rear end swap

[proroc203]

Will a rear end out of a 4th generation/1995 fit in a 3rd generation/1986?
If so, will the 373 gears out of the 1986 fit on the carrier of the 1995?
PLEASE HELP!

[Injuneer]

If you're talking about a complete rear axle assembly swap, the answer is "not really"..... The 4th Gen rear axle assembly is 3" wider than the 3rd Gen, requiring wheels with a greater offset. It bolts right in.... all the connections are the same. Could be achieved by running radically different offsets on the front and rear wheels, but limited practicallity.

Whether just the gears could be swapped depends on several things. The 4th Gen rear is a GM 7.5/7.625" 10-bolt. It will have either a 2-series (3.08 or lower numerical) or 3-series (3.23 or higher) carrier. Most 3rd Gens used the same carriers, but some 3rd Gens were equipped with a GM 9-bolt rear made in Australia. The 9-bolt and 10-bolt parts are not interchangeable. So, if both cars have 10-bolts, they would both have to have the same "series" carrier for the ring & pinion to interchange.