ericjon262

does anyone know of any cars with rearends the same width as a thridgen rear? I'm considering getting a junkyard rear thats stronger than a 7.5" ten bolt and having new spring perches and all that god stuff welded to it. I would just get an aftermarket 12 bolt from moser, but I can't afford one, so I'm looking into my options.

Thanks-

Eric

AlkyIROC

No other junkyard diff is the same width as a third gen. Some are close but a third gen uses a torque arm suspension so only a diff from another third gen or a fourth gen will be a direct fit.

You can easily cut off the brackets from a third gen diff and weld them onto some other diff but it's very difficult to make a good, strong mount for the torque arm. Some people with good fabrication skills have fabricated a mount for a 9". Other diffs like a 8.5" 10 bolt or a 12 bolt have a cast housing making it very difficult to weld to.

The safest way to upgrade the diff is to buy an aftermarket 12 bolt, 9" or Dana 60 designed to bolt right into a third gen. In the long run it will be easier and cheaper than trying to modify some other type of diff.

The other option is to change the rear suspension to eliminate the torque arm. Ladder bars are the easiest way but some fabrication is still required.

Apeiron

Only a rear from a thirdgen or fourthgen will fit. If you don't want a 7.5" 10 bolt, you could use a 7.75" 9 bolt as long as you're willing to live with virtually no aftermarket support for it. Otherwise, you'll be looking for a rare Dana 44, or an aftermarket 12 bolt or 9" setup.

ericjon262

where would I find this rare dana44?

Apeiron

The same places you'd look for any used parts.

ericjon262

so they came in thirdgens, any specific models(GTA Iroc ect)?

Apeiron

They didn't come from the factory in any thirdgens, they were an over-the-counter performance upgrade.

ericjon262

is there any way to make a bracket for the torque arm that is welded to the axle tubes? or one that clamps on inbetween the diff cover and the diff housing? I just can't afford to buy a $2500 moser rear. I can get a 4th gen rear from my uncle, but I've heard that they aren't a whole lot better.

thanks again-

Eric

AlkyIROC

A fourth gen diff is no stronger than a 90-92 third gen diff.

If there was an easy way to fabricate a torque arm mount, all of us would have it.

Shagwell

Unless you are a very good welder/fabricator, correctly installing a non-factory rear end in these cars will end-up costing as much (if not more) than an aftermarket rear end.

I am fabing a custom torque arm and bracket system for an 8.8 right now. If I wasn't able to do it myself I know the fabrication and materials alone would be around $1800, and then you would just have a stock 8.8 .