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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 01:46 AM
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What is my best option for changing my gears. I would like to really go with some 3.90's but I don't want to pay over a thousand dollars for a new diff if I can just change the gears. Does anybody have any ideas or somebody that does gear swaps with me just sending in my diff. Anything would help as I am really wanting to do this while I do my clutch install. Right now I have a 2003 Z06 with stock diff if this helps. Thanks
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by geterdone
What is my best option for changing my gears. I would like to really go with some 3.90's but I don't want to pay over a thousand dollars for a new diff if I can just change the gears. Does anybody have any ideas or somebody that does gear swaps with me just sending in my diff. Anything would help as I am really wanting to do this while I do my clutch install. Right now I have a 2003 Z06 with stock diff if this helps. Thanks


I went with 3.90's and love it! I was lucky enough to find some guys near my area that have done it before, it is A LOT of work. There is a guy who has step by step who did it in is driveway...I will try to find the link for ya.
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 01:59 PM
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That would be awesome.
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 03:30 PM
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I put in 3.90s as well, and I love them. I would not recomend doing the gear swap yourself. I had mine swapped by a seasoned diff. guy who knows the C-5 diff.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 04:41 PM
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I would like that write up if anyone knows where to find it
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 05:36 PM
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Here are a couple of write ups. Hope this helps.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 05:45 PM
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Well those are helpful but just write ups for removing and installing a pre-built diff. I am looking for a write up on how to put gears into the original diff.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 07:03 PM
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Originally Posted by speedsk899
Well those are helpful but just write ups for removing and installing a pre-built diff. I am looking for a write up on how to put gears into the original diff.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 07:16 PM
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Originally Posted by speedsk899
Well those are helpful but just write ups for removing and installing a pre-built diff. I am looking for a write up on how to put gears into the original diff.
Due to the fact you can't remove a carrier in 30 minutes (more like 3-5 hours)... no one wants to take the risk of DIY.

There's alwas a first time. How about you doing this, then after a couple thousand miles (making sure it all went well and no whine developes) creating the write-up for the rest of us?

Someone has to be the guinea pig.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 07:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike Mercury
Due to the fact you can't remove a carrier in 30 minutes (more like 3-5 hours)... no one wants to take the risk of DIY.

There's alwas a first time. How about you doing this, then after a couple thousand miles (making sure it all went well and no whine developes) creating the write-up for the rest of us?

Someone has to be the guinea pig.
I would so be game.....but I saw someone post that it involves like $600 worth of special tools. If this isn't the case I would do it! What kind of tools are they talking about here? Ones that I can fab up myself?
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 09:36 PM
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Originally Posted by speedsk899
I would so be game.....but I saw someone post that it involves like $600 worth of special tools. If this isn't the case I would do it! What kind of tools are they talking about here? Ones that I can fab up myself?
I've always been told it takes special tools to work on the Getrag, but have no idea what they are. It could possibly be the exact same "special tools" that are needed for a ring/pinion swap on a 10 bolt, which would be dial indicator, tapered race seats, various pullers and installers, pinion shim measuring tool, pinion setup bearing, etc. If that's the case, I have all of those since I did my own ring/pinion on my TransAm. Not sure what else is needed.

Even if I have everything I need, I'll still go and buy a Z06 carrier, and I'll still have it installed for only a few hundred more (which includes shift point alterations). Just not worth it to me. I've had to play with my TA's rear end several times, first with 3.42's, then 3.73's, replacing bearings etc. For the extra couple hundred, I know it will be professionally installed in a few hours.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 09:45 PM
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Originally Posted by nj02vette
I've always been told it takes special tools to work on the Getrag, but have no idea what they are.
I believe it's Kent Moore that sells the "special" Getrag tool set. Then the "shim pack" is about $200; with many more shims than you'd need... btu it's not sold for a single useage. I've "heard" that special sized shims are needed for the Getrag ??????

