3.73 gears???

[C10CONFUSED82]

Need to know what 3.73 gears I can use? Meaning can I get some from a junk yard truck? Would also like posi. What can I do or purchase to make this happen. Have a 82 C10 with a 5.3 swap, not sure on the gear ratio right now. Thinking its stock. Thank you to all that reply back.

[andrewmp6]

If your asking about taking used gears and putting them in your rear end,You can but used gears and diff could be trash.And to swap gears they have to be set up with some special tools and skills its not a easy job for a rookie.You can swap a whole rear end but finding one with the gears and a lsd will be hard.I would buy new gears and diff and pay a shop to swap them for you.

[C10CONFUSED82]

Got it. Will buy a set and have a shop do it. Good advice. By any chance can someone tell me if part #60009 form JEGS will work?

[geezer#99]

You mean this one!
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performan...60009/10002/-1

It might fit, but you could be wasting your time and money if you don't know what gears and carrier are in your rearend.

Find a rearend shop and let them do the rebuild for you. That way you'll get it done right with some type of warranty.
Be prepared for the big money heart attack.
You could be looking at 12 to 1500 bucks.

[MalibuSSwagon]

I salvaged 3.73 gears from the rear axle of my 2K Silverado parts truck. GM is still building 8.5/8.6 rearends for current trucks.

Anyways, you need to determine what readend you currently have, whether it's a 10 or 12 bolt.

[C10CONFUSED82]

How can a tell if its a 10 or 12??

[JNJchev77]

Originally Posted by C10CONFUSED82

How can a tell if its a 10 or 12??

Count the number of bolts on the diff cover.

[C10CONFUSED82]

Figured, sorry for asking such a dumb question. Thanks and will do the count when I get home tonight.

[C10CONFUSED82]

Can I get away with welding gears so that I can get posi? From using 3.73 gears out of a junk car?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by C10CONFUSED82

Can I get away with welding gears so that I can get posi?

No. Bad idea.

K

[LuvNLife]

A couple more things to consider...

Assuming the rear end housing in your truck has a lot of miles on it, you're also going to want to do axle seals and bearings while it's apart. Inspect the axles carefully where they ride in the bearing, to be sure they're not so worn there's a taper to them. Also, you'll need to buy an install kit, whether you go with brand new or junkyard. It'll have a new pinion seal, crush sleeve (critical) and shims as well as a few other pieces. If memory serves, the kit is under $100.

Also, while the rear is torn down, it's a great time to look over the rear brakes and all the hardware; piece of cake to replace any or all of it while it's apart.

Jerry

[C10CONFUSED82]

Can I use part numbers #60009 and #61200 JEGS? I can purchase a new set here locally from a guy who wants to sell these to items new.

[LuvNLife]

Originally Posted by C10CONFUSED82

Can I use part numbers #60009 and #61200 JEGS? I can purchase a new set here locally from a guy who wants to sell these to items new.

No. Those part numbers are for GM 7.5" rear ends; those were passenger car and S10 (not C10) rear ends.

Once you count the bolts holding the cover on yours, it'll either be 10 or 12 bolts, and either 8.5" for the 10 bolt or 8.875" for the 12 bolt - totally different parts and numbers...

Jerry

[C10CONFUSED82]

Thanks Jerry, will get on the bolt pattern tonight.

[jjmorrse]

This is a good link for id on rearends
http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...identification

Welding the gears is usually only people who drag race or go in mud on the cheap do. The first is because there are no corners, and the second is because there is less grip, so one wheel can spin more without jarring stuff as much. In a turn, the outside wheel has to roll a lot more than the inside. For example, imagine two kids are holding hands running in a circle. If one is just spinning, he can just take tiny steps, while the outside kid has to run like a maniac to keep up, and just might get slung into a nearby tree when the other little brat lets go. The gears let the wheels do the same. Imagine if the kids both were forced to take the same size and number of steps and tried to spin in a circle. That is why drag racers can get away with a spool, since a straight line is a great thing for them.

[piecesparts]

To make this simple, buy a complete rear end that has a posi unit in it and take your out and bolt the whole axle assembly into the truck. I did that with my son's truck and the install took longer to get the parts home, than it did to do the change out.

[C10CONFUSED82]

I have a 10 bolt rear diff cover.

[andrewmp6]

Welding the spider gears won't be a posi it will lock the diff forever,Doing this the rear wheels will bark around turns and you will eat up the rear tires a lot faster then the front tires wear.But before you spend anything you should think about a few things first.How much power do you have now and will you want more later on?And what size rear wheel and tires you want to run in the end?

[C10CONFUSED82]

I have a stock 5.3 in then truck and really do not know HP. But will like to get to 350-400hp. Also I have 20s on the back. With 245/40/20 tires. 19s on the front. I plan to keep the wheels and tires the same, unless you all suggest something else?

[C10CONFUSED82]

Correction 275/40/20 in the rear.

[C10CONFUSED82]

So if I can take 3.73 gears from a 02 silverado or Tahoe will that work on my 10 bolt 8.5 rear end? Kind of on a budget. So the only way to get posi is to buy a posi rear end unit?

[andrewmp6]

400hp is kinda the edge of the power a 10 bolt can take.I would be thinking if i should get a 12 bolt,Which you can find from one of these trucks so it will bolt in.If the 02 truck is a 8.5 10 bolt then the gears should fit depending which carrier you have now.But its still gonna cost you for a shop to install them.I would wait save up get the gears and lsd like you want.Brand new set of 3.73 gears is 275 bucks a posi will be 410 and a install kit is 85 plus whatever the shop charges you.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

400hp is kinda the edge of the power a 10 bolt can take.I would be thinking if i should get a 12 bolt,Which you can find from one of these trucks so it will bolt in.If the 02 truck is a 8.5 10 bolt then the gears should fit depending which carrier you have now.But its still gonna cost you for a shop to install them.I would wait save up get the gears and lsd like you want.Brand new set of 3.73 gears is 275 bucks a posi will be 410 and a install kit is 85 plus whatever the shop charges you.

I think a 10 bolt would be ok, especially in a street driven pickup and especially on a budget.

I've still got the original 8.5" ring gear 10 bolt in my '74 Chevelle; 950 HP and I've been racing the car for 38 years.

K

[homemade87]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

I think a 10 bolt would be ok, especially in a street driven pickup and especially on a budget.

I've still got the original 8.5" ring gear 10 bolt in my '74 Chevelle; 950 HP and I've been racing the car for 38 years.

K

I agree, It dont matter if you got 1200hp the tires will never hold on the street. The 8.5 is a good rear and pretty strong if set up right with good axles .

My recommendation on gear would be aam gears (American axle manf ) . They are the oem manufacture for GM and show a great pattern for set up and run quiet as a mouse . A lot of aftermarket gears are a hit and miss .

[C10CONFUSED82]

Man you all are awesome. Thanks for all the advice. What I want to do is now is really just do a rear end swap. So can someone brake it Barney style to me. What rear end can I take from a salvage vehicle and swap it into my truck. Want disk brakes and 3.73 gears. Do not care about the bolt pattern, will just get adapters to make my current wheels work. I have two inches on each side to play with. So hoping new rear won't be to long or wide.