Rear-End Options?

[79loserbluebu]

Yep, 28 splined axles will slide right in on there. Just to keep on the same thread, anyone have any suggestions for upgrading non-posi 8.5" GN/442/Regal rear ends? I found a couple Auburn units similar to the 7.5" posted above. I found somewhere that people are making 10 second passes on the stock rear end, problem is I have no idea what kind of unit came in those rear ends.

 

[Doober]

Yep, if a built 7.5" can take 11-second passes, I'd definitely expect to be capable of 10s with an 8.5". I'm pretty sure the G-Body 8.5 isn't a special animal, so most 8.5" parts should fit, just be sure to use the correct axleshafts.

 

[79loserbluebu]

Cool 8)

Found a 2 series 8.5" posi on eBay for 200 so maybe I'll pick up the spacer since its going to be seeing mainly street use

 

[Chillin014]

http://houston.craigslist.org/pts/1620232609.html

what is the verdict on the Trans Am 8.5's? More trouble than its worth? It says "2.56" gear though...that is super low.


edit- Received my differential in the mail today! So now I'm trying to chose between 3.73 or 4.11 gears. I think I'm just going to go with the 4.11 even if I dont switch to a t56 right away. The cruising speeds from between 1500-2500 rpm don't differ enough to justify going with the 3.73.

I'm assuming my fifth gear is a .63.

 

[Doober]

They're leaf sprung so unless you weld LCA mounts & coil spring perches, and can manage to weld a pair of UCA mounts to them (you typically don't weld on cast iron), they won't work.

 

[Chillin014]

Ahh thank you again. I thought there was a catch.

 

[Chillin014]

Doober, were you looking at Moser axles from summit? I can't figure out which part number is right for my application using that 7.5 28 spline posi I bought.

After that all I should need to buy is an installation kit and a gear...I was planning on going with a 4.11 gear when I thought I was going to upgrade to a t56 but if I can beef up my t5 I may not. As far as the 5th gear calculations went there wasn't really that big of a difference between the 3.73 and 4.11 gears but what I have yet to figure out is how that is going to effect the lower gears and if first gear is going to be practical or not.

 

[Doober]

Yep, this link should take you right to the correct axles for a 7½" housing:
http://www.summitracing.com/search/Depa ... s=Rank|Asc

 

[Chillin014]

thanks. just bought the Mosers!

Decided I'm going to go with a 3.73 gear too just because I think I'm keeping the t5 for now and after some calculations I'm pretty confident it's still going to rip *ss without being impractical for daily driving.

 

[Chillin014]

Alright time to buy the ring and pinion gears. Richmond gear offers 2 different 3.73's...one is from their "excel" product line and is like 40 bucks cheaper but doesnt specify that it's for the 3 series diff like the other one does. Anyone have a clue?
http://www.summitracing.com/search/Depa ... s=Rank|Asc