Wanna help me build a 12 bolt rear?

[fleming442]

He'll be fine with 4.11s. I'd build it to turn 8500, though.

 

[lilbowtie]

Is there any merit behind using an "adjustable" pinion sleeve (think "shims") versus using a standard crush sleeve to set the pinion depth? If it's a reliable alternative then I really wouldn't mind using one.

The crush collar (sleeve) doesn't set pinion depth, it's there to be crushed by torqueing the pinion nut to seat the pinion bearing and obtain the drag or torque on them. There are shims to set this assembly to the proper depth. In your case I wouldn't eliminate the crush collar cause your not going to be beating on it with a lot of HP or 5000 rpm trans break launches.
With 4.11 gears 360 HP in a 4000 lb car (28 TALL TIRES) he will be going through the traps @ 13.0 @ 5500 RPMS

 

[307 Regal]

The crush collar (sleeve) doesn't set pinion depth, it's there to be crushed by torqueing the pinion nut to seat the pinion bearing and obtain the drag or torque on them. There are shims to set this assembly to the proper depth. In your case I wouldn't eliminate the crush collar cause your not going to be beating on it with a lot of HP or 5000 rpm trans break launches.
With 4.11 gears 360 HP in a 4000 lb car (28 TALL TIRES) he will be going through the traps @ 13.0 @ 5500 RPMS

I must have been forgetting how that's done. I actually rebuilt my 7.5 rear myself. I was just hoping a solid sleeve with shims would be easier to set up "just right." I did an okay job with my own crush collar but I feel I could've (and maybe should've) done better. I wanna be sure to do a good job this time around.

 

[TURNA]

The Moser 12 bolt housings have bolt in axles NOT C-clip eliminators

Well worth it if you are dead set on using a 12 bolt

 

[bracketchev1221]

A 4.10 gear is fine for what you want to do, I ran 4.10's in my Nova with a 275/60 tire. Moser has a 30 spline replacement C-clip axle for these as well. As far as the solid spacer and the shims, I have one in my 12 bolt and it works well. The crush sleeve is a bit of a pain, but they work. If you opt for the Richmond 4.10 gear, you can get the special set that works on a 3 series carrier. This will allow him to drop the gear to a 3.73 or less if he so chooses. Most people today don't go up in gear.