So, I started on this project about 3 months ago, and just haven't had the time to finish it up. I exchanged posts with some of you about making a post that brakes down all the feasible First Gen rear end swap possibilities -- that is, ditching an 8.2 for "better" rear ends -- and things to consider before making the leap. As you can see, I didn't make it too far. But rather than this going to waste, I thought I'd go ahead and post it for additions and corrections.
DISCLAIMER: I don't know ANY of this from first hand experience. I compiled the vast majority of this information by sifting through old posts. I'm in no way trying to take credit for the expertise of others -- I justed thought it would be worthwhile to have everything located in one post -- maybe a sticky?
For ease of use, I attempted to have set fields of info for each swap, e.g., pros, cons, potential donor cars, what has to be modified, etc.
Here's what I have:
8.5
Potential donor cars: The 71-81 Camaro rear axles are 1" wider than first gens, which is why you can't just grab one and throw it in your first gen. But 68-79 Novas had the exact same rearend dimensions as first gen Camaros. Thus these Nova rearends are the widely proclaimed to be the"bolt-in" swap for 1st gens. However some Pontiac Ventura, Buick Apollo & Skylark and Oldsmobile Omegas and 77-79 Cadillac Seville also got the 8.5.
Drive shaft: you'll probably have to shorten it anywhere from 1/2" to 1 1/2". But this will vary based on type of yoke used and yoke position. Cost: anywhere from $70-150, depending on your location.
Suspension: if you have mono-leaf, they can be reused on the Nova 8.5. If you're going from mono-leaf to multi, or vice versa, there may be some fabrication required. One source says Buick Skylarks had coil springs and control arms; another says 75-79 Skylarks are X bodies w/ multi-leafs, w/ either 7.5 or 8.5. Buick Apollo is multi leaf.
Axles: If using 77-79 Seville, you'll have to change the axles from 5" bolt pattern to 4 3/4", or swap in the axle from a 8.2.
Brakes: 8.2s brakes bolt on to Nova 8.5. 77-79 Seville had rear discs.
Posi: 71-79 Trans Am are purported to have posi units that will fit the 8.5.
Gears: 86-92 GM trucks and vans often have 3.42s that will work with the posi units mentioned above.
Pros: inexpensive and lots of them around. They were "the universal rearends for millions of GM cars … from 1971 through 1996… [R]ing gear diameter is only .375 inch smaller than a [the more expensive] 12-bolt" -- How to Build a Bulletproof, Posi 10-Bolt for $400 of Less!, Jeff Smith, Chevy High Performance. Useful article here.
Cons: you can't brag about having a 12-inch.
12 bolt
Potential donor car: First Gen Camaros, of course; possibly some late 60s Impalas
Driveshaft:?
Suspension: if going from mono-leaf, you'll need a multi-leaf conversion kit, and you may have to clear out some space in the holes of the spring eye brackets.
Brakes:
Pros: Almost universally regarded as the strongest rear end available for a First Gen.
Cons: Getting hard to find and increasingly expensive.
Ford 9-inch
Potential donor car: (Broncos?):
Driveshaft:?
Suspension:
Brakes:
Pros: Cheap and readily available. If you switch out gears a lot (going from track to street maybe), the gears are supposed to be easier to swap in and out compared to GM rearends.
Cons: GM purists will give you grief for having F.O.R.D. parts on your car. Lots of moving parts equates needing more horsepower to turn it, compared to 12 or 10 bolts.
Truck 14 bolt:
Potential donor vehicle: Blazer.
Drive Shaft:
Suspension:
Brakes:
Axles: will have to be narrowed and have a set of 5 lug axles installed.
Pros?
Cons: lots of mods required,
Ford 8.8
Potential donor cars: 95-01 Explorers.
Drive shaft: ?
Axles: have to be re-drilled for 4 3/4"
Suspension:
Brakes: they're set up for disc.
Pros: Traction Lock differential; 31 spine axles; extremely close to first gens 59 1/2" width.
Cons: clutches, bearings and rotors usually need to be replaced; 2 1/4" offset might be an issue.
7.5
The consensus seems to be "don't waste your time." Sounds like it's possible, but not worth the time, because they're not very strong rearends, and for the cost of the modifications, you could buy/build something that fits and is much stronger. However, there was at least one TC member who liked this set up, so if you insist…
Potential donor cars: 90s Camaros/Firebirds
Drive shaft?
Axles: the axle tubes are smaller than a first gen, so they'll have to be replaced.
