1LE Hugger Orange

I have a 99 , Z28 , LS1 , 6 speed that I am bumping up to 400 + HP . The car has been lowered about 1.5 inches as it was a road race car at one time .
I looked at the Strange S60 info and it appears that this rear end is more for drag racing . I do not drag race . How is the Strange 12 bolt rated for quality ? Plus I would like to keep it GM .

SPAZ-3

12 bolt is best rear end you could possibly invest in imo racing or not although they are mainly purchased for that reason. if your only around 400hp and just looking for a replacement or something buy you some 373 gears and moser axles

1LE Hugger Orange

The car has a 6 speed with BFG 275 40 17 "s on the back . I have 3.73 gears now . I am worried about the 10 inch as these tires are pretty sticky .

The car has a 6 speed with BFG 275 40 17 "s on the back . I have 3.73 gears now . I am worried about the 10 inch as these tires are pretty sticky .

I forgot , I am going to install an LG cam , forgot the part number but it is about 600 lift and around 242 duration , very lumpy , how will that effect the rear end ?

SPAZ-3

on a 10 bolt honestly? depends how you drive it i have yet to break one but a friend of mine has replaced about 4 in 1 year

10 bolts are very weak if you already have 373s then i would just rock it till ya pop it then buy you a 12 bolt . they are around 1200-1500 bucks used from what i have seen looking into buying one myself this spring

LASTOFTHEBREED02T/A

iTrader: (15)

I have to agree!... I am still on my stock 10 bolt, drive the hell out of it, roll, dig, and track racing yet it still has held together. I have lifted the left side tire off the ground at the track with MT's. But I guess not everyone has the same luck.

JD_AMG

If you want it to stay a handling-oriented setup, do NOT get a 12 bolt. The extra weight will kill the handling, and to my knowledge the diff selection is pretty much all for drag racing. If you insist on buying a new rear look at a lightweight aluminum 9", or something as close to the weight of the 10bolt.

LASTOFTHEBREED02T/A

iTrader: (15)

9 inch is 4500 +

12 bolt is around 2500... drivability shouldn't be an issue.

ssvert99

iTrader: (26)

12 bolt rears are known to pick up noise with a few hard launches. If you were an A4 car then maybe, but you need to consider the fact the S60 rearend is much stronger and a bit less cost even. If you are dead set on a 12 bolt then the Strange rearend is the only way to go.

I can get you into a lightweight fabricated 9" rearend complete package that includes a chromoly adjustable torque arm, crossmember, Strange axles, Strange aluminum center section with a posi unit for about 3300.00 shipped. By the time you add the cost of a good torque arm to the 12 bolt you will be very close to the same cost.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

There's nothing wrong with a 12 bolt. They been racing them for 50 years. I chose a 12 bolt for my car and I will tell you why. One, fit. Everything I've read told me they fit the best and alter the car's stance the least. Being that the axle tubes on all rear ends are bigger I do expect ride height to raise some (this was great for me because mine was too low in the back). Second, though it doesn't have a pinion support, the ring gear is still 8.875 which is near the size of a 9 inch. Third, parts are abundant. Fourth, parasitic loss is less then a 9 inch or s60 meaning more power gets put to the ground. I wonder why nobody really discusses this. They **** and moan over 5hp with a cam swap, but nobody talks about drivetrain losses. HP is HP no matter how you look at it. I chose Strange over Moser because they use through bolts for the torque arm like stock. With a Strange, the center section is NEW, it is not a GM 12 bolt. They pour it at a foundry then add axle tubes. The spring brackets and such are sourced from seasoned 10 bolts, meaning used. This is industry standard from what I can tell. Here's my small write up if you wanna take a look.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/gears-axl...t-install.html

ssvert99

iTrader: (26)

The 12 bolt is a great rearend no doubt but the difference between the 82-02 f-body and other 12 bolts is the torque arm. The 12 bolt was started in 1965 and mass produced until 1972... and all of them were connected to the car via leaf springs or link suspension with coils.

The Strange late f-body 12 bolt is the best one on the market hands down. It is engineered and cast specifically for this application. It uses all new brackets as Strange has worked with AAM for years and has access to the original stamps for the late f-body brackets. They sell way too many 12 bolts and S60's for the late f-body cars to be able to economically source and refurbish used brackets. Other manufacturers probably do use used parts... not Strange.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

I believe I read on someone's sight that the brackets were "seasoned". I do not actually recall where I read it though.

lpe_wannabe

I'm sort of in the same boat except I haven't begun to bump up the power any more...yet. My 10 bolt is making some roaring noises and I'm just not satisfied with the "10 bolts leak from the pinion...deal with it." I also would rather build it up to be more of a road racer/auto-x/DD instead of 1/4 mile set up and I'm trying to repair my SS back to road worthy since I've neglected it for a few years. We also have a similar car with my 98 LS1 6 speed and from what I'm understanding, 12 bolts may not be the best option for manuals for some reason?

Not trying to hijack, just looking for the same info you are, I want it to bolt in as easily as possible, and function as the factory 10 bolt would (ABS, TC, etc.).

What should we look for specifically that would allow the simplest installation?

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Select 4 channel and any aftermarket rear end "should" allow TCS/ABS to be retained. Unfortunately not everybody is that lucky. Those dang ABS sensors are finicky. I just did an ABS delete, it hadn't worked since my 12 bolt was installed.

caturnbull1

iTrader: (2)

i have a strange 12 bolt. 4.11 gears eaton posi... install was easy. only thing had to do was take the brake backings off the 10 bolt and ship it to them so they can put them on the 12 bolt... got it home bolted it up no problem change the uv joint in drive shaft wheels on and go... it has all the abs as the 10 bolt. didnt change up the drivability one bit. i have lauched at the track at 4k a few times and still no whine. for this rear i paid 3100 shipped. i have not one complaint about this rear end and would highly recomend it to anyone looking. like ssreda4 said unlike the 9 inch it has no pinion support so that is why everyone says they will whine after a few hard launches. i guess ive been lucky.... hope this helps a bit

02ElectronZ06

whose got the best deals on 12 bolts or 9inch for Black Friday?

MonmouthCtyLS7

iTrader: (6)

I dont race but my 10 bolt has held up fine w/ my heads and cam...Got the 12 for a steal which is the only reason I stepped up plus I figured its days would be numbered anyway w/ a turbo and MT DR's.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Better be careful launching on that stock driveshaft.

caturnbull1

iTrader: (2)

oh yeah 01ssreda4 ill be changing that out when i put the motor and tranny back in

caturnbull1

iTrader: (2)

just a stainless steel one is the way to go right?

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Chromoly and steel are gonna be cheaper but heavier. Aluminum will be lighter but pricier. Call up Bob at brute speed or Carl at CRP and order a PST or strange unit.