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? rear end question

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Old Nov 3, 2008 | 02:44 AM
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Default ? rear end question

alright i know a pretty good deal about gear ratios and all that ive done rear ends before but i just got into a situation and i need some advice and some questions answered

my 00 z28 has 3.23 gears which are IMO pretty damn good

im buying a 98 t/a with 2.73s which ARE **** that i dont wanna keep

i have a 3.42 gear set for my camaro but im told thats a carrier III and the t/a has a carrier II? and i wouldnt be able to use the gears i already have? im not really sure on all that stuff and the differences.....i always thought a 10 bolt was a 10 bolt in the ls1 cars

so can i use the gears or not?

and if not what would be the bet course of action does a carrier II have gear options available? or would it just be easier to find a 10 bolt out of another car with the gear i want in them

im not trying to build a 600hp beast (yet) so i dont wanna go with a 9 inch or 12 bolt either....
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Old Nov 3, 2008 | 03:06 AM
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imo, keep the 2.73's untill you get the 9" or 12 bolt. you can order gears for a 2 series carrier from most auto sites or magazines what have you. they are thicker than geras from a 3 series carrier. if you have gears for a 3 series, they WILL NOT work in the 2 series.

and besides, i'm loving the gas milage i get from the 2.73's i have, stays right under 2K at 70+ mph on the highway. 26+ mpg in a 169,000 mile car aint too shabby i dont think.
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Old Nov 3, 2008 | 08:15 AM
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Originally Posted by shtnfrds
if you have gears for a 3 series, they WILL NOT work in the 2 series.
That is not true. You can use a ring gear spacer to make the thinner 3 series gear work with the 2 series carrier.
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Old Nov 3, 2008 | 09:19 AM
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Do a search for ring gear spacer and you'll find they are not recommended(by the majority of respondents) for use and to be avoided.
The spacer has to be perfectly flat or the 'lash' will vary during the cycle and with 2 potential sliding surfaces,bolt loosening has been reported.
I've used spacers but I knew their limitations.
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Old Nov 3, 2008 | 06:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Harley-Davidson88
That is not true. You can use a ring gear spacer to make the thinner 3 series gear work with the 2 series carrier.

you can also turn a condom inside out, but would anyone recomend it?

if you use the ring gear spacer it's on you, but in a car that is know for having a terribly weak rear end to start, id say DONT do that.
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Old Nov 3, 2008 | 07:58 PM
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Do they make condoms for the purpose of being turned inside out and reused? No they don't, but they make ring gear spacers for the purpose of spacing a ring gear out.

People also do not recommend using 4.10's in a 10 bolt due to the lack of thickness in the ring gear, but people do it all the time.

You said that the gears "WILL NOT" work...not that they would work, but it was not recommended. The statement you made was false and I did nothing more than point that out.

On a rear end that is terribly weak to start with, my main goal would be to spend the least amount of money on it as possible so that I'm not out much when it destroys itself.
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Old Nov 4, 2008 | 06:53 PM
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ring gear spacers are what? like 70 bucks? if you want to do it cheap then go to a scrap yard and pull a carrier that has what you need. and forget about buying new parts...
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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 01:09 AM
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anyone know where i can get the gears for a series 2? i think ill go that route for a while
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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 03:28 AM
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Richmond makes 3.73s for 2 carriers. check out ws6store or summit
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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 04:40 PM
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like white said, richmond makes them, i had richmonds in my 93. they make a little bit more noise than stock, but i heard it was becasue of the pitch the gears are made. makes them a stronger gear tooth or something along those lines. at least thats what i was told?
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 11:03 AM
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i have 273 gears also but im changing them to 373 do i need to change the carrier also ??
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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 08:50 PM
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im trying to figure out if i can use a o1 ss differential with 3.23 gears in a 97 rear end with 3.08 gears im lost and i cant find help in my town any answers
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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 10:17 PM
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First, a set of thick gears for a 2 series carrier is not much more than double the 70 for the pos spacer. And the gears will be new, have no wobble issues, and you could sell the 3 series gears to help offset the cost. Why patch a rear that is already the weakest point in the drivetrain to save a few bucks? Ask Keliente if you really want the skinny. (sorry K, but you know a lot about this stuff.)
Second, the thick gears are made in at least 3.42 and 3.73. Probably 3.23 and perhaps 4.10, but I am not certain on that (No interest = no investigation).
Third, at least 3 companies make them: Motive, Richmond and Strange. There are probably more than that.
I run Strange 3.42s and they have been no problem with my 400 hp LT1 for the last 8 years.
kparker, the 3.23s are a 3 series, and I am almost certain the 3.08s are 2 series. Never heard of anyone doing that, so I have no info. Not sure how it could work, but what the heck.
You can always pull the rear from a junkyard car and inherit all the problems of a used rear with unknown mileage/driving. I know a guy who is obsessed with that, not sure why. On his 4th or 5th rear, IIRC.
Lastly, you don't have to change the carrier. Just purchase the appropriate gears.

I'm not trying to be a smartazz, not at all. It's just that there are a lot of issues and misperceptions on the whole 2 series versus 3 series issues. And the 10 bolt is by far the weakest part of our drivetrain. I worked with a guy who broke his on his stock SS. It was still under warranty, luckily. But it shows you how weak they are.

Last edited by koolaid_kid; Jan 31, 2009 at 08:42 AM.
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