Best place to get a complete rear end?

[565bbchevy]

If you want a posi and a gear for now you will be fine with the 7.5 the key to making it live is don't run slicks since if it hooks that is when it will break.
I ran my 7.5 with an Auburn carrier and Richmond 373 gears behind a 496 Big Block for years and I never ran slicks so it never broke and I sold it for what I had into it after buying my 9" rear.

 

[LukeZ]

If you want a posi and a gear for now you will be fine with the 7.5 the key to making it live is don't run slicks since if it hooks that is when it will break.
I ran my 7.5 with an Auburn carrier and Richmond 373 gears behind a 496 Big Block for years and I never ran slicks so it never broke and I sold it for what I had into it after buying my 9" rear.

Wow, didn't know the 7.5 could handle that much. Thanks

 

[montec]

I believe the weak part of the 7.5 is the carrier and pin.

I granaded my original 2.29 after motor upgrade, now I am running a 2.43 out of a 80's Bonneville. So far has held out, still open diff but until I finish the body and can afford a strange bolt in, it's what I will use.

 

[565bbchevy]

Wow, didn't know the 7.5 could handle that much. Thanks

Like I said if it hooks it will most likely break, with my 496 it never hooked since I could break the tires loose at a roll with ease.

 

[Garrett1982]

Maybe save your money, unless its burning a hole in your pocket, and when you upgrade the engine, address the trans, driveshaft, and rear accordingly.

 

[ssn696]

Put money in the transmission first, since that is more likely to blow up first behind a stronger engine.
Unless the gear ratio is hopeless for your goals, or the pinion seal is leaking badly, change the gear oil and just keep driving on your existing 7.5.
An option to consider is a 'lunchbox locker' that you can swap yourself without pulling out the differential. This could always be remarketed later if you find a GN axle.

 

[565bbchevy]

I agree with ssn696 as far as getting a strong enough trans behind an upgraded engine.
As far as doing a 7.5 now versus saving for a better 8.5 or 9" etc. I look at it this way many people make big plans to make big power sometime in the future but the reality is the percentage of people that actually do this is most likely on the low side especially ones that would actually need a costly 9" rear.
I think many are happy enough when they get to the 300 plus horsepower range but then they have a bigger cam and probably a mild stall convertor but they lack the gear to get in the power range of their new engine and who doesn't like to spin both tires at take off.
I am currently building my 86' Regal on a budget (since the money usually goes in the Monte) and I feel it closer represents more of what the average Gbody owner builds and drives and it will have around 325+ horsepower when done and it is going to be just a nice cruiser with decent power but I will be using the original 7.5 and will get a new carrier and a new gear around 3.23-3.42 range and I have overdrive and I have no doubt from my previous experience that this rear will last at my power level for as long as I own the car.
A new gear and posi will make a night and day difference on many cars especially with a mild modified engine and many people might never have the money to build a good rearend but would like to fully enjoy their car now.
As always this is only my opinion and yours may vary.

 

[pontiacgp]

I believe the weak part of the 7.5 is the carrier and pin.

I granaded my original 2.29 after motor upgrade, now I am running a 2.43 out of a 80's Bonneville. So far has held out, still open diff but until I finish the body and can afford a strange bolt in, it's what I will use.

an open 7,5 will take more abuse than a posi, the pinion gears in a posi are much smaller than the open ended pinion gears. I shattered the pinions in the 7.5 posi by a little drop of the clutch. We raced the metrics for years and had to leave the 7.5 rear in the rear and the axles were the weak point. I used the open 7.5 for a year before I found an 8.2. If someone wants to keep the 7.5 then I'd look for the 7.625 carrier with 28 spline or get a locker like this.... http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/pwt-1931-lr/overview/

 

[montec]

an open 7,5 will take more abuse than a posi, the pinion gears in a posi are much smaller than the open ended pinion gears. I shattered the pinions in the 7.5 posi by a little drop of the clutch. We raced the metrics for years and had to leave the 7.5 rear in the rear and the axles were the weak point. I used the open 7.5 for a year before I found an 8.2. If someone wants to keep the 7.5 then I'd look for the 7.625 carrier with 28 spline or get a locker like this.... http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/pwt-1931-lr/overview/

Interesting. I just replaced the axles in my '94 Blazer with the 7.5/7.62. Axles were due to me hitting a curb sideways. Ihad to replace the pin and the locking screw because their was stress on them.

 

[Injectedcutty]

I agree with ssn696 as far as getting a strong enough trans behind an upgraded engine.
As far as doing a 7.5 now versus saving for a better 8.5 or 9" etc. I look at it this way many people make big plans to make big power sometime in the future but the reality is the percentage of people that actually do this is most likely on the low side especially ones that would actually need a costly 9" rear.
I think many are happy enough when they get to the 300 plus horsepower range but then they have a bigger cam and probably a mild stall convertor but they lack the gear to get in the power range of their new engine and who doesn't like to spin both tires at take off.
I am currently building my 86' Regal on a budget (since the money usually goes in the Monte) and I feel it closer represents more of what the average Gbody owner builds and drives and it will have around 325+ horsepower when done and it is going to be just a nice cruiser with decent power but I will be using the original 7.5 and will get a new carrier and a new gear around 3.23-3.42 range and I have overdrive and I have no doubt from my previous experience that this rear will last at my power level for as long as I own the car.
A new gear and posi will make a night and day difference on many cars especially with a mild modified engine and many people might never have the money to build a good rearend but would like to fully enjoy their car now.
As always this is only my opinion and yours may vary.

Definitely agree here...when i bought my cutlass in '01 it had the 307 and 200-4r with the 7.5 rear. When i swapped to a 425 horse 355, tci streetfighter 350 i wanted to upgrade the rear. Being young and dumb on the rearend i bought a powertrax unit and 3.73's for a 8.5 thinking thats wht i had....turned out i learned my rear was the 7.5. Blessing in disguise as i found a 8.5 out of a H/O with the 3.73's already in it for a couple hundred bucks (been 10ish years ago). Had the shop put the powertrax in it and have been beating the fire out of it ever since! With that power level the 7.5 is more than strong enough but also as you said that's my opinion. Once he hits 400 plus hp then a new rearend becomes a necessity!