Kwiksilverz28

88 GTA with the 9 bolt. I know it is stronger, but is it really worth the extra pia and money over a 10 bolt? I am looking at a 10 bolt with 3.42's, it's tubes welded, and pretty much ready to go. I would love to go 9" or 12 bolt, but am not ready to lay out that much $$$. Opinions? Probably will never put more than 325-350 hp through it, with an auto and no more than a 2800 stall. If I ever get dreams of that, I will go bigger rear end. In the mean time....is the easy to find parts for 10 bolt a better alternative?

Ucantcme57

Just weld the tubes on your stock rear, get a axle tube brace kit and a rear end stud and girdle kit..

http://www.lpwracing.com/home.htm

look at their axle tube brace kits.. Oh.. Get a solid pinion spacer too.. If I had a 4th gen rear I wouldn't switch down to a 3rd gen rear.. all 3rd geners are switching to 4th gens...

Kwiksilverz28

I don't have a 4th gen rear. I have an obsolete Austrailian 9 bolt Borg Warner rear end. IE. no parts available. Cheaper to get a 12 bolt.

I think I am going to get a 10 bolt. I can get a new posi, gears, axles, cover with girdle, and all set up for less than a set of axles for a 9 bolt....

Ucantcme57

Then you should just go to a 4th gen rear.. Cheaper parts.. Nice big rotors with dual piston calipers, if you get one out of a manual car it should be a 3.42 v8 i think a v6 manual is a 3.73? I'm not positive.. but there all posi and have 31 spline axles I believe.. You can get one of those for 200. and then spend another 250 on axle tube brace, girdle and stud kit.. then you should be good to 550lbs. at the rear..

ws6transam

Um, in a word, no.

Yes, I agree, *do* get a 10-bolt. *do* the mods. However, the 4th-gen rear end is the same as a third-gen rear, except it's longer. The axles are 28 spline, just like late model third-gen axles. The brakes are similar to the 1989-up PBR calipers as used on the third-gen. The ring gears and carriers are interchangeable with third-gen rears. (I have a '99 Torsen in my '84 axle housing).

Do the mods, and as the engineers at Richmond gear put it to me in an interview on this exact subject, you'll be able to hold up to 400 HP, but then you'll be pushing it.

http://www.ws6transam.org/10bolt.html

Kwiksilverz28

A fourth gen is too wide. Besides, a fourth gen is a wider late model 3rd gen. 7.625" 10 bolt with 28 spline axles. Fourth gen have single piston rear calipers. Trust me. I have a 98 Z28.... I think my plan is get an early 3rd gen with drum brakes, gut it, weld the tubes, new posi, 4.10's, moser axles, and cover with girdle. Convert the car to disc/drums, and be happy. Opinions? I think should be good to the high 11's / 400ish HP...

Kwiksilverz28

That's what I think too. Thanks!!!!

Ucantcme57

Quick Math..

Old Rear $50.00
Detroit Locker $519.95
4.10 Gear $170.00
Moser 40 spline $ 395.00
Drum to Disc Conversion $ 595.00
Girdle $ 200.00
Additive, oil $35.00

Total = $1965.00

That's close to a moser bolt in rear end...

Here's what your looking for... LOL

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...917354946&rd=1

ws6transam

Where did you get your prices from?

I bought my 28 spline axles from (the late) Greg Moser himself for $260 a set.
The H.D. Torsen was $300, and the Richmond gears were $180.
The girdle is $140, and the bearings & seals is $125.
As for the brake hardware, you cant include that if you are comparing to a 12-bolt moser.

Kwiksilverz28

That was more my math. That and I would rather have drum brakes. The GM rear disks are junk until they went the new style like the vettes and my 98 where the parking brake is separate. So, new axle, drums, and new proportioning valve....