2nd gen 8.5" 10 bolt vs Nova 8.5" 10 bolt

[BuddyP]

What's the difference between the two in regards to the housing? Is there a lot or are both basically the same? Will a 2nd gen bolt into a 1st gen?

[Goatman]

2nd gen TA? Or 2nd Gen as in 80's G-body?

[BuddyP]

Sorry, 2nd gen camaro/Firebird, mid 70's.

[big gear head]

The Nova rear end is 60 inches wide overall and the spring perches are 42 1/2 inches center to center. The 2nd gen Camaro rear end is 61 inches wide overall and the spring perches are 45 1/4 center to center. The axles and housing are the only things that are different.

[TnBlkC230WZ]

The spring perches are easy enough to change/move, its the width you will have to deal with. Carefule selection of wheel offsets may fix it. There isn't a lot of wheel well room on the 2nd gen Novas thought.

Internally the later 10 bolt is a much better axle, using 30 spline axles and a 1.625 pinion like the 12 bolts. Some people building 500 ft/lbs and under engines prefer it to the 12 bolt because it is lighter and cheaper.

Visually, these later 10 bolts are easy to identify by the two dog ears that hand down on the bottom of the housing.

[big gear head]

The 8.5 didn't get 30 spline axles until late '89. By this time all of the Novas were front wheel drive Toyotas and the Camaro had the whimpy 7.5 rear end.