This is for my '87 Turbo Regal. I have a new 8.5 Eaton posi carrier unit and will be reusing the good factory 3.42 ring/ pinion gears. Have a peg leg right now in there as this car came stock with an open rear. Want to know in what ball park I might expect to pay to have someone install the Eaton unit and set up? I don't have an install kit with shims etc either as I would expect the person contracted out to do this would have or know what to get there. Car will be taken to individual and I have a name of a local contact said to be good. Would like some estimates in a range if possible so I may have a general idea on what I might pay? Thanks!
$1100+??? Yow!!! Here, if I could convince the guy to do it, it'd run $200 with me providing the shims. That's just swapping out the carriers and re-setting the ring gear backlash, which is all you should need with a new Eaton carrier going into your good old housing.
I was thinking $200-300 range max. Shouldn't be that tough of a job on the car for someone who does this often, I wouldn't think? Sure hope it isn't in the $1100-1200 range! I will get a verbal quote first. I've never done this and wouldn't think of trying to set back lash etc.
Evans, That price you had in mind might sound good but this is something you want to do once and done right. If this is the original rear setup I would think there will be a few items that will need refreshing.(Bearings,Races,Seals,Crush Sleave,Pinion Nut,Ring Gear Bolts,Gaskets, & Shims) The rebuild kit alone will run $100 - $150. Maybe Gary or Roger will see this thread and offer an opinion.
Evan, Not going to be that expensive, if just substituting (or adding) a posi carrier. Looking at $80 labor + carrier bearings, races, a service shim & a thin spacer. Easily under $135. That's on a bench build on a customer cleaned 8.5 or 12 bolt. On complete c-clip rear teardown, R & R 'ing pinion bearings, races, seal, crushsleeve, nut & pro set-up with new carrier, looking at under $350 with quality small parts. :3gears: Roger
WOW i didn't know that investing in all the right tools and proper presses would be so cheap in the good old USA. Or maybe Billy Bob and Bobby Joe just use there straw to set up diff's. The time alone to set up a diff ( properly ) would run 5-6 hours depending if they have to press off the bearing for propper shim clearances more than once. The shop i worked for was a flat rate of $450.00 to R & R a diff carrier plus parts. We never had one come back howling or fail any where including many 800+ horse power cars. But you get whatyou pay for and ... don;t come complaining to the people when it fails or its life span is very short sorry for the rant just my .02 worth ken
On my 8.5 carrier, the shims go outboard of the bearings, you wouldn't have to remove them except to replace. Maybe Canadian axles are different? o No: I couldn't convince my local guy to do it (he's convinced c-clip carriers won't go into BOP housings), so I'm tackling it myself, although sloooowwwwly. Got my chassis manual, a dial indicator, this board, and lots of patience. Might get it mostly done this weekend, if life doesn't interfere.
Evans, I used to use a ex-racer, Dennis Dawson, with an autoshop south of Zebulon west of Barnesville. He used to change out gears in 8.8 mustangs for me for $125.00. It has been 5 years since I have seen him. I probably still have his number around here. Reading Hotrod and Carcraft they said that the average wrench can do it if he has the right tools. Well I bought brand spankin new rearend setting up tools and have been waiting for the right buddy to use them installing gears in his own rearend. After you get it right I am willing to try my rearend. I think you can do it. This is going to be great! :TU:
Sportswagon, There are NO straw dangling clueless Billy Bobs here. For the record, I have personally propperly set-up over a thousand GM 8.5's & 12 bolts. Many were in outright sale fresh posi rears. Work on all was top notch guaranteed & pricing has always been fair... even today, am not into $80 an hour shop labor & doubling or tripling out when pricing small parts in a build! For the record, the above $85 labor pricing was on new 8.5 posi install/backlash setting, under an hours work with hsg clamped on the bench, not up on the lift, in the vehicle set-up! If that takes 4 or 5 hours, please shoot me. Yes, it does cost a lot to have the right tools. Just in specialty r/e tools, I prob have $2500, & that's not counting close to $1000 inventory of organised shims, spacers, misc bearings, or my air or hand tools, or my custom built build benchs. Quality equipment & experience have allowed me to get completion time down without sacrificing anything! Lastly... to make things easy on myself, I won't build Dana60's, Dana70's or for that matter Dana44's or 8.5's in front axles of 4wheeldrives... too much time investment & hassle! Today, I stay busy enough with restoration work, & turn down a ton of gearset-ups. Most r/e builds I do anymore are complete posi r/e builds/ outright sales with an occasional posi set-up like Evan asked a price for...only reason I posted. Good Day. :3gears: Roger
Roger- I appreciate you replying and posting to my thread. I value your opinion since I knew you are the guru in this area and do this daily for a living. Thanks for the time and input. Tom- I have a name of a gent in Warner Robins (just south of me) given to me from Steve David (member here- bgs455) who has used him to set up his rear on his GS. I'll call him soon and see what he says. I'm reluctant and alittle apprehensive about tackling a job like this. I'm sure I could probably do it in time but paying someone who is skilled and knowledgable will bring peace of mind. The car is more of a daily driver and a street car which will see little if any strip time. A buddy and I just rebuilt the LC2 in this car a couple of weeks ago and I'm breaking it in right now. It does feel strong at partial throttle and lower boost settings. I also appreciate everyone's input and feedback!
Evans, My rear axle builder here charges $200. I bring him the gears, posi unit, cleaned and detailed rear axle in the back of my truck. He sets it up, supplies new crush sleave, pinion bearings, nut and I am ready to go. He also inspects/checks the rear axle shaft bearings and seals. If they are bad/questionable, he changes them. If he changes out the axle bearings, total cost is $300-350 for basically a new rear axle set-up.
I agree with Roger For just a straight posi swap my labor is around $75 + parts (adj. shims, brgs., lube, etc.) I'd figure the guy may charge you $75 to $100 bucks. For a "FULL" R&R my LABOR's at $125-$175 out of the vehicle depending on what rear end (or front end) you bring me. 9in. being easiest & DANA a pain! In the vehicle my LABOR's at $200-$250 depending on the diff. and accessibility. I mean Hey, have you tried to squeeze around sway bars and some of the mufflers and pipes on cars? Then your just talking parts, all high quality, which you get at cost, and because this is my at home side job I don't even charge you ta....SSHHH aaah nevermind :laugh: Just a kiddin MR. GOV'T MAN
Just got the price quote. In car, $200 labor to install carrier, ring/ pinion gear, and set up. Parts extra but I have most of them to supply. This is favorable with me for a price with the rear in the car. I'll take the car to him in a couple of weekends. I won't know how to act with posi as it has been too long since I've had one (last in '94 when I sold my '66 Corvette Roadster). Strange that in the 3 Buicks I've owned since 1986, none had a posi rear!
