I'm supposed to be going to pick up a BW 78 rear end tonight, and I just wanted to get a few things sorted out and look for a couple more opinions on this for me.

I dont have a lot to go off of on what a good price is, as well as if the swap is really even worth it.

I have a 91 with a 10 bolt, with drum, non-posi, and 2.73s. Bottom of the barrel stuff.

My first question is: Is this upgrade worth it? I keep hearing these stories that the disc brakes are more of a problem than anything, and

Next thing is : The rear end is reconditioned (blasted and painted) but without gears in it, so I expect it will cost another couple hundred to get to the point where its ready to go in. What kind of cost should I expect to have the rear built for me? How rare are these things these days? Should I hold off and try to find one in a junkyard, or a different CL add assembled already?

Hes asking $300, but said he would take $200 tonight. I think this seems to be a very good price. It also includes wheel seals, diff gasket, and 2 sets of gears.(2.77 & 3.27) Which leads me to my last question: Isnt 3.27 a little on the tall side for these cars? Or is it a decent upgrade from the 2.73s I currently have? Also, I dont think anything shorter is available without a carrier swap, correct?

What do you guys think?

Here is the add itself.

Selling a Borg Warner 78 rear end for 3rd Generation Camaros/Firebirds (1982-1992). It has rear disc calipers, sway bar, 2 sets of gears (2.77 & 3.27). I believe it has a series 2 carrier. Included is a new cover gasket and right axle seal...both GM. I bought this years ago and never got around to building it.

I also have a 3rd Gen Camaro dash pad, steering wheel, panhard rod, and shifter I'll throw-in.

 

With the dashpad included, it's worth it. If the posi still works it's not that bad. I had one on my 89 Iroc and I actually liked that rear.

 

The dashpad is useless for my bird. Maybe the shifter and wheel will work, and the panhard rod should fit.

I think ill go for it. Ive been digging a little more and see quite a few people saying these rear ends are getting harder and hard to come by, and I cant see myself ever dropping the money needed to REALLY build my rear end.

 

Holy cow.....

It came with a NOS in sealed bag posi unit... Thats gotta be worth some money.

 

Definitely a great deal & that unit has the later (PBR) brakes.Which are not the ones you've read horror stories about.The 3.23 & (numerically) up posi's require a different carrier, but 3.27 is ideal for these cars.

Whats the 78 about though?

 

Yeah whats the 78 mean

 

78 is what Borg Warner calls the 9 bolt rear end the only thing to caution you with it is if it's a 2 Series posi carrier 327 gears will not fit

 

Im a little confused about it honestly....

It came disassembled. Everything is there, but even after scouring the net for quite a while I cant seem to find out exactly what I have.

It came with a carrier labeled 0578, and 2 sets of gears which only 1 will work for the carrier I have. 0575(2.77) and 0578.(3.27)

Now logic tells me that if the carrier is labeled 0578, then the gearsets I need would also be labeled 0578(3.27) correct? I cant seem to understand why it came with mismatched gears, or even which would be the right ones to use?

It would all be cut and dry, except, I cant seem to find an answer to 0578 thing. I think I have been reading that the 0578 carrier could be used with the 0575(2.77) gearset, and that the bearings are what make it different, so I am a little confused....

Anyone?

 

Yeah Borg M78 as another poster said.

They are the PBR Aluminum brakes too so thats a good thing.

DO you have any idea about the carrier numbers?

 

If the dash pad is in good shape, that's worth more than $200 right there!

 

Has a crack in it, but its solid and in decent shape other than the crack.

 

Mine works great. Ditch the cone type LSD.... Junk - sell it on eBay.

Here's my upgrade thread:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...rg-warner.html

GD

 

The cone posi's sure go for alot on ebay. Too bad I opened the new carrier from its package.

Your total cost looks to be less than what I could sell the NOS carrier for.....

hmm... Interesting..

Now I need to think about how to proceed. Maybe Ill list the carrier and see if there is any interest.

Thanks!

 

And to answer my own question earlier.

Im almost certain that the 0578 carrier stamp means its a series 3. It had series 2 (0575) gearset installed on it with shims, but the carrier itself is a series 3. If its stamped 0578, then it is in fact a 0578.

 

Yes, for some reason no one that actually has experience with the cone type can explain, people pay ridiculous amounts of money for NOS carriers. You could easily pay for the torsen center from AUS with the proceeds.

Highly recommend it. The 9 bolt is a good diff. On par with the 99 - 02 Zexel-Torsen 4th gen 10 bolt rear once converted to Torsen as it is a larger ring gear, and alread 28 spline axles..... Added benefit that you don't need C-clip eliminators at the track as the 9 bolt has factory bolt in axles.

Takes some work and some desire and if you are doing it yourself some tool investment but I'm very satisfied with the results. The Holden VL carrier has been great. Very positive lock up and awesome low speed manners. Never makes noises. Just a dream to drive.

One thing to note is that the commonly available 370 gears do whine a bit at part throttle. Doesn't bother me at all and isn't detrimental but some people dislike it. Such is the case with many aftermarket gear sets. Mine is only audible on super smooth (new) pavement, above about 40 MPH.

GD