Mopar1997

I had a 2001 silverado years ago and it was a great truck, up until the rear end exploded at 270k miles and I sold it. After all these years later, I'd like to buy another and make it a fun project toy. What, if anything, can be done to beef up the rear end on these trucks? I've read several threads saying to buy a Ford unit, but I'm not really a fabricator or a welder. I'd much rather use the existing housing and build off of it. I'm not looking to push 800hp and abuse the **** out of it like a drag car, I'm just wanting something that'll hold up to occasional clutch dumps and pulls. All I'd do to the engine is a cam, head job, headers, and intake. Nothing too serious. Surely there HAS to be a way to fix the govbomb. Sorry for beating a dead horse on this topic, but I'm not a good enough fabricator to make different mfg parts fit.

Doug G

No matter WHAT you build... IF you ABUSE it, IT WILL BREAK. Even 2.5T mil. rears break.

What are you breaking ? Gov-Loc limited slip unit ?
Get a better LS unit...

Mopar1997

Mine blew the spider gears apart. It was a stock 4.8 and didn't get too abused, or at least I don't think it did. Sure, it saw a few powerslides and what not, but never neutral bombed or anything. I mostly used the truck to haul wood.

strutaeng

Swap it for a 14 bolt of some sort. There are several versions of them.

Doug G

Get a better LS center...I've had good luck with Eaton

Dan45

iTrader: (6)

Save up, but Strange S60! Case closed

JohnnyBs98WS6Rag

iTrader: (1)

V6 swap.

SteveC

When I had the rearend gears changed from 3.23 to 3.73, I had the shop send the ring and pinion out to be "cryod" for extra strength, had the bearing caps "studded" instead of bolted, had them install a T/A girdle, and I have been using straight 140W GL-4 dino oil along with the LSD additive. I also had them install a solid pinion crush sleeve at their suggestion.

wannafbody

iTrader: (2)

Use a driveshaft made from beer cans