[strikingthematch]

Hi everyone,
Well with the engine going back together soon I am a little worried about the rear end. The engine should be pushing out over 400HP and even more TQ but I have a 8.2 rear end stock in the Chevelle. So I thought about getting a posi unit and diffrent gears but I almost think this would be a waste because of the weak nature and future plans for car/engine.

My question is what would interchange into the Chevelle as far as the 8.5 10 bolt and 12 bolt rears go. I want to start looking around for one but im not really sure where to start and since it is kinda hard to find a Chevelle rear end around here I wanted to see what my other options are. Thanks alot everyone!


Chris

 

[Max Keith]

rear end

You might consider looking for a 9 inch Ford rear from a Torino or Montego of the mid 70's . Measure your rear end from outside to outside. Then locate a 9 inch of the same or near same dimensions. The 70 Torino 9 inch was about 60 1/2 inchs wide. Hope that gives you a starting place. One advantage to the 9 inch is that there are a kazillion gear ratios available for them, and prices are pretty reasonable compared to a lot of other differentials.

 

[M&M CUSTOM]

A used Chevelle (or any other A-body) 12-bolt in used and not rebuilt condition will cost you a good chunk of money, getting one from someone else with the things you want or need with everything done right will cost a whole lot more.

You might be better off looking at a company like Currie, Superior, or Moser- and see what they offer in a 12-bolt for the price.

With them, you can get the axle done the way you want and need, and get some sort of guarantee as to the work done and the durability of the unit, and it will be a simple bolt-in.

 

[packratwrecker]

I don't want to start a brand war with Max, but I have to say that I think a 9" in your car is a bad idea. If you shop carefully, I'm sure you can find a 12 bolt that will be a virtual bolt-in.

If you are planning on swapping gear sets 4 times a weekend, then by all means get the 9", if not keep your GM car GM, and get a 12 bolt with the right gears for what you want out of it.

I don't buy in to the myth that the 9" is such a strong player. I've seen plenty of broken axles, and sheared pinions on them, too.

I heard, but never seen the case of losing an axle to a broken c-clip. I HAVE seen many Ferds that pooped out an axle, when a wheel bearing gave out.

Either of these problems can be countered by having safety hubs installed, but then you are running more bux into your project.

 

[M&M CUSTOM]

I heard, but never seen the case of losing an axle to a broken c-clip. I HAVE seen many Ferds that pooped out an axle, when a wheel bearing gave out.

My ex-brother-in-law lost an axleshaft from his 1982 Bronco when the driver side bearing gave out.

I attribute that whole episode to operator negligence.
He still fails to do ANY preventative maintenance on anything he owns, only fix it for the lowest amount when it finally breaks.

 

[strikingthematch]

He still fails to do ANY preventative maintenance on anything he owns, only fix it for the lowest amount when it finally breaks.

This is what im trying to avoid lol. I mean it may never happen but with what I have now the chance of something blowing up increases.
+ the fact that I want to put a limited slip posi in for better traction but hardly find it worth the money to put it in the 8.2 rear.

I looked at the 9" and I like them in fact alot of the companies you mentioned make direct bolt ins for my car. If I got a 9" Im pretty sure I would have to buy a new one cause they seem to be hard to find in good shape.

I guess I was just wondering if there was diffrent bolt in rear say out of other chevy cars that either had the 8.5 or 12 bolt rears in them that I could use.

Even at the huge junk yards here things get gobbled up and the best ones are an hour away.


Thanks so far!

Chris

 

[jimfulco]

What year is yours?

 

[strikingthematch]

What year is yours?

71

 

[406chevelle]

68-72 Chevelle, Lemans (gto), Skylark and 70-72 cutlass.

Be careful if looking at the cutlass 12 bolt rearend, most of them have the 8.5 inch 10 bolt gears in them.

The Buick 10 bolts have 8.5 inch gears and I have heard can take a lot of abuse.

I am no expert, but hopefully this info will help you out.

Do a search in this forum use 406chevelle to see the grief I went through to find a rearend for my 72 chevelle.

406chevelle

 

[strikingthematch]

Thanks alot 406. It does help me out alot. I know the 8.5's are really strong and I would settle for one if I could find it. The 12 and 9" would be great but it is hard to find anything that isn't asking an arm and a leg. I will look around for those diffrent rears and hopefully I can get something that will hold together for me.

thanks alot

Chris

Ps. I will read your post too