10 bolt up-grades

[billz428]

I would like to use these parts in my 1980 Trans Am.
Factory disc brakes.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=MSR%2D542050&N=700+4294918887+4294901322+400256+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=MSR%2D7107&N=700+400256+307816+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=MSR%2D7115&N=700+400256+319097+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=MSR%2D7115&N=700+400256+319097+115&autoview=sku



http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=RAT%2D3003K&N=700+4294862355+4294901322+400371+115&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=RMG%2D4900411&N=700+400137+301350+115&autoview=sku

Any input, advice would be great:worship: .

[MrClean]

weld the axil tubes to the differential housing . 8.5 axle tubes are pressed in and plug welded in 3 places if you have alot of torque & traction the tubes can break loose from the plug welds .this is no good. we did this in my 77 camaro 4 speed with 375 to 400 hp . my new rear is out of a 79 t/a ws6 with disc and i had it welded.

[chicane67]

I'm not a big fan of Auburn's offerings. They are a 'throw away' unit when you kill it... and its not a question of 'if' you kill it... it's a question of 'when' you kill it. Thankfully Auburn has the "DREX" program. They started the program... because they found out that their stuff is junk. There is a link on their site that shows you how to exchange it for about $100 for a rebuilt unit when it get to that point. It would however, help if you posted you intended use and how hard your gonna beat on it... to give a better recommendation for a differential. Other than that... I would be looking at an EATON or a True Trac.

I'm not a real fan of the diff cover either (or MOSER for that matter). They dont do very much... and in fact... can hurt more than help. There are too many dis-similar metals in that device and "tolerance stacking" can become a real issue. The only differential it might help is the GM7.5"... and even then, what I previously mentioned, is still an issue. Not worth the time, money and effort in my opinion. Since knowing the man who "invented" the cover itself... and knowing he only did it as a revenue generator... is the nail in the coffin for me. Even he openly admits to it doing nothing for an already weak assembly. Basically what he meant by that is... if you get to the point of it needing something like this... its already too late and you have other issue to deal with first.

Carrier cap stud kit... do it. They are affordable, they are stronger and it just makes sense to just do it while your in there to begin with. ARP has the same thing... they started the trend and offer kits as well.

The Ratech kit is great. TIMKEN bearing's, good seals and a good/thicker crush sleeve... all good parts.

Richmond. Hit or miss. Take a chance. Good performance gear set... but have been known to make some noise in street driven cars. I personally have set them up dead quiet... and have also had some that were screamers... are were set up identical. Its a gear hardness issue most of the time... but again... its hit or miss. I would use OE GM, USGear, Precision or AAM aftermarket... before any other. Then maybe Motive...

8.5" is a pretty easy set-up. I dont think you will have issues... and it really comes down to the installation. You could have the best parts in the world... but they are worth ZERO if not set-up correctly. The 8.5" is a sold unit and solid performer.

As MrClean stated... have the tubes welded and the housing checked for straightness after the tubes are welded. I will personally recommend that the one doing the welding use 3/32 "Special metals NI-ROD 55x"... with the flux removed... for the filler rod. I have found it to be the best filler for cast iron to 1010/1020 tubing. You might want to re-inforce the spring perches as well.

[billz428]

Thanx guy`s,
This car has a stout Pontiac 428 475-HP & 500 TQ, factory disc brakes.
Weights 4000 lbs with 275-60-15 rear tires.
Spirited street use, an burn out or two, maybe a trip down the strip just to get a timeslip.

I live in Alaska so shipping up a complete pro-built rear end is not what I have in mind$$$$.

I really just want to beef-up what I have this winter.
What is there now really has no problems, I really need to change to a 3.73 gear.
I thought it would be a good idea to go through it as it has 100,000 miles on it.

[JMD68RSSS]

I can vouch for noisy Richmond gears. Had them put in last Friday. Too noisy for me. The car is going back Monday to see if they can adjust the pattern to quiet the whinnnnnn, or they will be replaced with a different brand.

