Well I knew the day would come and it did. I haven't posted in a while because I was having lots of fun with this procharged engine. I took it out late at night gave it few hard punches and BOOM. It felt like a mini bomb went off in the back of my car. My headliner feel off and hit me in the head. It seemed as if the 4 speed popped itself out of gear. I went to put it back into gear and there was nothing but revs. RUH ROH! I pull it off to the side of the road and of course I see my driver side tire **** eyed. Needless to say I became a triple A member that night. LOL I get the car in the garage late this summer and jack it up and I see the axle stub sticking out about an inch further than it should.

Now that you all are up to speed, I'm at a crossroads here. The engine is making 800 or so at the crank. Is it even worth rebuilding one of these diffs myself with the Duntov axle stubs, using richmond gear with that rem coating and possibly reusing the eaton posi? Or do I have to shell out the big bucks and convert to solid rear axle? The autofab one I like, but I just wish I could order a solid rear and bolt it into my car and not have to pay someone to weld on my car and hope its all straight. What do you think?

I have heard of a shop called Carrols that is possibly in development of a bolt in kit. At least that is what there site says but they never return my emails or my calls.

 

Time to have a 12-bolt IRS diff built.

 

800 Hp will be a piece of cake to handle with Tom's Differential stuff for Corvettes. His parts are made by OEM manufacturers and are custom made for him with enhanced strength specifications; i.e update alloys and heat treatments. Tom's has been making C2/C3 rear suspension parts for many years. All the failures of years past have been corrected and today you can get a bullet proof rear end if you buy the top stuff. Unfortunately, Tom today only sells parts. You'll need someone to put it together professionally (Unless you have the specialized skills). Look at Van Steels website, he's a forum sponsor and I think he installs Tom's stuff.
The crown jewel of Toms rear end components was a 12 bolt carrier squeezed into stock Corvette differential case. (Stock is 10 bolt). Also, massive U joints to replace factory stock, and large diameter half shafts.
Tom no longer sells assembled 12 bolt diffs. You or someone else has to build them. Just google Toms differentials and check out his catalog. Have you credit card handy. $$$$$$$

 

$6K - $7K for a 12 bolt IRS rearend that will handle 1000HP, tracdogg (Mike) is doing mine.

 

Mike is doing my Tom's outer axles in the trailing arms right now and will soon be building me my beefed up differential to handle a mid 600HP LSX engine.

 

Is that all the parts and installed or just the parts? I can do all the bolt on stuff. Anyway I shake it, this is going to be some moola.

 

I've got a 12 bolt being built by Gary Ramadei up in CT right now (should ship to me in the nest 2 weeks) complete with Tom's hardware & 3.73 gears for under $5K. He does excellent work and has a great reputation.

 

pm me his contact info just in case I do go that route.

Thanks,

 

PM sent.

Looks like mine ships on Monday ....

12 Bolt LH View-


12 Bolt RH View-


Polished & Tuned Posi-

 

Mike does nice work for sure!

JIM

 

That $6K - $7K is for an assembled 12 bolt differential with every possible option including a 4340 chromoly 1480 axle upgrade and new trailing arms, halfshaft loops, bearing supports, bushings, bolts, etc. When it's all done and shipped back to me, I have to bolt it all back into the car.

Both Gary and Mike have tremendous reputations for doing these conversions, I couldn't find anyone with a bad thing to say about either.

 

That looks pretty, and in order to make it all work I would need those 3.5 inch half shafts too which are also pretty spendy. This is starting to matching up pretty close to a M9 install quote I received locally to be used with that autofab kit. Decisions, decisions. I think I will mull this over for a bit and keep his contact info for when I'm ready to make a decision.

Thanks for the information guys.

 

Since the 12-bolt conversion we're on about maintains the IRS, drawing a simple $ for $ comparison with a solid axle install is somewhat apples and oranges. Nothing against guys who've done it to suit their needs, but something down inside me cringes everytime I see a C2 or later Corvette on the street with a solid axle. My $.02, not that it's my money you'll be spending.

FWIW, that 12-bolt Mike did there looks great. Agree he and Gary have top shelf reputations.

 

Just to insure the right builder gets the full credit....the photos I posted are of my unit built by Gary.

 

Man,your lucky you got to play with it with that much hp.mine has less hp then that and i blew mine up twice.These cars rears cant handle much abuse.Gary does really good work,when i get back to work and make some money again ,i want him to build me one.

 

Alrighty then.

FWIW, that 12-bolt Gary did there looks great. Agree he and Mike have top shelf reputations.

 

There is nothing bolt on about a 12 bolt conversion. The case has to be machined and there's lots of fitting, shimming and tweaking to stuff that big ring&pinion in there. If you consider all the time Gary & Mike spend doing one of these conversions they could make more $$$/hour working at McDonalds.

 

Yep, that one is Gary's. I use a different color paint.
Mike

 

Unfortunately this is so true.

 

These 12-bolts look awesome, but just as an alternative, I have been using Duntov's differential and drag racing it, and it has held up now for 3 years.