8.5" s-10 axle swap?

[GMillion$]

Can anyone think of why it's not an awesome idea to put a 2000's s-10 axle under a g body??

Pros:
-similar width
-same bolt pattern
-8.5" r & p
-G-80 lsd (have read that it's limited slip up to a point, then fully locks)
-good range of stock gear ratios
-disc brakes
-28 spline shafts
-same size pinion yoke (i think)
-cheap and plentiful
-???

Cons:
-diffucult to weld uca mounts to cast pumpkin; but easy to fab something up:

-may need to fab new uca's to mount to truss (if done like above not using g body style)
-need to fab lca/shock/coil mounts
-metric thread studs
-still a c-clip axle
-??????

I can't figure out how the cons could possibly outweigh the pros, especially if you're a decent fabricator...

Please add pros/cons and input - going to the wrecking yard this weekend to sus one out

 

[GhettoRacingKid]

throw this under pros, cons or opinions.

Sounds like a lot of work for still a stock axel, stock posi, stock gears.

It would hold up for a street application but thats a lot of work fabricator or not to just be running on the street.

If i was just running a street car I would stick with a 7.5 and change the gears or be super cheap about it and grab a monte SS posi 3.73 rear and toss that in.

just my opinion

 

[jrm81bu]

I wouldn't say they are plentiful. I've only seen the 8.5's under the ZR2's. I'm also not a fan of the gov-loc.

 

[GMillion$]

Good points. I guess I didn't state my intended purpose: reliable daily street and auto-x (w some grippy 315 width tires) behind a 6.0ls that will have a couple of snails hung off it in the next couple years.
And my location makes it a bit different for me to find parts; I havent seen a single monte ss or 442 driving around town, and I know for a fact there are none in the wrecking yard here. However, there are a ton of s10's and jimmy's and I'm pretty sure I saw a couple zr-2's in the yard last time out. That and that the junkyard boss gets $ signs in his eyes when you say things like "cadillac" or "mustang" or "ss"...

The g-80 definetly seems to be more fit in low-speed offroad driving, but at least the rest of the axle is already set-up and for me and $300 for an a new-ish 8.5" lsd disc axle that just needs some fab work to mount sounds perfect. Though I am addicted to grinder dust and welding smoke...
jrm81bu, why are you not a fan of the gov-loc? Is it the way it operates? Or do you not trust it to hold under power?

OR

To build my 7.5", I'd have to buy an lsd ($380 for auburn or $500 for tru-trac), gears (stock 2-something ratio not in the carrier-split range)($200), and new bearings ($100). $680 plus shipping (prob around $200 -no joke!)That still leaves me with 30 year old, 26 spline axle shafts and drum brakes. I guess I could go with a powertrax for $350 and a c-clip eliminator kit $150 and not do the gears...

OR

Mustang 8.8 ($400-up from my local yard): still has drums, needs re-drilled axles, $320 baseline uca kit

OR

Exploder 8.8 ($300 from the yard - I actually have one of these under my ranger wheelin rig: disc, 4.56's, welded diff, bearing support cover, handles 37" bogger burnouts on dry pavement): disc, 31 spline shfts, needs redrilled axles, and same uca-mount fab work as a zr-2 axle

OR

Ford full-width 9": prob score one for $200 from a pal that may have decent ratio and lsd, still has drums, $90 for ebay g body kit or fab my own, shorten tubes, dutchman axles $200-250 plus shipping (lots...)

For strength, money, and ease of set up, I think either the zr-2 or the exploder axle is what i'm leaning toward , with the 9" real close behind

Holy hell, this turned into a long post!

 

[pontiacgp]

You missed the last thing that happens....

-G-80 lsd (have read that it's limited slip up to a point, then fully locks)..then grenades

 

[GMillion$]

You missed the last thing that happens....

-G-80 lsd (have read that it's limited slip up to a point, then fully locks)..then grenades

I'm gonna have to remember this when I'm whippin shittys in the wife's V8 Colorado... but at least if i have a zr-2 axle under the malibu, I can fix her truck without her knowing!!

 

[jrm81bu]

jrm81bu, why are you not a fan of the gov-loc? Is it the way it operates? Or do you not trust it to hold under power?

Both! The 8.5 gov-loc is possibly stronger than a 7.5 but the way it engages lends to a good possibility of destruction when behind any kinda power.

I would lean towards the 8.8 fox body or sn95 axle. That is/was my plan.

 

[pontiacgp]

beside blowing up the swing arm disengages the lock up above 30 mph...

 

[GMillion$]

OK so I'm not doing the S-10 8.5" swap... The more I read on the g-80 (and from some well-placed nay-saying here!), the more i didn't want one and there were only two zr-2 s-10's in the yard, both minus axles.

No fox body or sn-95 stangs

A few disc brake 8.8 exploders w 3.73's and trac-loc lsd's: $300 Then i'll have the same axle under my bu (trac-loc), wheelin ranger (lincoln), and dd ranger (torsen)

 

[pontiacgp]

why not check out the Chevelle A body rear ends...I have a 67 8.2 with an Eaton posi which is just 2.5" wider than a G body rear and it'll hold up to around 500 hp. All you need to install it is conversion uppers. I have the UMI conversion uppers with a roto joint so there is no binding as there is with stock uppers. JBrue has the 12 bolt in his Monte and it's 68-72 model so it's 4.5" wider than the G body rear.