This has been mentioned before; but we're not in the old days when Camaro, Chevelle, and Mustang rear axle ratio changes would take just 30 miunutes by an experienced shade tree mechanic.
If you made a mistake - and found out after a couple hundred miles or so...correction was just another 30 minutes away.

Just to R&R the complete C5 carrier (has to be completely removed from car in order to change the R&P) is about 4 hours by someone that has done it before. You'd grow very irritated during the R&P swap learning process if you had to re-do it a couple of times until you got it right.

That doesn't mean you wouldn't get it right the first time; but the penalty of not being lucky... scares many away (including me) from ever trying.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 09:55 PM
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I would advise if you are dead set on doing this, get a used dif from the for sale forum and experiment with that. That way you have a back up in case things go wrong. JMO

Good Luck

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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 09:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike Mercury
I believe it's Kent Moore that sells the "special" Getrag tool set. Then the "shim pack" is about $200; with many more shims than you'd need... btu it's not sold for a single useage. I've "heard" that special sized shims are needed for the Getrag ??????

This has been mentioned before; but we're not in the old days when Camaro, Chevelle, and Mustang rear axle ratio changes would take just 30 miunutes by an experienced shade tree mechanic.
If you made a mistake - and found out after a couple hundred miles or so...correction was just another 30 minutes away.

Just to R&R the complete C5 carrier (has to be completely removed from car in order to change the R&P) is about 4 hours by someone that has done it before. You'd grow very irritated during the R&P swap learning process if you had to re-do it a couple of times until you got it right.

That doesn't mean you wouldn't get it right the first time; but the penalty of not being lucky... scares many away (including me) from ever trying.
How much is the tool kit and what are its contents?
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Brad@RevXtremeAutoSports
I would advise if you are dead set on doing this, get a used dif from the for sale forum and experiment with that. That way you have a back up in case things go wrong. JMO

Good Luck

Not a bad idea.....
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted by speedsk899
How much is the tool kit and what are its contents?
I don't have a clue. It may be all smoke and mirrors....

I was one of those that got scared and bought a brand new carrier.

.

Last edited by Mike Mercury; Mar 18, 2008 at 12:00 PM.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 10:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike Mercury
I don't have a cue. It may be all smoke and mirrors....

I was one of those that got scared and bought a brand new carrier.
I sent him an email asking what is in the kit and the price. I will keep everyone posted
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 11:00 AM
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I did find out that there are full instructions in the service and unit manuals. Now I just have to find out what the price of the tools are. I called Kent Moore and they don't have a kit, you have to buy all of the pieces separately and they didn't know what they all were. They said it is also listed in the service manual.
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 11:40 AM
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J80001 Dial Indicator set
J23907 Slide Hammer
J25070 Heat Gun
J29369-2 Left Output shaft bearing remover
J36221 Hydraulic Line Clutch seperator
J36797 Output shaft seal installer
J42055 Transmission Support
J42155 Differential lifting tool
J42157 Leeft Output shaft bearing installer
J42159 Differential Side Bearing Remover
J42162 Side Gear Compressor
J42164 Pinion Gear Holder
J42166 Front Pinion Bearing Remover ....

Want me to keep going ???? There are 12 more tools listed ....
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by BlackZ06
J80001 Dial Indicator set
J23907 Slide Hammer
J25070 Heat Gun
J29369-2 Left Output shaft bearing remover
J36221 Hydraulic Line Clutch seperator
J36797 Output shaft seal installer
J42055 Transmission Support
J42155 Differential lifting tool
J42157 Leeft Output shaft bearing installer
J42159 Differential Side Bearing Remover
J42162 Side Gear Compressor
J42164 Pinion Gear Holder
J42166 Front Pinion Bearing Remover ....

Want me to keep going ???? There are 12 more tools listed ....

Reminds me a long time ago when I was very young. I was replacing a hood on my car at a friends house and had to remove the wiperblade arm. The service manual stated to use GM tool Jxxxxx. We were about to go out looking for that "special" tool, when my friends cousin stopped by (an auto body guy). We asked if he knew what that tool was and he reached into my toolbox and pulled out a screwdriver.
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