S10 Posi on a Firebird???

I spoke to a mechanic at Jen's Easter get together and he suggested using the rear axle off a Chevy S10 pickup instead of an Eaton or Z28 Rear. Is this possible and would it be worth looking into?

[Insomnya3AM]

No. No. No.

Gov-loc is GARBAGE. It will break under the power level of an S10 with daily driving and even when it works it slips like shit.

Plus an S-10 axle is setup for leafsprings while an f-body axle is setup for multilink. The widths probably wouldn't work either.

Total waste of time and money. Pick up a Z28 axle and call it a day.

[JoeliusZ28]

i didnt realize there was a difference!?

[wezeles]

i was gonna say they are pretty much the same cheep 10 bolt axel.. but atleast the z28 SS trans am..ect was made for some kinda v8 power

[JoeliusZ28]

with the exception of the fact its a 7.5" 10 bolt.

[Insomnya3AM]

Gov-loc is a poorly engineered piece of crap.

The Zexel Torsen differential that comes in a Z28 is very very good for stock to mildly modified power levels.

PLUS the modifications needed to make a leaf-sprung axle into a multilink axle are totally not worth it.

We've got the 7 3/8" (?) axle whereas most S-trucks that came with a limited-slip have the 8.5" axle. Both 10-bolts but different everything.

Just lock this thread or something, it really need that little consideration.

[JoeliusZ28]

8.5" ?? since when dude? do the ZR2 s10s have 8.5s or something, cause i swear my neighbors ZQ8 sonoma has a 7.5" 10 bolt posi.

[wezeles]

yep they have the 7.5 its the same axel as in a basic f body the only difference is leaf mounts instead of coil... but i dont think any of the s-10s came with anything nicer that a basic 7.5 even with the posi out of a s10 its not going to be as nice as an SS or z28 posi its just a plain jane posi rear that will need the brackets moved and the whole axel centered to work... save the headache and find a decent one

[wezeles]

they havent used the 8.5 10 bolt in a while i think that died off around the 2nd gen f body era... still cheep but not as bad as the 7.5 with a little work

[JoeliusZ28]

i wouldnt even be surprised if its the same posi considering how few s10s/sonomas were zq8s

[wezeles]

ya probably 95% of them are one wheel wounders... i havent seen many eaither it would be easier to find a posi out of an f body than an s10 or jimmy or whatever

[MattODoom]

Throw away all your ten bolts and do NINE BOLT swaps.

Oh yeah, you know you love that third gen awesomeness.

*Rockin the nine bolt borg warner since 2005*

[wezeles]

yes but being a notch above cheep doesnt make it good...lol find a 12 bolt and call it a day

[Insomnya3AM]

Sorry to punk all'yall, but you're solidly wrong.

The ZR2 S10s and some ZQ8 S10s came with a 8.5" 10-bolt axle. Some of the standard 4x4 and most of the 4x4 Blazers also came with this axle.

I promise you this isn't bull, you have NO idea how much research I had to do on this shit for a past friend.

Joelius - You assumed wrong. It's a totally different posi than the Torsen in the Camaro. Positive.

[JoeliusZ28]

i wont believe it until i look under my neighbors truck again ( could be awhile its in storage ). im aware the 7.5s and 8.5s look nothing alike as i own one of each ... my 98 Z71 has the 8.5 and it looks significantly larger.