I have a 2.41 rear ratio and was planning on putting a 3.42 in it. I found a new set of 3.42 ring and pinion off craigslist for $110. If I swap the 3.42 in I would need a series 2 carrier instead of a series 1 carrier right?
Rear end gear swap
- Thread starter 81cutlass
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I believe so. When I did mine I went to 3.73 the first time I went with the larger carrier. I know that there is a larger carrier that came with 3.08 gears and numerically higher gears from the factory, and the smaller carrier came with cars with under 3.08 numerically. I think you can get gears for either carrier. I ordered the larger carrier thinking that was the one I needed and had to return the gears since the ones they sent were for the smaller carrier. I may not be totally correct but I did this 9 years ago and have since went with an 8.5 rear.
Your somewhat correct for 3.08 and higher you need a 3-Series carrier.If you have a 2-Series carrier which has under 3.08 gears you can use it with a spacer for 3-Series gears.Hope that helps
I believe 2-series is 3.08 and (numerically) lower and 3-series 3.23 and (numerically) higher. You will need to get a 3-series carrier or a ring gear spacer. Spacers cost about $50.
I was going to ask about the spacers. For $50 plus $110 for the gears its cheeper just to get a pre 88 S10 rear end. I couldnt remember what the exact carrier ratios were.
Thanks.
Thanks.
3.08 is still the 2 series carrier on a 7.5" diff and im not sure if they still make a spacer for these diffs. I have looked around for one my self and was told you couldnt get them anymore.
So I can do 3 things, keep the series 2 carrier with spacer, go to a series 3 carrier, or a posi series 3. There is never any SS parts cars for sale around here and unless I get super lucky theres no way I will find a G body with a series 3 posi carrier. Could go with a series 2 posi with spacer too I guess if I do get lucky and find one. Theres a ton of S10's but they have the bad Gov-lock so im not going there. Any other cars that would have a 7.5" posi?
Late 80s Camaro/Firebird was available with posi and had 26 spline axles. I don't believe there were any 3-series though. I think they were 2.73 and 2.9? depending on whether they were manual or auto. I went to U-Pull-It on half off day and and pulled 3.42s from an S10 Blazer and a posi from a ('87?) Camaro, then ordered a spacer and install kit from Speedway. It worked out fine but I would have rather gotten a complete rearend from a Monte SS and just swapped the whole unit out. Of course, 6 weeks after I finished mine, one went through the same yard I got my parts from. It would have cost 1/2 but wouldn't have had new bearings.
If you are not schooled in replacing gears and don't have the tools I would advise against swapping gears around. Be patient and look for a whole rear. Much cheaper, easier, and no chance of screwing it up. I HAVE the tools and the talent and it's still a chore setting up a rear correctly.
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