Finally ordered a rear end
I was one of those guys that always said I going to buy a rearend but when it came to the price Im such a cheap ***. Well long story short I too just got a new rearend after my 10 bolt took a dump on me for the second time. I got a 9in spool with 3.89 gear. Should be fun this up coming year going to the track and not have to worry about the rear blowing up on my launch.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville, GA
Well, things for my car will be different than I had originaly planned: I was just informed that my S60 was being built with a Truetrac instead of a locker. Something got mixed up and my order was delayed so they could get another problem taken care of and when I found out about it I was informed that it was also built with a truetrac. I said "Perfect! Best mixup ever." I'll be getting a refund for the difference the locker cost me and it should hopefully ship out tomorrow. Just as I was starting to sweat the locker I find out that its not going to have one anyway. Looks like I'll be able to still enjoy my car in the rain and mabye make an autox car out of it too. I originally thought that truetracs are worthless, but I think the 35 spline dana 60 application is an exception to the normal perfomance people have with them.
Even though my order was a little slower than I had expected I would still like to let everyone know that Strange encountered a few problems with the setup and were taking the time to make it right, as opposed to sending me something that wasn't okay. Also, Eric at MWC really deserves some credit for going above and beyond. I wouldn't hesitate to order anything from him, as he will stand behind it.
Eric will continue to receive my business when I go to get more suspension components, and as long as everything was set up correctly in my rear end then I don't see why Strange won't get my recommendation to others too.
Even though my order was a little slower than I had expected I would still like to let everyone know that Strange encountered a few problems with the setup and were taking the time to make it right, as opposed to sending me something that wasn't okay. Also, Eric at MWC really deserves some credit for going above and beyond. I wouldn't hesitate to order anything from him, as he will stand behind it.
Eric will continue to receive my business when I go to get more suspension components, and as long as everything was set up correctly in my rear end then I don't see why Strange won't get my recommendation to others too.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville, GA
Eh, he and I talked it over and it sounded like the S60 was going to work a little better for my budget and ultimately be stronger. I would have gotten more parts with his rear end and wouldn't still be waiting on it to ship either. I had talked for months about getting his fab 9 though, but when I found out that the S60 was so economical I just had to go that route. I honestly never even looked at the S60 as an option to consider. Maybe it was the whole driveshaft thing that made me immediately cancel it out. Eric did make a good point about it while I was ordering my dana though, about how I would have really wanted to upgrade driveshafts with either option. Why not eliminate another weak link while we're in there anyway?
I ended up getting a driveshaft thru a company that does work for him called PST.
I'll tell you one thing, Eric is a stand up guy that will guide you into the right direction. Looking back I feel a little bad taking up so much of his time on the phone talking about random fbody things and welding stuff. He's got to be crazy busy there. If you're reading this Eric, THANKS! When I plan on tackling my control arms and torque arm I'm calling him back to get his. He fabricates a lot more than just sweet rear ends than people know about. I've seen a few pics of his PHB and LCAs. He makes subframe connectors too.
But yeah, in the end it was price that made me go the way that I did. What I paid in weight I got back in strength though. Too bad GM didn't put something more reliable in here for us. I had to get a rear end just to have reliable wheels again
Stupid G80... which from now on will be spelled like this: G8
I ended up getting a driveshaft thru a company that does work for him called PST.
I'll tell you one thing, Eric is a stand up guy that will guide you into the right direction. Looking back I feel a little bad taking up so much of his time on the phone talking about random fbody things and welding stuff. He's got to be crazy busy there. If you're reading this Eric, THANKS! When I plan on tackling my control arms and torque arm I'm calling him back to get his. He fabricates a lot more than just sweet rear ends than people know about. I've seen a few pics of his PHB and LCAs. He makes subframe connectors too.
But yeah, in the end it was price that made me go the way that I did. What I paid in weight I got back in strength though. Too bad GM didn't put something more reliable in here for us. I had to get a rear end just to have reliable wheels again
Stupid G80... which from now on will be spelled like this: G8 Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville, GA
I am a little unsure about the truetrac thing, but Eric assured me that its the smaller splined units that have had the problems. I've searched and searched and I really couldn't find a 100% genuine truetrac failure in an S60. It should give me much better street manors than the locker would that I had originally ordered. I don't know what I was thinking, so that mixup worked out for the better. Hell, the powerlock would have been fine too I'm sure.
In complete honesty, this car is what I recently described as a "drive-the-hell-out-of-it car." I use it as a DD. It doesn't matter how it looks (more dents than the moon), or how many miles it has on it. I want a car that I can just abuse the ever living crap out of on the other side of the country and still make it home.
In complete honesty, this car is what I recently described as a "drive-the-hell-out-of-it car." I use it as a DD. It doesn't matter how it looks (more dents than the moon), or how many miles it has on it. I want a car that I can just abuse the ever living crap out of on the other side of the country and still make it home.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville, GA
I wonder what the best way to break this thing in is? How many of yall did a heat cycle on jack stands?
For the love of God... is this thing even close to Alabama yet?? I can't wait to get this thing in the car! I'm also looking forward to my Koni 4/3s going in too.
For the love of God... is this thing even close to Alabama yet?? I can't wait to get this thing in the car! I'm also looking forward to my Koni 4/3s going in too.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville, GA
I got the monster rear end today. Holy crap. It's HUGE!!! I got it all painted up in a Krylon rust proof flat black paint, plus a regular old primer. It looks good... freakin massive... but good. I'll post some pics up in the day time. I also got my Mid West Chassis driveshaft today. Once I get my Koni shocks then I'll be shoe-horning this S60 into the Camaro.
