So I finally found a 8.5" rear 10 bolt from Grand National

[tobyp]

So I finally found an 8.5" GN rear 3:42 posi for $700.00 and I am definately gonna buy it even if I dont have the 200r4 yet. Seems like a really good deal for the gearing I am looking for, the 8.5" that I am looking for , and the posi unit.

Guess I will upgrade the brakes to disc and get on a sticky on how to do so.

If it's not leaking, dont mess with it? The mechanic in me wants to tear it apart and rebuild it :lol:

 

[84GP455]

Re: So I finally found a 8.5" rear 10 bolt from Grand Nation

Great that's good news for you, I found my 8.5 GN rear 2 years ago already converted to discs and now I need the 2004R! I can't drive it on the highway with these gears and my TH400.

 

[khan0165]

Re: So I finally found a 8.5" rear 10 bolt from Grand Nation

this summer, I'm rebuilding mine as well. From all the folks I've talk to and all the research I've done, it's really quite simple to rebuild. If you're simply replacing worn parts, you just pull the carrier and put it back in with the same shim arrangement.

it's only slightly trickier if you're going with different components, because then you have to setup all the adjustments again... but still not tough to do.

The one thing I gotta find someone to lend me is a set of dummy bearings to do my setup with, before I press on the bearings from the new kit.

 

[mebe007]

Re: So I finally found a 8.5" rear 10 bolt from Grand Nation

Not bad. I got line for $600 with an upgraded driveshaft and s10 wheel cylinders. I don't mind shoes. I replaced axle bearings, seals, installed moser hardened axles and a rear girdle. I don't mind drum brakes. Running 2 long shoes and s10 wheel cylinders she has plenty of clamping force.

 

[LSCustoms]

Re: So I finally found a 8.5" rear 10 bolt from Grand Nation

So I finally found an 8.5" GN rear 3:42 posi for $700.00 and I am definately gonna buy it even if I dont have the 200r4 yet. Seems like a really good deal for the gearing I am looking for, the 8.5" that I am looking for , and the posi unit.

Guess I will upgrade the brakes to disc and get on a sticky on how to do so.

If it's not leaking, dont mess with it? The mechanic in me wants to tear it apart and rebuild it :lol:

should be a link in my sig, if you have any questions let me know

 

[tobyp]

Re: So I finally found a 8.5" rear 10 bolt from Grand Nation

So I finally found an 8.5" GN rear 3:42 posi for $700.00 and I am definately gonna buy it even if I dont have the 200r4 yet. Seems like a really good deal for the gearing I am looking for, the 8.5" that I am looking for , and the posi unit.

Guess I will upgrade the brakes to disc and get on a sticky on how to do so.

If it's not leaking, dont mess with it? The mechanic in me wants to tear it apart and rebuild it :lol:

should be a link in my sig, if you have any questions let me know

That seems like l alot of work. Do you feel benefit analysis between doing a large shoe and s-10 wheel cylinder swap that the amount of work was worth it for the performance difference. I mean, it looks nice as hell, and you did a fantastic job. I am not sure I have that much patience. I guess I may be due for a challenge on the car, I have been so fortunate with everything that I have done has been quite simple.

 

[LSCustoms]

Re: So I finally found a 8.5" rear 10 bolt from Grand Nation

So I finally found an 8.5" GN rear 3:42 posi for $700.00 and I am definately gonna buy it even if I dont have the 200r4 yet. Seems like a really good deal for the gearing I am looking for, the 8.5" that I am looking for , and the posi unit.

Guess I will upgrade the brakes to disc and get on a sticky on how to do so.

If it's not leaking, dont mess with it? The mechanic in me wants to tear it apart and rebuild it :lol:

should be a link in my sig, if you have any questions let me know

That seems like l alot of work. Do you feel benefit analysis between doing a large shoe and s-10 wheel cylinder swap that the amount of work was worth it for the performance difference. I mean, it looks nice as hell, and you did a fantastic job. I am not sure I have that much patience. I guess I may be due for a challenge on the car, I have been so fortunate with everything that I have done has been quite simple.

as far as the science behind it, I was actually told that a drum/shoe has more stopping power... but the caliper set up is convenient and looks much better, etc. as far as the work, it was super easy... the hardest thing or most time consuming, is something you dont have to do the way i did... the prop valve...

you can take a prop valve off one of the caddies in the yard, that have rear disc brakes and the valve (which looks identical to ours) will swap in, or you can buy a new disc/disc prob valve which is a direct replacement for ours, or you can modify the stock one, it really was not hard at all to do and can be done in a few hours time... the only thing I couldnt do was press the studs into the axles, had to take them to get done, but well worth the effort for the swap

 

[Intragration]

Re: So I finally found a 8.5" rear 10 bolt from Grand Nation

I agree with LS, I don't think the rear disks are going to be that much of an upgrade for typical driving. The fronts do most of the braking, and drums have a certain nice grab to them due to their being self-energizing. I think the disk upgrade would be better in a situation where you're using the brakes heavily and experiencing fade on the drums. Having said that, I don't think the disks would be a bad idea, just not entirely necessary. That's a good tip, on the Cadillac prop valve for use with the disks. I had previously only heard about people using aftermarket adjustable ones.

I like the idea of the S10 cylinders, I'm going to look into that myself when I upgrade my axle. As far as anyone knows, is that a direct swap, and do you continue to use the G-body shoes? What about the cylinder rods/actuators, the rods that are inserted into the ends of the cylinder, do you need those out of the S-10 also, or are the G-body ones interchangeable?

 

[mebe007]

Re: So I finally found a 8.5" rear 10 bolt from Grand Nation

S10 wheel cyl is a direct swap. But key note they are from a manual brake s10. G body shoes yes. But you have to remember the s10 came with a 7.5 as well lol. Same shoes, same drum. Brian sells a kit at gbody parts with long shoes, wheel cyl and stainless lines for like $179. That's a good way to go to be honest

 

[tobyp]

Re: So I finally found a 8.5" rear 10 bolt from Grand Nation

Well today I found another 8.5 posi with 3:73 and maybe a drive shaft for $600.00. Choices....Maybe I'll buy them both!

I'll give brian a call and get one of the kits from him.