lowonair6173

7.5" 10 bolt rearend originally being towed behind a 2.2 but now its a carb'd LS1 with some internals that will be making somewhere around 380-400 with a built TH350... of course i want a posi and was thinking about a 3.73 richmond swap... but still i think would invest in some axles.. anyone wanna point me in the right direction... part #'s if your feeling really nice...

Kenova

iTrader: (4)

Some S10s came with 8.5" 10 bolts. You would be better off tracking down and installing one of them.
Ken

8a8mfh

iTrader: (3)

just about every 2.2 liter came with 3.73 gears.

there is a 1995 and maybe others that had a 4.3 HO with a 5 speed, two wheel drive, 8.5 rear. This is the narrow rear you want if you have a two wheel drive.

There are many more 4x4 S10's with 8.5's but the 4x4 rears are too wide.

If you plan to buy wheels, get a ford 8.8. They are 3" wider than the S10 rear. You will need to cut and weld the perches to get them to line up properly. Then get wheels with 6" backspacing and wheel placement will be close to stock.
The ranger rears have 28 spline axles and are 58" wide, explorers have 31 spline axles and are 59" wide.

If you're into fabricating you can send the housing out to get the drivers side narrowed 3" and use a passenger side axle on the drivers side to end up with a strong rear thats as wide as the stock S10 rear which is 55". (the drivers side on both 8.8's mentioned are 3" wider on the drivers side.

I had a '87 S10 with a 1994 ranger rear, axles redrilled, 1992 iroc type wheels, a 3 1/2" aluminum driveshaft out of a 2000 explorer that bolted right up.

JoeyAnderson

iTrader: (20)

Building the 10 bolt, eh? Here is the right direction:

Go to your front yard and dig a hole. Now throw all your money into it. Fill the hole. Go back inside.

You're going to have to man up to the 12 bolt/9" if you want a strong rear that will take any kind of abuse.

8a8mfh

iTrader: (3)

Problem is he is talking about an S10. You can forget a 12 bolt for cheap, you might find a nine inch. But walk into any junkyard and you're going to find several 8.8's that will bolt right up with spring perch mods.

lowonair6173

yea but this truck is on bags and already is 4 linked... so any other housing is pretty much outta the ? for a while or until i build a decent amount of power... im def. building the 7.5 10 bolt as long as it locks and doesnt break everyday im happy...

PICNIC_GEORGE

iTrader: (3)

You can't turn chicken **** into chicken salad. But axles and a good diff would be a start. As well as a cover with a bearing support. Something like this.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

8a8mfh

iTrader: (3)

It would be nice to know that in the first post.

Jake the SSnake

iTrader: (11)

Heres a good start http://www.s10forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129992
I would think that you could make an 8.5 from the s-series work since its a bolt in deal.I'm sure I've read about this on s10forum and there is a way to work with bags.

Kenova

iTrader: (4)

If you are determined to keep your present housing, I would suggest you step up to 28 splines when you buy your posi and axles. Use a pinion spacer instead of a crush sleeve and use a good cover/bearing brace. You will certainly want it assembled buy someone who knows what they are doing.

Does anybody make/sell better differential bearing caps?

Ken

8a8mfh

iTrader: (3)

It should already have 28 spline axles. Seeing how it has a 2.2 and they started using 28 spline axles in '89, way before they used the 2.2.

No one makes caps because they are like main bearing caps for an engine block, if you change them you need to have the bores machined back to center.