I purchased a gear set and install kit for my trans am back in january. I am finally ready to swap gears for what I thought was a 10 bolt but when I raised the car and tore the rear apart I found out it was a 9 bolt so now I have a new set of 3.73 gears and install kit for a 10 bolt and and nothing that they fit in. So my question is should I buy a series 3 carrier and new gears to get to 3.73 in my 9 bolt. Or swap to a 10 bolt?

 

It would be cheaper to get a 10 bolt. Get a '90 to '92 with 28 spline axles. 9 bolt parts are expensive.

 

If cost is a big concern that is something to consider. However, I don't think there are too many members on this site that would willingly trade their 9-bolt for a much weaker 10-bolt.

Did Dana 44s have ten bolts? If you have a Dana 44, shoot me a pm and I will be happy to take it off your hands.

 

How do you know that your 9-bolt isn't already a 3 series carrier? Did you check?

You could always return the gear and install kit, and save that for 9-bolt parts.

Also, please fill out the rest of your profile so we don't have to ask you the basics about your car.

 

When I ordered the gears and brg & shim kit I looked at the tag on the diff and found out that it had 2.77 gears. But I wasn't thinking about counting diff cover bolts at the time and assumed that it had a ten bolt posi in it. So knowing that it had 2.77 on the tag I ordered the thick set of 3.73 gears for the series two carrier. That was back in january so a couple of days ago I put the car on jack stands tore it apart and found out it was a 9 bolt. I called the place where I got the gears from and they said it had been to long and wont refund my money even though the boxes havn't been opened. So now a friend of mine has a ten bolt in a 91 camaro convertable and he will trade but I don't think that I will cause it has drum brakes and is a one legger. I think Ill try to sell the gears or maybe save them for later and just save up for some new gears and brgs for the 9 bolt.

 

There are no thick gears for the 9 bolt. You will have to change the differential if you want to change the gears. The thick gears are going to screw you up on the 10 bolt unless you use a used Auburn, which is never a good idea. Looks like there is no good or cheap way out of this for you right now.

 

Just an FYI I have about $1000 in my 2.77 to 3.70 swap in my BW 9 bolt. The rebuilt carrier from 9bolt.com was almost 1/2 of it.

Huge improvement tho.

 

I am just going to keep the 9 bolt and buy gears and carrier when I get the $$ saved up. At least I went through and checked it all out. Seem to be in great shape.

 

Are you interested in selling the 10-bolt 3.73 gears? I've also got a 9-bolt series 3 carrier (3.27) I plan to rebuild and could sell you. Not sure when it'll be done but if you're interested I could hurry it up some. What make are the gears? Part number?

 

Not to add salt to your wounds, it is always a good idea to inspect what you have before you order assume what you might have order parts.