S10 4x4 Diff

[BillPappy]

1980 sunbird.. going 5 lug
I found a diff out of a 85 s10 4x4 It has a diff locker. Im thinking I hit the jack pot. But am I Not thinking.. But hey it is cheap.
I dont know if the axles are 26 or 28 spline?

Im trying to figer out what my best opoins are.
S10 2x4 rears are 48" backing plate to backing plate
s10 4X4 rears are 52" backing plate to backing plate

What would you guys do? I would really like to use this locker


Pappy

[BillPappy]

Im not sure how this ended up here. I started at Transmission and Driveline Tech.

Pappy

[BillPappy]

After doing some searching.

What I found is a Gov-Lock. It seems they have a way of blowing up inside the Diff.

Pappy

[Astre-mutt]

Hello Bill, could you tell me some things about your car? What is it? What's it got in it now? (engine, trans, rear end) What are your plans for the car? (street, drag racing, road racing) For example you don't need to swoop out the in tier rear. The diff, and axles from the S-10 will fit your stock housing. But if your planing on running 500hp, and big slicks you would just be wasting your time with a 7.5" rear end.

[steelhead]

the axles must come from a 2 wheel drive

[spyder_xlch]

the axles must come from a 2 wheel drive

But what about the diff? Are they the same spline as the 2WD? Are they even a 7.5"?

[spyder_xlch]

I just had a thought too. I can get S-10 4X4 rear ends all day long. 2WD's aren't as common. Couldn't you narrow a 4X4 rear and use 2WD axle shafts?

[BillPappy]

the car is a 1980 sunbird

350 bored 30 over, Dart aluminum heads, voodoo cam.
HP I would say over 300 350 trans
Im not going to be running big slicks. the tires I will be running will be much like Josh C
I will be doing a little drag racing.
It would be nice not to bust a tire lose at 50MPH.
The diff is a 7.5 Im thinking about Powertrax.

What I been reading about that gov-loc got me scared off.

Pappy

[steelhead]

s10s had 7.5, 26 and 28 splines in 2wd.26 spline axles will switch,28 youd have to switch the guts too. the whole shorter rear will work,just need to switch all the brackets
why would you want to shorten a 4x4 rear? are they stronger?

[spyder_xlch]

4X4 rears are easier to find here. I wasn't thinking about the torque arm mount though. I was actually thinking about using the 4X4 cener section and narrow the tubes to the Monza lenght. But without the torque arm mount it's not such a good idea.
OK, let's forget that. What about the splines on the 4X4? Did they use 26 or 28 or both depending on year? I'm just thinking about the 4X4 diff in a Monza housing. It's probably easier to find posi in a 4X4.

[Astre-mutt]

the car is a 1980 sunbird

350 bored 30 over, Dart aluminum heads, voodoo cam.
HP I would say over 300 350 trans
Im not going to be running big slicks. the tires I will be running will be much like Josh C
I will be doing a little drag racing.
It would be nice not to bust a tire lose at 50MPH.
The diff is a 7.5 Im thinking about Powertrax.

What I been reading about that gov-loc got me scared off.

Pappy

First, There should be nothing different between a 4X4 or 2X4 diff. Maybe the spines 28 instead of 26. I've seen people with S-10's put a complete 4X4 rear in there 2X4 trucks. Then run late model Corvette, or Camaro wheels. You could do the same thing in a H-body. But you would have to fabricate mounts, or a new suspension system. Then again if you have to fabricate mounts, why mess with a 7.5 rear end at all? The only reason for using an S-10 or Camaro diff is cost, and availability. Even then you have to buy special bearings to mount it in a H-body housing. I may be wrong about this, but isn't the 28 spline diffs only available in the LS1 F-bodies?

[AusRs]

What I been reading about that gov-loc got me scared off.

Pappy

yep it is scary reading about them

[BillPappy]

I been at the pull a part most the day. I pulled the diff covers off of 3 camaros and 1 TA. Looking for a torsen. It is my understaneding that they are 28 spline diffs. The 1984-2002 Camaro/Firebird uses a torque arm that looks alot stronger. and the Diff even tho its a 7.5 10-bolt look bigger. I think they would be much better then trying to make a 4x4 diff work.
Pappy

[HAULIN' IT]

One rear to check out is the S-10 High Rider, newer 4x4 truck or Blazer. These are 8.5" ring gear w/disc brakes. They have 3.08 gears at least, regular 5 bolt pattern, the posi may need changed for big power, but otherwise could be a good plan. You would have to do some fab work to mount it in there. I'm not sure exactly all of the differences of them as in what years ect. My 2003 regular Blazer has one. I've not measuered it, but I believe the Blazers are narrower like the 2wd trucks. I wont swear to that though. Check it out, Lorne

[spyder_xlch]

If the 4X4 blazer rear same width as the 2WD pick-up rear? I thought all 4X4 were the same width and all 4X2 were the same. If the 4X4 blazer is narrower that opens alot of possibilities for me. I'll have to cross some part numbers.