 bolt now plus spend even more money on a better diff later when the 10 bolt fails. If you want to pay twice then keep using the 10 bolt with some upgrades but you will need to change it eventually.

If money is tight now, it's going to be worst later. You can't make a high HP engine without upgrading the rest of the driveline to handle the power. OEM stuff just doesn't last. You can run the 10 bolt for now but when it breaks, your budget goes down the tubes.

Do it right the first time.