Looking for Opinions

[9T8W66]

I know most people think threads like this are a waste because regardless of opinions people tend to do what they want. So anyway some may know I have a new Job as a Warehouse manager for an Interstate Batteries Distributor, BTW Job is going great so looks like I'll have plenty of funds to spend on my ride this year.
Last year my rear was howling for most of the summer so to keep it alive I babied it. I had some wheel hop issues early last year and I know that's what did the rear in. I'm tossing up the possibility of going with a Moser 9 with 4.11's but I'm at odds with spending all that money since I know I'll probably never make enough power to fully utilize it. I'm not a street racer anymore although I do like to bang some gears, and I won't be using anything but street radials so I'm thinking a well set up rebuilt 10 bolt with 3.73's or 3.90's would hold up as the car is set up more for AutoX. Either way I'm planning on new LCA's and RLB's along with a Watt's Link to replace the Panhard bar.

Will also be getting new rubber and thought I might put some new hoops on aswell since I really want to get away from the staggered look and go with the same size on all four corners.
If I do this the other wheels will be for sale cheap.
Other plans are new Trans Crossmember with relocated torque arm mount and new clutch and hydraulics to replace my original 136K mile parts.

So what do you think ?

Rebuild the 10 bolt and hope for the best ?

Or ditch the POS 7.5 for a 9" and never worry again ?

Any thoughts or opinions are appreciated.

[Fbomb]

A 10-bolt will hold up if you don't race it but even if you do, as you did, it still lasted 130k miles.

[9T8W66]

I agree as I had zero issues till last year, it has held up beautifully for 12 yrs 30+ track passes and about 300 or so street runs.
The car has been driven normally during the week but was flogged regularly on the weekends for the first 5 yrs of it's life.

[DETROITMUSCLE]

put a real clutch behind it and you could be asking for trouble. Me personally I'd buy the 9" and be done as it has a good resale value should you ever decide its too much and not having to worry about something like a rear would be amazing. Do I think you could "build" a 10 bolt that would be fine as well, sure I do.

[1BADAIR]

niner

[MP81]

I agree as I had zero issues till last year, it has held up beautifully for 12 yrs 30+ track passes and about 300 or so street runs.
The car has been driven normally during the week but was flogged regularly on the weekends for the first 5 yrs of it's life.

Well, you were kinda driving it hard when it started making noise last year.

I say, rebuild the 10 bolt with some bigger axles, and call it good.

And totally keep your rims...they're amazing.

[9T8W66]

Well, you were kinda driving it hard when it started making noise last year.

I say, rebuild the 10 bolt with some bigger axles, and call it good.

And totally keep your rims...they're amazing.

Yeah we did have some fun on that GR road trip
As far as the rims I'm looking at these



Still different then anything seen around here.

[MP81]

Yeah we did have some fun on that GR road trip
As far as the rims I'm looking at these



Still different then anything seen around here.

Those would be nice - similar to the rims I'll be getting for my Cobalt.

And yeah, that was a blast!

[BAMF TA]

Those are nice, I want a set of those, in gunmetal, but I can't find anything 10.5 or wider...

Im not sure, you could probably get away with a 10bolt, But, you could order you 9" narrowed, and get a deep lipped wheel.

and the 9" will last you forever, of course

[Darren]

Craig I have NO input into your rear end at all. I am only posting here because your RIMS on your car are AMAZING! But the picture of the rims you posted are hot too but again rims on your car are AMAZING. Oh yeah and talk to crazy Jon and go 12 bolt

Bottom Line:
9 inch last you for the rest of the car's life and you prolly could still sell it for $$ after the car passes (if it ever does)
10 bolt built could and prolly will last YOU another 130K but like Jeff said a real clutch in the car could cause you some problems... What clutch are you looking at?

[prorac1]

12 bolts dont hold up behind 6 speeds. I had a centerforce clutch, 10 bolt rear with 4.10 gears, and et streets on a bolt on only LT1 car. All it took was one sidestep of the clutch @ 3500 - 4000 to piss off the rearend and make it howl, lol. Welcome to the world of 6 speeds. Just remember, hp dosent break rearends, traction does, hence the reason my camaro SS has crappy rock hard tires on it. Im good at pedaling it, and im not putting a 9 inch in a 12 sec street car. Hope this helps, Eric L

[Darren]

12 bolts dont hold up behind 6 speeds. I had a centerforce clutch, 10 bolt rear with 4.10 gears, and et streets on a bolt on only LT1 car. All it took was one sidestep of the clutch @ 3500 - 4000 to piss off the rearend and make it howl, lol. Welcome to the world of 6 speeds. Just remember, hp dosent break rearends, traction does, hence the reason my camaro SS has crappy rock hard tires on it. Im good at pedaling it, and im not putting a 9 inch in a 12 sec street car. Hope this helps, Eric L

I know and understand 12 bolts dont hold up behind 6 speeds. That was just a comment for Craig he knows what I meant we have had many talks about this out on woodward. I just said that cause crazy jon has a BA TA and 6 speed while he put a 12 bolt in it.

[JoeliusZ28]

I would recommend a 10 bolt with aftermarket axles and a gusset kit. Should hold up more than adequately at your power level, even with a clutch. I have been chirping 4th gear for years now and my 10 bolt is stock. The gussets are supposed to do quite a bit for added strength.

[prorac1]

The 12 bolt comment wasnt aimed at you Darren, just stating a fact. I agree that he would probably be fine with a 10 bolt with some gussets and a gridle. I have had a girdle on my latest 10 bolt for a while and its holding up well. Eric L

[9T8W66]

You all have valid points, and the idea of keeping and attempting to bullet proof the 10bolt has always floated in my mind. But the reality is the 10 bolt's 7.5 size makes for strength issues when going with steep gears. The 3.73 gears aren't much of a difference over the stock 3.42's the 3.90's would be closer to what I want (which is 4.10's) but that still leaves me wondering over the strength issue.
The 12 bolt never entered my mind because I know it's the weakest out of the 3 major aftermarket rears. Crazy John had his before I had a chance to talk him out of it. The reason for keeping the 10bolt is more over cost then anything. And if I thought that way about my shocks then my suspension wouldn't be what it is. I guess I'm looking for excusses not to spend the money when in reality I have no problem doing it.

And (Darren) as far as the rims are concerned when I bought them 4 years ago I settled for them over a traditional same size on all corners combo because they weren't available in the correct offset (all 4 are +35mm). So the 8.5's up front are not what I originally wanted. The ones I'm looking at (18x9.5) I can get in a +45mm which is better for all four corners. And like I said the Old ones will go for cheap probably under $400 as is.

Keep it comng guys the more input the better.