I've got a 89 S-10 w/ a LT4 converted 94 LT1, 4L60-E, Richmond 3.73s, all new bearings, zexel torsen diff, and summit stud girdle. I'm in the process of installing a trans go shift kit in pretty much full race mode and TCI Super Street Fighter 3500 stall. The truck is all over the place w/ the stock converter and trans (1-2, sometimes 3), I can't wait to see what it's going to be doing tomorrow night (hopefully!).

Once I have fun burning my tires down to the rim, I'm probably going to get serious about traction so I can get some decent times at the track, nitto 555, bfg drag radials, m/t streets, etc... If I have the rear setup right, will it hold up? Datamaster TTS is estimating I'm making around 380 hp, not sure if I believe it's making that much, but just wondering how long I should expect out of this rear.

I've got the stock 28 spline axles too.

I know it's probably been discussed to death before, but I couldn't find anything searching. I'll probably have my buddy weld the axle tubes to the housing, anything else I should be doing?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

I know someone that had a 10bolt survive a few thousand 5k clutch drops with a spec4 clutch and slicks on a stock gear ratio with 560 to the wheels....
Put in a different gear ratio and it probably wont last long.

 

I know someone that had a 10bolt survive a few thousand 5k clutch drops with a spec4 clutch and slicks on a stock gear ratio with 560 to the wheels....
Put in a different gear ratio and it probably wont last long.

 

They are a lot stronger than people make them out to be.

 

As long as you don't hook up well, you'll probably never break the rearend.

 

I have a 95 Formula with a 383 with 420 rwhp, 4L60E with a Vigilante 3600 stall...been running in the 10 bolt since 1995 with only one rebuild...stock axles, 3.42 GM gears and a Pro Auburn...I think the longevity is based on using BFG DRs..they spin just enough to keep from breaking everything...

 

That's all the stuff I did to my first 2 10-bolts. One snapped a spider gear at the line... the other snapped a spider gear on the side of the highway. Weight is bad, and torque is bad. The good news is that I was running a Street Twin clutch on my 6-speed for both times, and the Nitto 555R's were nice and warm.

With an automatic you'll have a better chance of surviving launches than a manual does.

To keep the pinion straight, you may want to include a solid-pinion bearing spacer next time you pull it apart. Personally I'd just start looking for a 12-bolt. If I ever get ahead of my bills I'll have one eventually.

 

Well it just depends, you have guys that get alot out of the stock rears and some who don't. I have a friend with a bolt on 97 A4 with 3.73's and his is shot. He is limping it along til he can get another one but it is doing peg leg burnouts so he is not racing on it anymore. If it does not just let loose on a launch it will probably do what his is doing and the posi will go first then the rest will follow.

12 bolt

 

thanks for all the replies people.

I guess if worse comes to worse, I'll get a 8.5" out of a late model s-10, lot cheaper than a 12 or 9" but strong enough for my application (bolt in and disc brakes don't hurt either ). I was just trying to judge how long I have.

Hopefully it'll be on the road tomorrow night and I'll know for sure.