A guy in my car club is parting out a fourth gen Trans-Am. He has the 3.73 rear with disc brakes for $200. I am getting ready to replace the rear end I have in my 69 Coupe. The current rear is a 2.56. To go to a 3.73 I will have to buy a new posi carrier and gears. I will end up spending about $600 plus the time to install it.

I don't know much about this 4th gen cars. How much hp and torque can the rear ends handle? How wide is the rear axle. A few street rod guys I know said they would help me fabricate all the brackets to adapt the rear to my Camaro.

This might be a crazy idea, but I just thought I would check. $200 and a few steel brackets would be a nice way to get a new rear end and rear disc brakes. I am working my way through college so I am on a pretty tight budget. It will be sitting behind a 330-350hp small block and a 200-4r transmisson. Will it work or am I better off replacing my differential?

they had the ? 7.6" rear , so I think it wouldn't be a good choice. But I hear with the right brakets the disc's will bolt right up.... there's a thought.

There's something to think about. How much modification would I have to do to get around the ABS system? Is $200 still a fair price?

$200 is usually what they sell the brakes off that rear end for. If you don't plan on any more HP or bolting on slicks very often, it will hold up. I have done this swap and the rear is 1" wider. If it is a 93-97 rear end, it will be easier to hook up the e-brake. If it is 98 or later you will have to figure out a way to hook up the e-brake, it is not built into the calipers on 98 or later rearends. I cut the multi leaf brackets off a junk rearend and welded them on with a 3 degree positive pinion offset. Good luck.

Mike

Originally posted by Musclerodz:
$200 is usually what they sell the brakes off that rear end for. If you don't plan on any more HP or bolting on slicks very often, it will hold up. I have done this swap and the rear is 1" wider. If it is a 93-97 rear end, it will be easier to hook up the e-brake. If it is 98 or later you will have to figure out a way to hook up the e-brake, it is not built into the calipers on 98 or later rearends. I cut the multi leaf brackets off a junk rearend and welded them on with a 3 degree positive pinion offset. Good luck.

Mike Thanks for the info! If anyone else has done this before please let me know.

The '82 and later F bodys had the 7.5 rear end, which is not as strong as the rear end that is in your car now. It is also too wide and whatever wheels and tires that you have now will stick out the sides. The axle tubes are also smaller, so welding on the leaf spring perches will be difficult. You will also have to change the master cylinder and other brake parts to use the disc brakes. In my opinion it is a bad idea, but it's your car, not mine.

You guys know a lot more about this than I do so I just thought I would check. I am already converting the front to discs so that really isn't to big of a deal. I am more worried about the axle length and strength.

The 4th gen does not have leaf springs in the rear. That rear if pre '98 would be a good deal for the rear disc's. The 4th gen gears worked well on the street but as soon as sticky tires were applied and the cars are taken to the track they would break.

Originally posted by DjD:
The 4th gen does not have leaf springs in the rear. That rear if pre '98 would be a good deal for the rear disc's. The 4th gen gears worked well on the street but as soon as sticky tires were applied and the cars are taken to the track they would break. I am pretty sure that the car is a 94, 95, or 96. This car would only be used on the street. It might go to a drag strip just once to see what the engine will do, but other than that, I will just be crusing and going to shows.