Building a 3rd rearend for my Z
#1
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Back in 2003 on the way from Cleveland Ohio to Englishtown NJ for SLP appreciation day,the rear developed a growl just starting into PA. Being that I've been working on GM rearends since the 60s',from the frequency and location,sounded like passenger side carrier bearing,which proved to be the case 4 years later when dis-assembled.
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSCN4213CAAS_zps7793ebe0.jpg)
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSCN4212CAAS_zps81f7ae55.jpg)
In 2006 put in a TCI2800 convertor.
In 2007 built/put in a complete rear consisting of used Richmond 4.56 gears(picked up at a swap meet for $25) and an Eaton posi I picked up at Summits' 'demo & returns' corner for $300(all it was missing was center pin which I picked up at a swap meet for $5).
Ran the 4.56 rearend for 4 years till fall of 2011. It was 'fun'.
In spring of 2011,replaced the tranny and while out,put in a Yank SS3600. Fun factor increased.
Fall of 2011,put the OEM 3.23 rearend back in after a bearings rebuild.
Now I'm building a 3.73 rearend. Picked up a housing with carrier(Torsen) and gearset(3.42) less axles and backing plates 2 years ago. Picked up a set of axles this spring in Columbus. Have a bunch of carriers so I'm using an unused Auburn and a 3.73 gearset from an S10 housing and a set of backing plates been siting in the garage about 4 years. All the other miscellaneous parts I got quite a supply of.
Degreased and acid cleaned the rear in prep for POR15 coating.
de-rusting in process
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4268C2ampAampS_zpsde6e54ff.jpg)
POR15 coating in process
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4277C2ampAampS_zpsb8ed35ff.jpg)
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4278CampAampS_zps06630777.jpg)
finished POR15
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4284C2ampAampS_zps9dec7b52.jpg)
tapped the hole for the pressed in breather fitting to 1/4NPT so a threaded fitting can be used.
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4285CampAampS_zpsddae41b1.jpg)
drilled and tapped for 1/8NPT at bottom for draining
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4286CampAampS_zpsf84fbf45.jpg)
degreased,acid cleaned and POR15 the backing plates,left one side as was for now for the pics
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4287SkewampCampAampS_zps218954ff.jpg)
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4288SkewampCampAampS_zps879aa6ec.jpg)
Axles and carrier to go in
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4291CampAampS_zps1ec8aaaa.jpg)
So it'll be 3.73s' and Yank SS3600,one of the preferred combinations
The 4.56 complete rearend is sitting on the storage rack 'crying' to be put back in,the 3.23 rearend is coming out because the original Auburn has reached the end of its' service life because of wore out cones. 179,000 miles on the Z now.
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSCN4213CAAS_zps7793ebe0.jpg)
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSCN4212CAAS_zps81f7ae55.jpg)
In 2006 put in a TCI2800 convertor.
In 2007 built/put in a complete rear consisting of used Richmond 4.56 gears(picked up at a swap meet for $25) and an Eaton posi I picked up at Summits' 'demo & returns' corner for $300(all it was missing was center pin which I picked up at a swap meet for $5).
Ran the 4.56 rearend for 4 years till fall of 2011. It was 'fun'.
In spring of 2011,replaced the tranny and while out,put in a Yank SS3600. Fun factor increased.
Fall of 2011,put the OEM 3.23 rearend back in after a bearings rebuild.
Now I'm building a 3.73 rearend. Picked up a housing with carrier(Torsen) and gearset(3.42) less axles and backing plates 2 years ago. Picked up a set of axles this spring in Columbus. Have a bunch of carriers so I'm using an unused Auburn and a 3.73 gearset from an S10 housing and a set of backing plates been siting in the garage about 4 years. All the other miscellaneous parts I got quite a supply of.
Degreased and acid cleaned the rear in prep for POR15 coating.
de-rusting in process
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4268C2ampAampS_zpsde6e54ff.jpg)
POR15 coating in process
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4277C2ampAampS_zpsb8ed35ff.jpg)
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4278CampAampS_zps06630777.jpg)
finished POR15
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4284C2ampAampS_zps9dec7b52.jpg)
tapped the hole for the pressed in breather fitting to 1/4NPT so a threaded fitting can be used.
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4285CampAampS_zpsddae41b1.jpg)
drilled and tapped for 1/8NPT at bottom for draining
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4286CampAampS_zpsf84fbf45.jpg)
degreased,acid cleaned and POR15 the backing plates,left one side as was for now for the pics
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4287SkewampCampAampS_zps218954ff.jpg)
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4288SkewampCampAampS_zps879aa6ec.jpg)
Axles and carrier to go in
![](http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/oldmanZ28/3rd%20rear%20373/DSC_4291CampAampS_zps1ec8aaaa.jpg)
So it'll be 3.73s' and Yank SS3600,one of the preferred combinations
The 4.56 complete rearend is sitting on the storage rack 'crying' to be put back in,the 3.23 rearend is coming out because the original Auburn has reached the end of its' service life because of wore out cones. 179,000 miles on the Z now.
Last edited by FirstYrLS1Z; 08-05-2014 at 09:11 PM.
#4
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thanks ! I'm A4 and only in the low 13s',they'll last forever or until wear beyond serviceability occurs. Here in northern Ohio,corrosion occurs long after winter has passed from residual salt on the roads,need the POR15. When the 373 rearend goes in,i'll put another carrier into the 3.23 rear and it'll be ready to install should the need ever occur. That'll be 2 complete rears on the storage rack ready for use. I put them in myself(I'm 67),easy to do,just unbolt and bolt. Hardest part in lineing up the pinion yoke to driveshaft. Calipers are unbolted off with lines intact so no bleeding. Along with the working stand and rearend storage rack,I've also made a holder(on casters also) to roll the rearend under the car into position for bolting up. If/when I acquire another housing,I'll build a 2.73 or 2.41,yes I have a 2.41 gearset for our little 10 bolt.