I know many things are different on the 80-82 rear ends, is it possible to put in the whole rear from a 63-79 or are the later frames too different?
Cheers, T.

Tyla,
Like you say, anything is possible. But to change over from an 80-82 rearend to a 63-79 is way to much trouble to even think about it. The mounting points of the 63-79 is totally different. The 80-82 rear (as you probably already know) has the long "batwing" crossmember, which is far different than the 63-79 crossmember that bolts in altogether different. The aluminum 80-82 differential was put into these cars as a way of shedding some weight off.
I'm assuming that you are looking for the extra strength of the 63-79 unit. It's a shame that they didn't make these interchangable. I don't know what maximum horsepower handling/ capability the aluminum diff's will handle, but I know that it's not as much as the old cast iron diff's.
If anybody else out there knows of an easy conversion, please let us know.

Sarge

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GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.

Actually the 80-82 rear is the stronger rear. that why GM "finally" changed the design. the '63-79 are the ones that break at the mounts. then you have leaks, then your rear end drops out onto the ground...the "newer" one were design not to do that...the point being you don't want to swap...

R

|UPDATED|9/21/2002 11:54:13 AM|/UPDATED|

Thanks for the info... I was affraid it was something that would be more trouble than it would be worth my reason behind wanting to know if a change was practical was due to the limited number of used units for the 80-82's, mine leaks at the side seals for the half shaft it's okay otherwise so I guess I'll just have this one rebuilt....I'll do the nasty work...
I wondered about strenth but I beat the hell out of my first 81 and never busted the rear...
Cheers, T.

crossedflags78,
I never thought that the aluminum unit's would be stronger. For myself and other 80-82 owners, that is way cool. Do you have any specs on torque handling on 80-82 vs. 63-79 diff's? Sarge

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GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.

I don't have actual specs for the rear end torque handleing capabilities for the 80-82 covers but my guess is that it won't handle all out drag racing. most people that I ever "heard" of making all drags out of thier vette use ford 9" straight axles because of rear cover breaking but mainly because of the U-joints on the independent rear suspention. ecklers & mid-america sell an "aftermarket" cover with reinforced spring mount tabs for 63-79 for a $100. these are cast iron while I believe the original are aluminum.or at least it looks aluminum. you won't find a heavier duty 80-82 cover because they just don't break at all. Or at least in my life time I never heard of one breaking. I was trying to show you a picture of the original cover design but i don't know how to get the pictures on here, suck
anyways the one thats on my '78 is cracked where the fill plug is, and some "smart guy" who owned it befor thought that a little bit of JB-Weld would fix it good as new.
I'm planning a frame off restore someday...when I have money


R

|UPDATED|9/22/2002 10:53:51 AM|/UPDATED|

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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!