Got a posi carrier from a member here for my 73 Riviera. Thank you Does anyone have and good tips or advice on installation? Its the same gear ratio as my open carrier so I plan to use my current ring and pinion set so I don't have to remove the pinion gear. Thinking I can just swap the carrier and set the backlash and go?
As long as you are using the same ring and pinion you only need to swap the ring gear off the carrier (open non posi ) onto the Limited slip posi carrier and install back into the case and MAYBE just reshim the backlash to the reading it was when you began. Going from GM to GM carrier it will be real close. YOU MUST USE A DIAL INDICATOR to check the backlash....NO GUESSING.... or it sounds close... lol. IF your original ring and pinion are in good running condition this is all that is needed to do to go from NON POSI to POSI . IF you do not know the condition of the rear then all bets are off on this. ok? Jim J D
I'm happy to report I did this very swap about ten years ago. Backlash checked out fine and no issues whatsoever since. Devon
Perfect! I got a shim kit, Pinion crush sleeve, nut and seal from Jim just in case. (Thank you) Don't want to start the job and find I cant put it back together right away and have it all over the garage for a week or two. Also got some gear marking compound. As soon as I get a day I plan to do it. I will try and take a bunch of pics step by step and post them once its done. I don't expect to find any issues with the gears in my open diff (Been driving it with them for 11 years without issue) but I have the ones form the donor diff if required.
You will not have any issues...PLEASE do take both carriers and set them side by side to be sure they are both the same series carrier IF THEY ARE NOT...STOP! You will have issues.
I did the same to my 64 9-3/8 rear end. The pinion had no play so I left it alone, except the seal. I had to reshim back to the same .009 inch backlash the non posi carrier had. I did a before and after contact pattern check to be sure. I also replaced the carrier bearings with NOS items. No problems, noise, etc. I'd strongly suggest not moving the pinion so that the contact area is unchanged, assuming you have the same backlash when you finish.
