[JonT]

I picked up a new set of 3.42 gears (ring and pinion) for an 8.5" 10 bolt about 6 months ago at the swap meet. They were in a GM plastic bag...however, now I'm wondering if I got taken and these were made in China (read CHEAP).

Are there any markings I could look for or a test to see if the metal has been appropriately conditioned (hardened)?

I'd rather put together the rear end once, if you know what I mean. thanks

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'69 Restification

[big gear head]

Some makers stamp a symbol on the side of the ring gear, others engrave their name on it. Some put no marks on them at all. GM usualy has GM and a part number on the ring gear. As for the hardness,you should be able to take it to a machine shop and have it tested on a Rockwell tester.

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'69 RS/SS396 pro street
427/4spd/9"

[JonT]

Thanks BGH - the only markings on the ring gear are around the perimeter - they are:

1 12 41 10 94

I know what the 12 41 are - that's the ratio (it's a 3:42 set). Would a machine shop be able to tell me if the gears were "true" (ie. machined to specs)?

The gears are used (I must have had a temporary aneurism before when I remembered wrongly that they were new) but in excellent shape.

As a professional, what would you recommend I do?

Thanks very much for your help. I really appreciate it. Jon

PS. I was going to send you an email offline but there's no email address in your profile - sooo, I also need a rebuild kit and thought I'd try and buy from you since you're always so freely giving to everyone here with the excellent advice. Anyway, here's the situation: I have a '73 Nova housing complete from drum to drum that's a non-posi with granny gears. I don't know what shape its in but the car was running fine when the rearend was pulled. Now I want to stick in the 3:42 gears, I'm going to hunt the bone yards for a posi unit in good shape and I need a rebuild kit. My question is what kind of rebuild kit should I get (what's your recommendation and price?). I'll be taking everything to a reputable shop (if anyone knows of one in the Phoenix area, please let me know) to set it up - I'm estimating about $150 in labor.

The rearend is going to live behind a torque heavy street 454 (475-500 ft. lbs.) that will rarely see strip time - just the occasional deserted desert road ;> ) with a stock torque converter and T400 tranny. The ride is a '69 Camaro. thanks again - JT



[This message has been edited by JonT (edited 03-08-2001).]

[big gear head]

E-mail is gears@muhlon.com. I enjoy answering these questions and hopefully I help someone from time to time. The rebuild kit I sell has Timken bearings which I highly recomend, and a trick set of adjustable shims for the carrier. It also includes the pinion shims, pinion nut, crush spacer, pinion seal, cover gasket, ring gear bolts, thread locker, and gear marking compound. It sells for $89. As for your gears, the 10 94 is probably the manufacturing date which means it probably came out of a '95 truck. The only way to tell if the gears are true is to set them up and check the contact patern. On used gears the contact patern is hard to read. Most of the time you have to read the cost side instead of the drive side.

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'69 RS/SS396 pro street
427/4spd/9"

[big gear head]

JonT,
If you tried to e-mail me please try again. My server has been down for 3 days and I lost all my e-mail.

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'69 RS/SS396 pro street
427/4spd/9"