I got a 67 camaro with a 10bolt 8.2 . From what I have heard they wont hold up and to atleast upgrade to a 10 bolt 8.5 . I have found one for sale that came out of a 68 or 69 firebird and want to know if it will work in my camaro. I beleive I read on here somewere that the firebird rears was a inch wider and if that is true does it present any problems? And if I do get it and put it in and put 15x8 wheels with 275/60 tires what back spacing should I get to make it look right? It would be easy just to go look at it, but its about 75 miles one way. thanks for any help.

The firebird rear will have the same total width and same spring perch spacing. That said, I'm not sure that the 68-69 Firebird used an 8.5. You might double check on that part.

Edit - found this posted in another thread by our resident expert Freddy (big gear head) re the Firebird 10 bolt rear.


"The Firebird will have the 8.2 10 bolt Buick/Pontiac rear end, which is a little stronger than the Chevy 8.2 10 bolt. It has no c clips and has a 27 spline pinion inste4ad of the 25 spline pinion in the Chevy rear. Parts are a little more expensive for this one. When you get the rear end out you will probably notice that it has the eyes cast into the top of the housing for the upper controll arms found in the coil spring cars. They only cast one center section and used it in all cars."

The Poncho rearend will fit in your Camaro but be advised the Poncho gears will not interchange with Chevy gears and also, the pinion gear shaft on a Poncho is a smaller diameter than a Chevy!...Internal parts are also hard to find on Poncho!.....Try to avoid this rearend, if possible!.....I'm running a Chevy 12 bolt posi (3.55 gears), from a 1969 Camaro, in my 1968 Firebird!

Thanks great info, glad I asked before I bought it. I really want a 12 bolt for my camaro but everybody wants crazy prices around here and you still need to go threw it. Maybe I will luckout and find an affordable one, one day. Till then I will continue to abuse my 8.2.:thumbsup:

8.5" out of a 72-79(?) nova should be a drop-in and is a popular "budget" upgrade (at least compared to the 12-bolt). From what I've read, you MAY need to shorten the driveshaft to move to that 8.5, but that's it (and I think there are different setups on the 8.5, so some can use the old 8.2 driveshaft).

You sure that Firebird has an original rear? Could be someone dropped in an 8.5...

Anyhew, here's a good site for the Nova rears:
http://www.novaresource.org/axle.htm

It sounds like someone installed a 8.5 in the Firebird just like TMessick suggested.
The website he recommended will help you identify the rear. Please note the 8.5 has a squared off bottom.

http://www.novaresource.org/axle.htm

The Firebird rear end would have been a BOP 8.2 10 bolt. It is a little better than the Camaro 8.2 10 bolt. If it has the original Borg Warner posi then it is stronger than the Chevy 10 bolt. This posi has 4 pinion gears, which makes it about 2 times as strong as the Chevy Eaton posi. It also uses cones instead of clutch plates, so when it wears out it is not easily rebuilt.

The Nova (and other X body) 8.5 is the better way to go.

8.5" out of a 72-79(?) nova should be a drop-in and is a popular "budget" upgrade (at least compared to the 12-bolt). From what I've read, you MAY need to shorten the driveshaft to move to that 8.5, but that's it (and I think there are different setups on the 8.5, so some can use the old 8.2 driveshaft).

Did any of these novas come with mono springs? I have mono springs in my car and I like the ride and height and want to keep them. If not is there a pad kit that anybody knows of they recommend? thanks

Usually everyone wants to put multileaf springs in a car with mono spring perches. To go the other way like you're suggesting would be a simple matter of making aluminum spacers to make up for the thickness of the extra leafs.

I have only seen one 8.5 with the mono spring perches, so they do exist.