Suspension: they're coil springs, first gens are leaf (unless modified), so that's more fab work to do.
Pros: cheap and easy to find
Cons: lots of mods required to make it work.
DISCLAIMER: I don't know ANY of this from first hand experience. I compiled the vast majority of this information by sifting through old posts. I'm in no way trying to take credit for the expertise of others -- I justed thought it would be worthwhile to have everything located in one post -- maybe a sticky?
For ease of use, I attempted to have set fields of info for each swap, e.g., pros, cons, potential donor cars, what has to be modified, etc.
Here's what I have:
8.5
Potential donor cars: The 71-81 Camaro rear axles are 1" wider than first gens, which is why you can't just grab one and throw it in your first gen. But 68-79 Novas had the exact same rearend dimensions as first gen Camaros. Thus these Nova rearends are the widely proclaimed to be the"bolt-in" swap for 1st gens. However some Pontiac Ventura, Buick Apollo & Skylark and Oldsmobile Omegas and 77-79 Cadillac Seville also got the 8.5.
Drive shaft: you'll probably have to shorten it anywhere from 1/2" to 1 1/2". But this will vary based on type of yoke used and yoke position. Cost: anywhere from $70-150, depending on your location.
Suspension: if you have mono-leaf, they can be reused on the Nova 8.5. If you're going from mono-leaf to multi, or vice versa, there may be some fabrication required. One source says Buick Skylarks had coil springs and control arms; another says 75-79 Skylarks are X bodies w/ multi-leafs, w/ either 7.5 or 8.5. Buick Apollo is multi leaf.
Axles: If using 77-79 Seville, you'll have to change the axles from 5" bolt pattern to 4 3/4", or swap in the axle from a 8.2.
Brakes: 8.2s brakes bolt on to Nova 8.5. 77-79 Seville had rear discs.
Posi: 71-79 Trans Am are purported to have posi units that will fit the 8.5.
Gears: 86-92 GM trucks and vans often have 3.42s that will work with the posi units mentioned above.
Pros: inexpensive and lots of them around. They were "the universal rearends for millions of GM cars … from 1971 through 1996… [R]ing gear diameter is only .375 inch smaller than a [the more expensive] 12-bolt" -- How to Build a Bulletproof, Posi 10-Bolt for $400 of Less!, Jeff Smith, Chevy High Performance. Useful article here.
Cons: you can't brag about having a 12-inch.
12 bolt
Potential donor car: First Gen Camaros, of course; possibly some late 60s Impalas
Driveshaft:?
Suspension: if going from mono-leaf, you'll need a multi-leaf conversion kit, and you may have to clear out some space in the holes of the spring eye brackets.
Brakes:
Pros: Almost universally regarded as the strongest rear end available for a First Gen.
Cons: Getting hard to find and increasingly expensive.
Ford 9-inch
Potential donor car: (Broncos?):
Driveshaft:?
Suspension:
Brakes:
Pros: Cheap and readily available. If you switch out gears a lot (going from track to street maybe), the gears are supposed to be easier to swap in and out compared to GM rearends.
Cons: GM purists will give you grief for having F.O.R.D. parts on your car. Lots of moving parts equates needing more horsepower to turn it, compared to 12 or 10 bolts.
Truck 14 bolt:
Potential donor vehicle: Blazer.
Drive Shaft:
Suspension:
Brakes:
Axles: will have to be narrowed and have a set of 5 lug axles installed.
Pros?
Cons: lots of mods required,
Ford 8.8
Potential donor cars: 95-01 Explorers.
Drive shaft: ?
Axles: have to be re-drilled for 4 3/4"
Suspension:
Brakes: they're set up for disc.
Pros: Traction Lock differential; 31 spine axles; extremely close to first gens 59 1/2" width.
Cons: clutches, bearings and rotors usually need to be replaced; 2 1/4" offset might be an issue.
7.5
The consensus seems to be "don't waste your time." Sounds like it's possible, but not worth the time, because they're not very strong rearends, and for the cost of the modifications, you could buy/build something that fits and is much stronger. However, there was at least one TC member who liked this set up, so if you insist…
Potential donor cars: 90s Camaros/Firebirds
Drive shaft?
Axles: the axle tubes are smaller than a first gen, so they'll have to be replaced.
Suspension: they're coil springs, first gens are leaf (unless modified), so that's more fab work to do.
Pros: cheap and easy to find
Cons: lots of mods required to make it work.
