I've seen ads on CL as well for places similar to yours that rebuild rearends, i'm not interested in spending over 1k for that. My budget was about $400.Can't expect a stock 30+yr old rear to really go for much more. After replacing brakes, bushings,gasket,fluids and ujoint, it was about a $400 total project anyways.

I did end up placing an ad looking for rear..it was almost as bad as responding to ads already for sale. However, I received an email from someone that always looks for parts for their 78 TransAm, and turned out they had 2 parts TransAm's as well as a rear already out of one they scrapped last summer.He knew the previous owner of the car he scrapped, and it wasn't beat or used to race. The underneath was just rotted, and he only bought it for the 400 motor.He removed the cover for us, and it looked really clean inside! No broken or worn teeth either.Best part he was 10 min away from us!

It was a 3:08 rear, and he only wanted $225 for it!! He threw in subframe connectors which we later found out couldn't use for my 70.He didn't know though either.

The swap went fairly smoothly. Got the old one out in a few hours one day, the new one was in the next day. I let my husband do the new brakes, as the 7 springs inside irritated the heck outta me,lol! The only part we had to wait on, was the new Ujoint. Going from an original 6 cylinder car driveshaft, to a rear that came from a TransAm with a 400 in it, we had to order a special ujoint that would connect everything. An hour later even after cleanup, and it's all done!

Here's some pics of the progress...

 

Yah now you have a old rear in place of a old rear end. lol. And with the looks of the marks on the street you will have a broken one soon...lol. You have to remember how parts wear. Yes they all look good and will hold for normal driving as most people drove them. The little details will go a long way to keeping parts alive in performance applications I am glad you got a great deal and it is working for you. BUT you did not check bearings and backlash on the ring and pinion and it appears you will be pushing the rear past normal driving expectations. Keep an ear tuned to the rear and I wish you well.

Take care, Jim
J D

 

"Wish you well" and "Take care" doesn't make the fact that you're presumptious and rude any better.

You want to know if backlash, or ring and pinion bearing was checked, ask! It was.

You sound foolish with your comments towards me without knowing me. I'm not a teenager who has a 40yr old muscle car and beats on it. I'm sure you've left lines on the street from "old posi rears". Being an old vs. a rebuilt one is the risk I take myself. Not like I can't rebuild it myself someday if that day comes.

I thanked you for the offer from your place for rebuilt rears. I was only looking for a used one. Now you're just coming off bitter that I didn't come to you.

 

I love it!!! You let him have it with both Barrels Girl!

 

What ever makes you feel better. I did not even remember or know you were a female. SO IF that is why you think I made that remark, it is NOT. I have 2 Daughters and raise them with all the knowledge either gender would NEED. ( foolish comments) Rebuild check parts- MY exact point Why not while it is open and do just that??

I am confident everyone gets what they set themselves for. Little sarcasm if needed to creep into the thought process... if it makes you think just that one extra time... I WILL TAKE THAT HIT with BOTH BARRELS! IT is for the GOOD of the forum to give all sides of the conversation.

TRULY take care,

Stay safe. Jim

P.S. I do not get pissed if someone does not buy parts or rears, etc from me... (again comment made with out remembering that offer too.) I Just get disappointed when I see bad or careless decisions being made. If I never was in the conversion obviously I would not know or comment or CARE...

FIRE AWAY WITH THE BARRELS.... target practice is open.

 

Had nothing to do with me being a chick at all- (monzaz) Nice to know some people actually pay attention to all the posts. Thanks 5Time for noticing the details mentioned about my husband

 

cars run on USED parts everyday..... just sayin.... bytheway that was a great find!!!!

 

I've purchased a lot of used parts over the years, and almost everything in my old Austin sedan gasser was purchased used. (including the rear axle!) Only new parts I put in it were the new bearings and heads in the used 327, and the new straight axle from Speedway. Trans was used, as was the shifter, and the converter.
I don't know what it would have cost me to build this car from all new parts, but even with new paint and the interior I built, I'm still under $10,000, and that includes the $2k I paid for the car I started with.
I'm a big fan of buying used, but there are certain things I wont get used. From seeing what you did with the new u joint, and new brakes, it looks like you also made the right decision as to what parts should be used and what should be new.
I also have a used '78 TA rearend under my '71 Camaro, with 3.42 gears, and it's held up great behind my 427 for many years now.