[Chrome407]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum but have always been a muscle head. Having said that, I've never had the privilege of owning a muscle car of my own so there are a lot of mechanical things I don't know a whole lot about. However, I may have my chance at my dream car but the rear end is throwing me.

Ok, here's are my questions. The car I am looking at is a 1967 Camaro. It has a 383 stroker, th350 tranny w/ shift kit & 3000 stall, and a Big 8.5 10 bolt rear end with Cal-Tracs. It also has some sorta bracket that keeps the bolts around the housing from backing out.
The fella told me the car is tight in turns. Does that mean that it is a spool rear end? If it is a spool, how hard/costly is it to convert it back to a normal posi rear end? Do i even need to change it? I plan on doing a whole lot more streeting than dragging.

What i can tell you is that when he drove the car with me I didn't hear any tire barking in tight turns. I didn't drive it so I can't explain to you what he meant by "tight".

I know these may be dumb questions to a lot of you but this is new to me. I really want to learn and understand what I am getting myself into. So, any response is great appreciated. The car price is $16,000 with just about everything new inside and out. It needs a better paint job and that is literally all.

[B@D]

Well if it had a spool in it every time even on slow turns one tire would squeal loudly ..

[flaming79]

Sounds to me like he is just saying that it has no body roll and the suspension is tight as it corners well. I would bet it has a posi in it if he went through all that trouble. You would no for sure if it was spooled, it would squeeeel every time you turn.

[Chrome407]

Thanks for the replies. I actually talked with the guy again today and he told me it has a 2800 stall converter and it is a 3:42 gear. I asked him about it being spooled and he said told me that it wasn't so you guys are right. I know for a fact that i didn't hear any tire squeal when i was in it and he did make u turns in parking lots and tight turns in alley ways where he lives.
I know $16,000 is a lot of money but i really feel like i'm going to kick myself in the *** if i pass it up.

Ok, on to more questions.

It currently has a 3 speed th350 tranny with a bunch of goodies inside. If i decide to switch to a muncie 4 speed, say m22, would i be able to keep the same drive shaft or would i have to find one longer or shorten mine? The drive shaft is custom made and is a larger diameter over stock and i would really like to keep it.

Also, if i were to swap trannys would i be able to get enough out of the automatic to cover most of the swap (tranny, peddles+z-bar kit, clutch, bellhousing, etc.)?

I guess i need to buy a muscle cars for dummies book, lol.