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Damn, glad to see you got what I want, I have a tru trac in my moser 12 bolt and it is great, never understood folks buying anything bigger than a 12 bolt in a car that is not track dedicated. I know rides that run 7s on a 12 bolt, but make sure you hit the track after u break it in, run it hard and see if the trans olds out, lol.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville, GA
The trans should be fine. I just had it rebuilt about a 8 months ago. I am a little worried about something breaking though once I get some good tires. My monster clutch is unforgiving!
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville, GA
I've actually never run it at the track, lol. I've always been too afraid to hook up on a noisy 10bolt because I depend on it as a DD. Looks like that can change now, huh?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville, GA
Here's a shot of it right before I shoe-horned it in. Low buck camera phone
While taking the old sway bar off I broke the endlinks. No big deal since Advance Auto Parts had some new ones made by Moog with poly bushings for next to nothing. I also got Sam Strano's recommendation on how to adjust the shocks and I went ahead and slid the rear Koni's in. The Adj. PHB went in too. It's nice to finally have an equal amount of tire on each side instead of the wonderful OEM gap. I've yet to do the front suspension stuff but I can't wait!
It's going to be so hard to keep my foot out of it for the first few hundred miles
Thanks again Eric at Midwest Chassis and Sam Strano. You guys are awesome!
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville, GA
Thanks. I'm thinking about sandblasting the diff cover and painting it flat black too.
I've got some miles on it now but I'm going to wait a little while longer before I bring the hammer down. So far though its pretty quiet. I've got some new vibrations/bumps/noises that are kinda working my brain. The worst part of doing the "pile-o-parts" method to modding is that you introduce too many variables to accurately narrow down the cause of a new noise. I think though that my vibrations at interstate speed are partially caused by my poly trans mount, new koni shocks, and heater hose mod. I believe the koni's are firm enough to where they transmit the vibration of other stuff, unlike the mushy DeCarbons, and I think the heater hose on the rear springs isn't quite up to the task. Then of course the poly trans mount is just a pita anyway. Any little vibration you've got will instantly get a boost with that damn thing.
Over all though I really like this rear end. It's funny how I never realized how loud the exhaust/tires are on the interstate until now. It all used to get drowned out by the loud 10bolt. I mean that bitch was loud!!!
I've got some miles on it now but I'm going to wait a little while longer before I bring the hammer down. So far though its pretty quiet. I've got some new vibrations/bumps/noises that are kinda working my brain. The worst part of doing the "pile-o-parts" method to modding is that you introduce too many variables to accurately narrow down the cause of a new noise. I think though that my vibrations at interstate speed are partially caused by my poly trans mount, new koni shocks, and heater hose mod. I believe the koni's are firm enough to where they transmit the vibration of other stuff, unlike the mushy DeCarbons, and I think the heater hose on the rear springs isn't quite up to the task. Then of course the poly trans mount is just a pita anyway. Any little vibration you've got will instantly get a boost with that damn thing.
Over all though I really like this rear end. It's funny how I never realized how loud the exhaust/tires are on the interstate until now. It all used to get drowned out by the loud 10bolt. I mean that bitch was loud!!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville, GA
So far everything is still good. It's quiet and everything opperates smoothly. What more could I ask for? I haven't swapped out the poly trans mount yet but I believe that is on my list of things to do.
Crap, while I'm thinkin about it, anyone need some 10bolt parts
I've got a guy looking at my old Mac cover, but i've still got the axle shafts and a steel driveshaft.
Oh yeah, what's the best stuff to use to clean out the rear end when I change the fluid?
Crap, while I'm thinkin about it, anyone need some 10bolt parts
I've got a guy looking at my old Mac cover, but i've still got the axle shafts and a steel driveshaft. Oh yeah, what's the best stuff to use to clean out the rear end when I change the fluid?
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 30
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From: Marietta, GA
S-60 KurtRardin, Just about to order a S60 and was going to order it from Strange.Does Eric from midwest give you a better price than Stange???? Did you now get your unit in for X-mas? I have a 2001 camaro with cams,heads, supercharger built by mti in Marietta, ga. Thanks Steve Weisman
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville, GA
I'm not 100% sure if ordering it directly from strange would have been any cheaper, but I know that Eric was a pleasure to deal with. You could call strange directly and price it, and call Eric too and do the same. Something tells me that Eric is going to be cheaper.
It took about 4.5 weeks to get it, but I did get it. Strange was having a difficult time getting a driveshaft so that's where Eric stepped in and had one custome made for me thru one of his contacts. That move saved me a LOT of time because Strange wasn't sure how long it would take to get the driveshaft out to me.
But yeah, I've got it, painted it, installed it, driven it, and I love it It's quiet, reliable, and nuclear strong.
It's a good thing that Eric sent me a GOOD driveshaft because it's litteraly shaking hands with two items not known for backing down: S60 and Monster Level III clutch. I'm pretty sure the weak link isn't in the drivetrain anymore... I'll point my fingers at the 138k LS1.
Good luck!
It took about 4.5 weeks to get it, but I did get it. Strange was having a difficult time getting a driveshaft so that's where Eric stepped in and had one custome made for me thru one of his contacts. That move saved me a LOT of time because Strange wasn't sure how long it would take to get the driveshaft out to me.
But yeah, I've got it, painted it, installed it, driven it, and I love it
It's quiet, reliable, and nuclear strong. It's a good thing that Eric sent me a GOOD driveshaft because it's litteraly shaking hands with two items not known for backing down: S60 and Monster Level III clutch. I'm pretty sure the weak link isn't in the drivetrain anymore... I'll point my fingers at the 138k LS1.
Good luck!
