Found a 10 bolt 5 lug GM rear end with 3:42 gears, it is out of a 1988 Suburban. I haven't looked at it, doubt if it would just bolt right in, it would be nice if I could just re-mount the spring perches, does anybody know if this swap is possible? If not, does anybody know if these housings are the same, so I could at least do a gear swap? The guy wants $125.00 for the whole rear end, including the Suburban springs. I'm thinking the gears alone should be worth the price, if they will interchange with my 1971 10 bolt Buick rear end gears. Thanks for any information provided. Kurt
Just get the center section if it is the spring loaded units.....you don't want the gov-lock style (uses a flywheel to engage the gears to make it a posi, which is a terrible design) Get the gears too since they will work in your car. See the article on the site below for the posi unit removal. Rest of the rear axle is scrap.
Suburban-Leaf springs Your skylark- Coil springs May also be a width problem and not worth the trouble to swap pearches around. Probably the only thin you can use is the ring and pinion gear set. Don't forget new bearings and seals when you swap the gears.
Used pickup truck/van/Blazer/Suburban 8.5 gears are a crap shoot. Used to pull them & set them up, day in & day out. Set up enough such rearends & have to have quiet set-up, one will find out how "valuable" such well used "pickup" gears are. Not needing a used Suburban rear to swap into another Suburban, put the $125 towards a new set of US-Strange 8.5 gears, you'll be glad you did. Got Posi? :3gears: Roger