Are all GEN 3 10 bolts the same?

 

Should be, except for whatever gears are in it.

 

Yep, and posi/open.

-Corey

 

yea, those 1 wheel tire-fryers aren't that much fun

 

There are a few differences but they have nothing to do with the engine. Over the life of the third gen, GM changed the casting on the 10 bolts. The 1986-1992 have the better castings. The earlier models are weaker and depending how tight the torque arm bolts were tightened, you could deflect the housing and cause the pinion bearings to fail prematurely.

The strongest third gen diff offered in normal production was the Australian Borg Warner 9 bolt. Nothing internal is the same as a 10 bolt but all the external mounting hardware is the same. The ultimate find is the Dana 44. It was used in the SLP Firehawk and use'd to be available from the GMPPC. If you can still find one, they price is almost the same as buying an aftermarket bolt-in 12 bolt or 9". The Dana 44 used an 8.5" ring gear.

 

What years can you find the "9 bolt" and who makes upgraded parts for it. Whats the ring gear size?

 

The ring gear size is 7 3/4" but there's more to it's strength than just the ring gear size.

http://www.difftechnics.com/9_bolt_home.html