The Cheap Route: Putting a 7.625 in a 7.5 housing

[jetsetw31]

Final rebuild recap. A USA Gear rebuild kit, sustitute Timken carrier bearings, 3.42:1 ring and pinion, 7.625 ring gear, 28 spline Moser axles, ARP cap studs and modified housing ends to standard GM 4 bolt.
Install will be soon.

 

[jetsetw31]

The rear is in and I'm learning to not panic with every small clunk, tire chirp and clicking noise I now here. Auburn says it's normal.
Worse case scenario, I put the spider gears back in and wait to build the 8.5. Yet so far the gears are smooth as can be and my first gear makes the 3:42 feel like 3:73s. 60mph is now at 2700rpm. It was at 1900rpm.
Soon, I'm gonna crack open the old rear to confirm the ratio before I scrap it. (just for peace of mind.)
T

 

[jetsetw31]

Oh Yeah, almost forgot. I can't wipe the smile off my face from even normal take offs. I am driving gently until about 150 miles before I do any kind of power launch.
T

 

[jetsetw31]

Update. I had to change out my yoke because one of the strap bolts snapped off while I was changing the clutch hydraulic systems.
I cleaned up the one from the 7.5 and flipped them with little oil loss. Just drove it yesterday for 40 miles on the highway and then checked to see how much heat the housing generated. It was just warm to the touch, which is a good sign the oil is doing it's job of cooling and lubricating.
The mini locker is working well. Every now and then on loose gravel during turns it chirps. Like when I pull out of a parking lot onto a main street. I always look around for cops when that happens. Lol
T