I have an 84' Z28. My stock 7.5in rearend is falling apart since I put in the new 350. I was looking for some input on what size/type rearend to put in. I have been leaning in the direction of a 10 bolt 8.5in out of a 2nd gen camaro/firebird. With whatever I get I plan on rebuilding with new final gears. Also I was wondering if anyone knows where to get new rearend brackets to weld on the new axel for 3rd gen camaro's. Any advise would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

A 2nd Gen rear will not fit under the 3rd Gen cars, unless you just want to use it as a jack stand.

 

How much power do you plan to put thru it? If it is just a 350, I'd get the stock rearend and use the rear end cover that has a couple of screws to hold the end caps in place under stress situations. If you are going all the way to a blown 400, I'd get a Ford 9 in

 

Fabbing a 2nd gen rear to fit is gonna be difficult at best. It's not just a simple matter of welding the brackets on....they have to be aligned perfectly or else you'll eat through tires every couple months, and the rear most likely is NOT the right length. There's also the question of how to mount the torque arm.....

I would suggest hunting down a Borg-Warner 9-bolt rear out of a wrecked 3rd gen. They came in '85-'89 IROCs and T/As and can be had with 2.77, 3.08, 3.27, 3.45, or even 3.70 gears stock. 2.77 is by far the most common, but 3.27's aren't too hard to find. The 9-bolt is much stronger than your old 10-bolt, and it's a direct bolt in with no fabrication required. The downside is that new gears run about $300 a set, and other parts are somewhat expensive....but it's not nearly as pricey as a 12-bolt or 9" and the strength will be adequate for all but the most extreme setups. http://www.diffsolutions.com has more information about the 9-bolt.