Finally got my 83 Z pulled out and driving. With 430 hp to the wheel, it really wants to break loose or go fast, no middle ground. I warmed one wheel the other day and forgot that it really only uses one power wheel. What rear end should I swap in for both wheels to spin? I've also been told I might want to put beefier axels in, just in case.

One idea someone gave me was to find a junkyard that would sell me the whole rear end out of a 4th gen. This way I would have both wheels spinning, and I could swap out the old drum brakes for new disk brakes. It would probably save me a little money just getting it from a scrapyard, and then just cleaning it up and painting it, mixed with some maintenance.

To be honest when it comes to axels and gear ratios, etc. I'm more of shooting in the dark because I have no clue what to find or do

 

You don't necessarily need a whole rear end; only a carrier.

I'd suggest a Detroit Locker (Eaton) True-Track. NOT a Gov-Lock, such as comes in S trucks.

Yes better axles would be good too. Stock ones are kinda crappy to begin with, relatively soft metal as such things go, and your almost 4-yr-old ones have probably seen better days anyway, seeing as how the axle IS the inner race of the bearing, If you go the carrier/axle route, get ones for 89-up with 28 splines.

You could get a 4th gen one and that would give you better rear brakes; if you do that, get a 98-02 (LS1) one, NOT a 93-97 (LT1) one. The LT1 has the super crappy Auburn in it, which is most likely going to be wore out after 25 years or so, and it was never a very good unit to begin with. Your existing wheels will stick out an extra 1-5/8" or so on each side, which looks kinda goofy; but 4th gen or Vette wheels will have the right offset to fit properly.