85 el camino rear end swap..please help

[hddave1]

hey guys ..i have a 85 el camino. it has a new 350 crate motor with about 250hp and a new th350 trans with shift kit.im wanting to find a good rear end with say a 3.08 or 3.42 gears so i can maybe i can get full advantage of my 350 without working it to death..the engine will never see over 300hp so im wanting to seach the local salvage yards for a complete painless swap.. i just need to know what years and models to look and ask for when i start calling around..im just wanting to keep it simple..im not drag racing the car.its just a nice looking car for daily driving use.. im runing 2.41 now and i know that is too tall a gear for what i have ..any help and advice would be great ...thanks

 

[KrisW]

If you're not going to see over 300 hp then you don't need a complete swap. Just grab some gears of an 82-88 camaro or Firebird V6 car, they usually had 3.42s. Your car will feel a ton stronger.

S10 gearsets work, too.

 

[hddave1]

well the thing is i know nothing about the inside of the rea end..i have took them out and put back but never messed with the guts..

 

[1981ElCamino]

It's at least worth a try, it will be a lot cheaper.

 

[KrisW]

Don't worry; rebuilding an engine is MUCH harder than doing a rear axle!

You just need a repair manual, like a chilton's, and some patience. Then, get ANY G-body rear from 78-88, and then get some 3.42s from a Camaro or S10. You will just need a bearing and shim kit, they are not expensive.

After you do the first one, you'll be upset that you never did it before!

 

[hddave1]

well i just made a call and found a complete rear end out of a 85 monte carlo ss with 3.73 gears ..i can get it for about 100bucks..

 

[Elky 83]

That sounds like a great deal. But remember the gas prices. You will be running at close to 4,000 rpm at 70mph. Not real great on the highway, but great (fun) gears for running around town.

 

[hddave1]

what cars could i look at that normaly had 3.42 . im wanting to just pull my rear end out and put another one in that has the lower gear kinda plug and play deal ..painless.....thanks guys

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

83-84 MCSS has the 3.42, as well as the Grand National and Turbo Regals with the 8.5 axle. 3.23's are available on high altitude 231 V6 2 bbl cars with the Th200 C trans. I pulled mine from an 83 4 door Regal. I listed the trunk decal codes in another recent thread. They tell you how to tell what axle the car came with new.

 

[bowtieboySS427]

Hey just wanted to say nice El Camino! Looks just like mine used to look. Except yours is much cleaner. Im going different colors now though and Im going through the same thing you are right now with the rear. I found a 74-77 Regal 8.5 10 bolt 3.42 posi for 500.00 I am putting new breaks/lines on it put a cover gasket and changed oil to lucas gear oil. Pretty sure it wont break wtih my 400 hp