donor vehicle?

[warpig]

Only have a 2.42 sitting under my 84 buick looking for better rearend but cant go out and afford a brand new one. Looking for a donor vehicle for this to come out of? What other vehicles sitting in the junkyards would have the same length to fit under my buick regal?

and suggestions would be greats( o ya i have a 327sb and turbo350 if that helps.

warpig

 

[Blake442]

Any G-body rear will be a direct bolt in. Others will fit, but require modification, and usually aren't cost effective.
The coveted 8.5" rears cost big money but are worth it if you're making big horsepower.
A regular 7.5" is fine for street use and even track duty as long as you don't torture it and have a 12 inch slick and a trans brake.

Try and score a 7.5 out of a Monte SS as it will be more affordable and have a more pleasant gear ratio of 3.42 for the '83's and '84's, and the '85-'88 had 3.73's. (feel free to correct me anybody if I'm wrong on those...)

 

[pontiacman469]

Try to find a better set of gears from a junkyard or for sale..s-10s from the 80s have 3.73s and posi alot,but are not a complete rearend swap only the guts..other than that g-body's with the 700 or 200 OD trans usually have 3.73s in them,but not always

 

[BrownGP83]

I believe 85-up MC SS rears were 7.625 inch instead of 7.5inch. As far as i know they were all 3.73 gears in 85up too.

 

[pontiacman469]

the 85-88 monte ss rears are written different on paper,but are compatible

 

[BrownGP83]

the 85-88 monte ss rears are written different on paper,but are compatible

I know externally they are a bolt in deal, but are internal parts like lockers and diffs compatible between 7.5 and 7.625 rears/

 

[pontiacman469]

Yes

 

[pontiacman469]

The only difference,which i cant remember the years is the splines on the axles:there is 26 and 28 splines...i think 88 and up 7.5's have 28 spline,88 and down have 26..

 

[warpig]

so basically just need to find some gears to fit into the 7.5 rearend and just do the swap like that? Sounds a little easier than changing the whole thing.

 

[pontiacman469]

Its alot easier,unless you have a big balls motor,pretty easy,pull the carrier apart (5 bolts)pull the pinion(1 big *ss bolt)and reverse...your in for $75 you should be able to change your gears