Rear end Clean up: "Ultimate 7.5"- Large Photos Inside

[Bumpin1ohmSS]

Nice stuff I'm just starting to build my 7.5 because I gave up finding a 8.5 GN axle..they want 850-$1,000 for a GN axle used

where did you find your GN axle at?

also what gearing diff carrier did you go with?

Thanks!! I snatched the 8.5 up 8 years ago off ebay for $600. The guy had just listed it and I rushed to his house and grabbed it. LOL!And stored it in a storage unit Everything had just been replaced. Axles, posi unit, gears and he had it POR-15 sprayed... Too good to be true. Not sure what unit is in the 8.5, but the 7.5 has an Auburn in it.

 

[ssbrewskyaz]

Elco,

Axle(s) look great dude. Finished product is always sooo rewarding and especially when they turn out like yours did.

Is the Eastwood primer by the quart or rattle can? Do you know if it's a lacquer or enamel primer? What are you going to spray as a top coat?

What the heck kind of stripper takes paint off in sheets like in the photos?

I always clean everything with lacquer thinner, Is there a specific advantage to using acetone over lacquer thinner? Just curious, old habits die hard but then again, if they ain't broke. ...

Again, great job, nice detail and excellent photo storyline. ...

Scott
ssbrewskyaz - 8)

 

[anakputa]

That is an excellent job. almost to nice to install. Hopefully you changed the pinion seal while it was out, or all that crap that was on before will return one one day

 

[Bumpin1ohmSS]

Elco,

Axle(s) look great dude. Finished product is always sooo rewarding and especially when they turn out like yours did.

Is the Eastwood primer by the quart or rattle can? Do you know if it's a lacquer or enamel primer? What are you going to spray as a top coat?

What the heck kind of stripper takes paint off in sheets like in the photos?

I always clean everything with lacquer thinner, Is there a specific advantage to using acetone over lacquer thinner? Just curious, old habits die hard but then again, if they ain't broke. ...

Again, great job, nice detail and excellent photo storyline. ...

Scott
ssbrewskyaz - 8)

Thanks!! I used some rustolium aircraft stripper from Autozone. Brushed it on and let it sit for 15 minutes. Went back out to the garage and the POR was falling off like crazy. Same for the 7.5. I learned of Eastwood Chassis Black and "Extreme Chassis Black" from my boss. He has the cleanest 70 Road Runner Ive ever seen. The Dana rear end he painted with Chassis Black looked ridiculous! I thought it was factory. He mentioned that he didn't get the primer and wish he had. He also said the next level up is the "epoxy", but that it is some nasty stuff (health wise) and does not come in a aerosol can. So I got the aerosol primer and paint. I'm not sure off hand if it's enamel or lacquer. Here's the link to the setup I purchased.

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-gloss-extrem ... rimer.html

There's more info on that line on the website. They also have a satin finish which is what I should have gotten. I used acetone cuz I had a big can of it laying around. Used what I had to keep the cost down.

That is an excellent job. almost to nice to install. Hopefully you changed the pinion seal while it was out, or all that crap that was on before will return one one day

Thanks!! The 8.5 was completely gone through. The 7.5 had a new Auburn unit dropped in iirc the seal was replaced as well. I'll prob climb under there every weekend to check the condition of the Eastwood to see how it's holding up and do any lil cleanup needed.

Thanks again for the kind words fellas! Can't wait to finish em off and get em installed. Still a lil ways before that happens but I'll get a few detailed pics of both installed..

Elco Warren
80z

 

[jlcustomz]

Lookin good there. Hopefully early next year I'll be doin a gear swap in my 7.5 . Just before my LS1 swap I let someome I knew at the time Build another rear for me, Bearings etc, 3.73 gears, eaton posi. Wiyh the t-56 trans & 24.5" tires ,I could have went to 4.11 gears. I soon switched to 25.5" tires, now 28" with my recent wheel swap posted here. Considering swapping in 4.56 gears & changing as little as possible, my rear has less than 9,000 miles on it.

With my recent pathetic budget,I'll probably swap myself this time, but need to re-educate myself on gear setup. Haven't swapped gearsets in over 20 years.

 

[gbody88]

NICE REAR BRO!!!! Quick question what type of calipers did u use because I was considering going with ttop tony setup with the 95 camaro

 

[Bumpin1ohmSS]

NICE REAR BRO!!!! Quick question what type of calipers did u use because I was considering going with ttop tony setup with the 95 camaro

Thanks bruh!! I went with the 98-2002 Maro setup cuz I wanted to retain the e-brake function. You have to pull the rear backing plate,PAB and caliper. Search Ls1 rear brake swap". Plenty of info and vids on how to do it. The flu bye setups cool as well. You lose the e brake with that setup tho iirc...

Elco Warren

 

[gbody88]

Thank for tha info.

 

[Bumpin1ohmSS]

Wassup fellas!! Bringing an old thread back from the dead. All my photo links were broken and I went back thru and fixed the pics on pages 1 & 2, Heres an update on the rears and a new 8.5 I cleaned up for my SS the #OGIK...

Heres a finished pic of the "Ultimate 7.5" build. Had the rear PAB's coated silver to match the Bu

Actually an old pic before I had the pab's coated. I cant find a newer pic of it all together (its in Arizona now with the Bu)...You get the idea. Will flow so clean with the other parts..

The "Ultimate 8.5" Grand National rear (373's, Eaton Posi, 28 spline axles, TA rear girdle, ARP main cap kit, Kore 3 braided lines) for my El Camino Project

And A new 8.5 for the #OGIK SS. This thing is a monster! 31 spline Toms Kick *ss axles, Eaton posi, 411's, Currie Johnny joint bushings, Perfect launch cover, LPW brace kit) I basically did the same thing with this rear- cleaned it up using the methods on page one of this thread and did the disc swap using my club bro Skip's instructions. This rear will ahve the brace bar kits brackets welded in and a nice weld bead around the axle tubes to help strengthen it up some more. I may add some other bracing as well..These rear disc swaps were done BEFORE the UMI rear swap brackets were out. Now you dont need to cut the flange with the use of UMI's kit..

Drained the fluid

After removing the drum brake setup, I started cleaning it up with a little aircraft stripper and purple power.

Eaton on deck!!

Cut the flange for the backing plate. This was done BEFORE the UMI rear swap kits were available. Id just get the kit if I was doing the swap now..

Drilled out the holes and mocked up the Fbody backing plate...

Sandblasted and painted the rear calipers with some VHT red caliper paint. 4 light coats

The stare down! 411 8.5 vs 373 8.5

Mocking up the Kore3 kit...

Black rotors for this one also..

Currie roto bushings

LPW rear brace kit. Mainly for looks...

Lookin good..

Perfect Launch rear diff cover.
Click pic below for a short vid of the rear



Hope this old "How to" thread will be of benefit to someone. I used simple tools and cleaning chemicals to bring these old rear ends back to life. With a little time and patience, a beatuful end result can be achieved. Thanks for checking back!!

LsWarren
80zUP!!

 

[jking78]

Great thread can't wait til I have the time and space to jump on my 7.5 good sh*t bruh good sh*t!!!!!