70 10 Bolt in a '69

BellzToll · Dec 1, 2005

Hey guys,
I have been looking for a decent priced 12 bolt, but in my searches, all I have come up with is a 12 bolt from a Suburban, and I really dont want to have to have it shortened.
The same guy that has the 12 bolt, has a 10 bolt, 4.11 geared, posi(I think) out of a '70 Camaro.
Both are the same price (Trading a set of 327 Corvette double hump 1.94 heads)
Which one should I snatch up and which one is going to be more cost effective, but still be strong.
I am not planning a radical motor, but I will be building a 383 stroker and hope to make 400+(If that's possible)
If there is a thread relating to this, please help me out. Thanks in advance.
:beers:

efd75 · Dec 1, 2005

I had a 70 10 bolt 8.5 rearend that I got real cheap shortened to fit my 69. The leaf perches will line up, but you need to have it shortened 1/2 inch on each side or else your tires may rub (and it looks stupid). Make sure its a 8.5, and not an 8.0 rear end. They are much stronger.

BellzToll · Dec 1, 2005

efd75 said:
I had a 70 10 bolt 8.5 rearend that I got real cheap shortened to fit my 69. The leaf perches will line up, but you need to have it shortened 1/2 inch on each side or else your tires may rub (and it looks stupid). Make sure its a 8.5, and not an 8.0 rear end. They are much stronger.

I will check if it's 8/5;
did you do the shortening or did you pay to have it done. If so, what does that normally cost?

efd75 · Dec 1, 2005

I paid $350 plus about another $60 in parts for new perches/bearings. Im glad I did it because the axle tubes were not 100% straight, and this guy straightened them too. I did have quotes up to $800 from other places.
The whole rear was cleaned to bare metal, which made painting that much easier. I paid $100 bucks for it with new richmond gears so I did not mind
having this done.

69 · Dec 1, 2005

The price of a 12 bolt these days are crazy!... The 10 bolt 8.5 is a strong rear end.

sixtsevnssrs · Dec 1, 2005

Paid 60 bucks for an 8.5 out of a 73 nova at the local pick and pull yourself boneyard. When I got it home and ran the numbers it was actually a 75 nova rear with single leaf perches. Sandblasted it before disassembly and painted it in my garage. New bearings, brakes and a powertrax unit later, bolted it right in. VERY HAPPY with it. Kept the 3.08 gears in it as I do a lot of highway driving and its not something I care to race.
Total cost ~
$60 for the rear
$20 for new brakes
$25 for new wheel cylinders
$10 for brake combo spring kit
$10 for gear lube
$5 for new u-joint straps
$210 powertrax unit (from Classic Industries 20% off offer)
$5 for a can of Krylon semi-gloss black

I had the bearings/seals/gasket already (uses same) for the 8.2 I was going to refresh, axles are interchangeable too. Turned the drums myself at work,
Re-used the diff cover from the 8.2.

EDIT: Sorry forgot that I shortned my drive shaft exactly one inch and added a new yoke and ujoints......$140.00

big gear head · Dec 1, 2005

The '70 to '81 Camaro rear ends are 1 inch wider over all and the spring perches are about 3 inches farther apart. The Nova 8.5 is a direct bolt in. Some of the Nova rear ends have a different yoke which requires the drive shaft to be shortened 1 inch and a different u joint installed. The '70 Camaro had the 8.2 10 bolt, not the 8.5. If you use this rear end you will have to get the spring perches moved so that the leaf springs are not put in a bind.

The truck 12 bolt will require new axles, housing ends and it will need to be narrowed. It will need Camaro spring perches added to it.

BellzToll · Dec 2, 2005

8.2 Is what I have in the car right now, I am trying to get some numbers off both axles so I can have someone check them out.
I was planning on new axles, but the other stuff looks like it may be pricey.
I just wish there was an easier way that wouldn't break the budget.
Sure, Mosers are nice, an orginal 69 12 bolt would be nice, but I can't afford that kind of stuff.
Which way in the first post would be most cost effective (not just cheapest, bang for your buck. If I have to pay a few more dollars for a better/stronger job then so be it.)

Dan Schoenecker · Dec 2, 2005

I have an 8.5" 10 bolt out of a '71 Z28 in a '69 Camaro Convert. I did not shorten the tubes or axels at all. I had 8" Cragar 5 spoke mags on for a few years and now have 17 x 11" Torque Thrust "2"s on the back (mini tubbed out). Both applications fit fine without any wheel rub on the fender lip. The spring perches do have to be moved. You just have to watch the offset. I should add that with the 11" wheels I moved the leaf springs inboard 4" on each side and completely repositioned the shocks.
The 8.5" 10 bolt is almost as strong as a 12 bolt. With your mild set up you should have no problem. I know guys who run 10's at the strip with 10 bolts. Good luck with your build.

big gear head · Dec 2, 2005

The easiest thing to do would be to move the spring perches on the '70 rear end and get the right offset on the wheels to make up the difference in the width of the rear ends. The best thing to do would be to get a Nova 8.5 10 bolt and build it. That would be cheaper than a 12 bolt and almost as strong, if it is built right.

efd75 · Dec 2, 2005

There's 8.5 Nova rears for sale on ebay right now in the $400 range. Call your local gear shop, they usually have some lying around. Shop around. I constantly do second gear burnouts with my 8.5 and its as strong as hell. I love it, and I did not drop over $1,000 for it. The price of 12 bolts are insane.

x44d80 · Dec 2, 2005

I think the 8.5 is a great rearend for the money. I got a whole 74 nova for 400.00 so keep looking. The only thing is the gear ratios alway seem to be the "highway" cruiser ratio. Take that in to consideration on the price if you are going to rebuild it with lower gears. What usually happens is you'll then want a posi, then you'll want to replace all the bearings etc,etc...and the cost goes up to close to a new 12-bolt.

BellzToll · Dec 5, 2005

Good points all around; I am looking for old nova's right now, there is a local salvage yard that has a bunch of old cars, I need to take a trip.
The deal for this rear end is pretty good though. I set of heads I will not use for a rear end that I might me able to use. The guy has told me that the rear end is not orginal to the 70, so I am getting stamping numbers to verify what it is.
Thanks for all the info.

70 10 Bolt in a '69

BellzToll

efd75

BellzToll

efd75

69

sixtsevnssrs

big gear head

BellzToll

Dan Schoenecker

big gear head

efd75

x44d80

BellzToll

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