Best gear for 8.5 10 bolt

Greg Reimer 7376 · 11-01-2013, 11:38 AM

There's no reason in the world that that 8.5 10 bolt wouldn't hold up in that car with a stocker 350 and an automatic.I seem to remember guys running them with a posi unit, that was the weak point. If you had a good set up, a good spool, quality axles, maybe steel web caps,etc. you probably won't ever break it. I don't think I'd use one in a '70 Chevelle A/S car, but the small block I,J or K car would have no issues. That rear end is probably 80-90% the strength of a 12 bolt anyway. Some of the bearings in it are the same as the 12 bolt uses.I do remember a shop that used to get junkyard big-car 12 bolt housings, cut the axle tubes off, and attach the axle tubes from 10 bolt Camaro-Nova rear ends to it. He had the jig to line things up, he was an excellent welder, and he had a good product, but he's been gone out of business for some time.I think big car 12 bolts have gotten scarce around here as well.Good luck with your project!

11-01-2013, 11:38 AM	#7
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,136 Likes: 172 Liked 705 Times in 219 Posts	Re: Best gear for 8.5 10 bolt There's no reason in the world that that 8.5 10 bolt wouldn't hold up in that car with a stocker 350 and an automatic.I seem to remember guys running them with a posi unit, that was the weak point. If you had a good set up, a good spool, quality axles, maybe steel web caps,etc. you probably won't ever break it. I don't think I'd use one in a '70 Chevelle A/S car, but the small block I,J or K car would have no issues. That rear end is probably 80-90% the strength of a 12 bolt anyway. Some of the bearings in it are the same as the 12 bolt uses.I do remember a shop that used to get junkyard big-car 12 bolt housings, cut the axle tubes off, and attach the axle tubes from 10 bolt Camaro-Nova rear ends to it. He had the jig to line things up, he was an excellent welder, and he had a good product, but he's been gone out of business for some time.I think big car 12 bolts have gotten scarce around here as well.Good luck with your project!