[megaladon6]

I'm not a real fan of the diff cover either (or MOSER for that matter).
are there any good ones? what kind of problems can they cause? if nothing else, i like them for the easy drain and fill ports.
how come they have such a rep? is it just the herd mentality?

[chicane67]

Herd mentality... you nailed that one one the head.

A good cover ? I like the stock stamped steel... obviously fitted with drain and fill plugs if you wish. The only other cover I have remotely liked was the stainless steel cover from Kentrol.

Problems ? Well... with three different expansion rates of the three different metals being used in that design... unless you get the 'setting' just right (which there isnt one) its either $150 just hanging off the back of the differential looking like all the other cool kids... or its pinching the map cap into the bearing and can/will cause bearing issues, like that of an increased rate of microspalling.

I agree... the drain and fill ports are priceless... but that is alot of coin to merely add those ports to a cover.

[megaladon6]

how hard is it to install drain and fill plugs? at some point i'll get around to putting the 8.5 in my monte, and i'd like to try and keep things easy for later. (sorry if i'm not quite coherent, this damn flu is f^&kin' me up!)

[chicane67]

A weld bung like this is and would be the easiest way to do it, in my opinion:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/group3c04856472da419581d1c0e40813b310350-1.jpg

Companies like Speedway Engineering make simple weldments that use Allen Head screws like that shown in this (http://www.1speedway.com/Floater_Rear_Ends.htm) link, shown in the "Weld on fittings" example.

Mark Williams (http://www.markwilliams.com/chassisCaps.aspx?CategoryID=164) (page 2), A Plus Performance (http://aplusperformance.com/russell/russell-weldingbung/g-52317.aspx) (a Russell part number), Bung King (http://www.bungking.com/products.html) (use the oil tank kit), Moser (http://www.moserengineering.com/Pages/Housings/hous-drainfill.html)... and Currie (http://www.currieenterprises.com/cestore/Product.aspx?id=1774)... have products available that may facilitate your idea.

[maldo]

any good write -up for these rears with pictures?

[maldo]

any good write-ups for these rears with pictures?

[billz428]

2 miles down the road is a driveline shop for heavy trucks and trailers.
They also build for all the big 4x4 rigs in the area
They are the closest one to me within 160 miles.
I run the 30 spline idea past them and got a mixed re-action.
They can order for me everything I need:
Eaton posi -19557-1
Superior Axle kit-EV10-2
GM gears 3.73
Install kit GM parts also upgrade to better u-joints.

installed with labor,warranty $1600.00

If they get me 30-spline that becomes "custom" price goes up,warranty out,
If I supply Moser axles and parts from else where,warrenty out.

I,m really OK with 28-spline axle,even better with warranty.
We talked about strentgh,durabilty trades off, since I,m not raceing I should be OK.
The Superior Axle are 35% stronger than stock anyway.
The Eaton posi I,m also better off.
My other option is go to Anchorage,find anther shop,start over.:nopity:
Thanx everyone for your help :6gears:

[chicane67]

How is 30 spline custom...???

8.5" differentials came with either 28 or 30 spline axleshafts... there is nothing "custom" about it. They should know that... and if they dont... you dont want your work done by them.

[megaladon6]

i was wondering about that. the b-body rear i have is an 8.5 with 30 splines stock so...
he'd just need to swap in a GM 8.5 30sp carrier right?

[chicane67]

Yes... since the posi is getting changed out, just order a 30 spline unit and stuff in some 30 spline axles.

[billz428]

The clowns down the road have not got my axles yet.
I have waited 9 weeks,Summit shows them in stock.

They have always told me "We will call you, should be here in a week".
That was 7weeks ago!
When I walked in the shop they were real unsure who I was and told me again "We will call you, should be here in a week".:bsjerk:

That was last Friday.

A blessing in disguise.

I will definitely go the 30 spline route, Eaton posi, I already have the Heavy duty Aluminium cover.

It still torks me I wasted 2 months on some bozo`:machine:.