10 bolt rear ?'s

[firehawk88]

I'm getting ready to redo my whole suspension and up grade the rear this winter and had some ?'s about it. what brands of axles have you guys had good luck with? What's so important about the rear cover? Anything that i should be aware of or should do while i have the whole thing apart? all the info you can give will help alot. I have a 95 firehawk putting 354HP to the rear with the 6 speed tranny.

[sleepyTA]

I think alot of people go ahead and step up to a 12 bolt or ford 9-inche. Personally i really don't know. But i'd think you would benefit more from a 12 bolt or 9 inche since you have 345 rwhp and a 6 speed. I just built my motor, about 400 rwhp, and i'm sure the first time i put my slicks on i'll be having to build a new rearend. Sorry i'm no more help than that.

[firehawk88]

i'm really not going to be on the drag strip, maybe once or twice just to see what i can do? I might go for a couple of more engine upgrades in the future and eventually i will have nitrous. I have read that the 10 bolt can be upgraded and perform well.

[CustomSSI]

Definatly save your money and go witha 12bolt or 9" rear end... Even with "beefing" up the 10 bolt they still are pretty weak and we'd hate to see you throw money down the drain :-/

[Firehawk 526]

Less than 700 hp, 12 bolt IMO.

3.73 gears or 4's?

[ziptie]

If you don't go to the strip much a 12 bolt will be fine.

[stuck-in-asia]

I had the same question and started asking my friends that race for advice. Most say the 10 bolt will be fine as long as you don't have slicks or a tranny brake on an auto, but every now and then I hear from someone that put 1000 bucks into one that breaks. Man, thats half the money for a good 12 bolt.

I'm in the middle of my build right now (expecting 360 to the wheels on motor plus a 125 shot) and I'm going to run my 10 bolt as is while I save money to buy a 12 bolt. I don't ever plan on having slicks on the car, but I built the engine with all forged internals with the anticipation of spraying the balls off of it so.... who knows.

[firehawk88]

im the same way, my car will niver see slicks and i built my motor all forged to be able to handle a 200 shot of nitrous. i wanted a good strong engine and i got it. though im running stock heads. Im waiting to hear some stories about that new intake for the LT1. that would give me a good reason to get new heads, and the dyno people told me i could get 400 RWHP easy with new heads. if i was to go to a 12 bolt is there alot of work that has to be done to make it fit right?

[stuck-in-asia]

I know they sell bolt in ones for third gens, I wouldn't see why they wouldn't for a fourth gen, but I've never researched it.

[stuck-in-asia]

Ok so I was bored.....check this out (http://www.strangeengineering.net/catalog/index.html) Go to GM 12 bolt assemblies and click on bolt in F-body housings.

I've never don it personally, but it would look like it bolts in.

[LT4mula]

Personally, I'd say run the 10 bolt until it breaks unless you just want to get everything done at once. It should last for a while as long as you avoid wheel hop. I've been doing 5000rpm dumps with ET Streets for a couple of years now.

[Grims]

Strange and Moser sells bolt in 12 bolts. The Strange is a bit easier to put in.

LT4mula, what is your 60 foot? With a M6 and a 10 bolt 5k rpm dumps should shred it, you must be bogging off the line or something.

[Zupercharged28]

they say 12 bolt for an f-body with a 4l60e and a 9 inch for an f-body with a t56 (aka YOU!) they should be around the same price, but the 9 inch is much more heavy duty. id go with the 9 inch for sure. check around in the stickie threads for transmissions. they have this all posted. good luck!

[Grims]

Besides a little gear whine around 30-35, 50-55 my Dana 60 has been alright. Strange sent it to me configured wrong...but the rear its self seems alright so far.

[LT4mula]

Strange and Moser sells bolt in 12 bolts. The Strange is a bit easier to put in.

LT4mula, what is your 60 foot? With a M6 and a 10 bolt 5k rpm dumps should shred it, you must be bogging off the line or something.

60' are 1.8. I actually had to rev up to 5000 to get out of the bog.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the 10 bolt will last, just that at the power level he was talking about (354hp), it might work for a while.
I will probably be changing to a Dana 60 when my new engine goes in.

[GTP231]

You can get the Strange 60 (Dana 60) cheaper than a 12 bolt. I don't see any small blocks even coming close to hurting one. I have yet to see a 12 bolt that doesn't have a leak problem at somepoint.

[quickmedic1]

Besides a little gear whine around 30-35, 50-55 my Dana 60 has been alright. Strange sent it to me configured wrong...but the rear its self seems alright so far.

Will you be getting it redone with the new reluctor ring and whatever else or are you leaving as is? I am still very much on the fence with getting this rear end.

[Grims]

They have paid to have a local shop rebuild it for me...only problem is they want the shop to tear it apart and then tell them what needs to be replaced. Then the shop has to send those parts back before Strange sends the parts I need. So, my car will be down at least a week...there is no way I can be without my DD that long.

[Firebirdjones]

Hey GTP, you can come and peek under mine, I have 2 cars with 12 bolts that are bone dry. Been together for many years.
I'd say if you have one with leakage problems, something wasn't assembled right. Larry.

[quickmedic1]

They have paid to have a local shop rebuild it for me...only problem is they want the shop to tear it apart and then tell them what needs to be replaced. Then the shop has to send those parts back before Strange sends the parts I need. So, my car will be down at least a week...there is no way I can be without my DD that long.

I would be pi$$ed! You paid them so it would be right! They should be paying for a rental or something. It's not your fault someone cant read an order sheet. I think I will just buy the used 12 bolt and be done with it.

Good luck on your dana. Hope you can get it resolved.

[GTP231]

I would be pi$$ed! You paid them so it would be right! They should be paying for a rental or something. It's not your fault someone cant read an order sheet. I think I will just buy the used 12 bolt and be done with it.

Good luck on your dana. Hope you can get it resolved.

You don't even want to hear the night mare I've been dealing with on a customer's 12 bolt:mad: I just took the 12 out to reinstall a 10 so he can still drive his car until they send us a new rear. Damn Strange