lets say i found a posi disc rear..................how much would a shop charge me to install it and put 3.73's in?????? what other brake parts would i need to buy to complete it?

around how much would this swap cost?

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Slayer of the following:
1996 Riced-out Honda Civic (all show and no go!!!!!!)
2000 saturn
198? Ford Crown Vic, (no i don't know why he bothered)
1990 Buick LeSabre 3.8
1986 Camaro 2.8
Newer Ford Explorer
Food that makes me sick: RICE
1991 Camaro RS 3.1 V6 5-speed
1991 Z28 Rims with Firestone Firehawks
dual snorkel intake w/ slashed boxes, 2 K&N's, 180* t-stat
my motto: I CAN'T DRIVE 55

 

While it's out, rebuild anything you can, yourself. LEARN, it's ALL out in the open!! NOT THE POSI NOR THE GEARS, that takes knowledge. BUT, caliper rebuilds are kinda simple.
Leave one side intact, use as a guide! Get new bushings & etc.
Be charged for checking your work & the labor of the swap (about 4 hours, I'll bet!)

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

DDUUUUHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! i can prolly bring it up to school and work on it in between my Tranny class and Algebra!!!!!! only a 5 hour gap between the two classes

buy the 3.73's.......what other parts would i need to replace???? or buy?????

 

Well I agree with KED on this one. Do as much as the work yourself as you can. A couple months back Super chevy did a great article on gear swaps and locker swaps. As far as the rear end complete exchange its cake do it yourself. unhook the brake lines, the LCA's, the panhard rod and the driveshaft. Have a jack under the housing to support the axle. Lower the axle SLOWLY or you'll be eating spring for lunch.

1. Dis the brake lines and the drive shaft.
2. get the jack under the axle have it supported.
3. Dis the pan hard rod.
4. SLowly start to lower the axle. The springs should not fly out at ya if YOU GO SLOW.
5. dis the LCA's. Then wham your done. install is the exact reverse.

The rebuilding of the brake calipers(if there needed) is as simple as craking a Haynes manual and following the directions.

 

call me stupid, but kinda springs do we have in the back??? if they are coils i can just buy spring compressors and put those on to remove the axel..........would the brake lines need to be changed cuz i am going to rear discs?

 

Examine your ride for those secure answers.
BUT, some have good pointers here.
You need not use a spring compressor. Lowering the rear is safe, as long as ya go slowLY!!!!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Yep, you don't need spring compressors for the back. When you undo the lower shock-to-axle bolts and lower the axle, the springs just ease on down. They're not "super-compressed" like the front springs, and they won't be aimed at you (at an angle) like the fronts would be. The rears will come straight down.

Search on the trans/drivetrain (and maybe the chassis/suspension board too), I posted the "how to" swap a rear axle quite a few times over there. The axle swap will be easy; all you need are sockets. (You might wind up having to replace the panhard rod bolts in case they're rusted, buy 'em now from a dealer, I put part #'s up on the suspension/chassis board a while ago.)

As to brakes, well, that's a pain, depending on what year axle you've bought. It's also a very good idea to replace all the rear brake hoses and e-brake cables. You really should've replaced your rear brake hoses by now for "safety's sake", might as well do it while the axle's out.

And yeah I agree, you'd probably be better off leaving the gear swap to a pro. If you set up the gears wrong, you can destroy them with one drive!!

When I put my 3.73/posi/disc axle in, I also painted it with POR-15. I replaced the rear axleshaft bearings (usually mis-named as "rear wheel bearings) and seals. I rebuilt one caliper, and had to replace the other (it was rusted too badly to be rebuilt). There's also a message or three of mine on the drivetrain board about how to build your own rear axleshaft bearing puller for under $10.

What year axle is it?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)