Differential Main Caps - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

SGNL99 · 12-12-2012, 09:06 AM

I am looking at doing a swap to the 3.91 1le gears. My question is about upgrading the main caps to the billet ones. Is it worth the extra $200 for a DD? I'm putting down 415 now with the JRE package and my ultimate goal for the car is to go to 470 with Ted's rough idle blower cam. Are the stock main caps good for ~500 hp or are the billet caps worth the extra insurance? Thanks.

blazzin1 · 12-12-2012, 09:29 AM

Better to have them and not need them.....

Rather than wishing you would have installed them while looking at your newly "shredded" gears!!!!

Cheap Insurance in my opinion!!!

These are the JRE caps going in along with my 3.91's & Truetrac.

BlackPearl · 12-12-2012, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGNL99

I am looking at doing a swap to the 3.91 1le gears. My question is about upgrading the main caps to the billet ones. Is it worth the extra $200 for a DD? I'm putting down 415 now with the JRE package and my ultimate goal for the car is to go to 470 with Ted's rough idle blower cam. Are the stock main caps good for ~500 hp or are the billet caps worth the extra insurance? Thanks.

after you see them next to each other you would never reinstal the stock caps. i went with billet caps on my 1le diff

blazzin1 · 12-12-2012, 04:06 PM

These are the "stockers". Kinda hard to compare when they are not in the same picture, but the JRE caps are significantly thicker in all areas. You can also tell a big difference in the quality compared to the "cast" aluminum stock pieces.

SGNL99 · 12-12-2012, 04:49 PM

Thanks for the replies. I'm guessing the aftermarket diff support plate is another "must"?

SC2150 · 12-12-2012, 05:11 PM

Make sure you machine the caps for proper fit when installing! Excellent mod.

blazzin1 · 12-12-2012, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGNL99

Thanks for the replies. I'm guessing the aftermarket diff support plate is another "must"?

What is a diff support plate? Do you mean the diff cover? If so, it's really not needed in addition to the billet main caps.

SGNL99 · 12-12-2012, 05:55 PM

My bad, yes the support cover. So the billet main caps will suffice with the stock cover?

Chris82xx · 12-12-2012, 06:19 PM

So what is the added strength with caps, gears, axles, compared to a 9", or a ZL1? What is trashed when the rear blows?

blazzin1 · 12-12-2012, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SC2150

Make sure you machine the caps for proper fit when installing! Excellent mod.

Yes, my machinist said he had to take approximately .060" off the new main caps to meet the 3.062" bore requirements.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGNL99

My bad, yes the support cover. So the billet main caps will suffice with the stock cover?

Yes, from what I've been told, the LPW Differential Cover with the pre-load bolts is not necessary with the billet caps. However, with that being said, I'm still doing both! It may be overkill, but I figure a little more added insurance isn't going to hurt anything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris82xx

So what is the added strength with caps, gears, axles, compared to a 9", or a ZL1? What is trashed when the rear blows?

The billet caps reduce the amount of torsional flex or movement within the aluminum rear end housing. Regardless, you will still not have the strength and/or rigidity of a 9" or cast iron ZL1 rear end. But then again, you're not spending $5-$6k on a rear end, and you're keeping the added weight off too. Without wheel hop, you're probably safe with a modded OEM rear end up to about 500-550-ish HP. After that, most rear end failures result in broken spider gears within the posi-unit or probably more so broken teeth on the ring and pinion. Coincidently, most of R&P failures that I've seen on here have been with the early Richmond gears, but much of that could be attributed to faulty gear installations.

Chris82xx · 12-12-2012, 10:21 PM

So for someone like myself, it would be more cost efficient to just buy a new rear end. With the upcoming upgrades, I'll be put close to if not over 800rwhp, but this is going to be a street car, I probably won't launch it too often.

Supercharged SS · 12-12-2012, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris82xx

So for someone like myself, it would be more cost efficient to just buy a new rear end. With the upcoming upgrades, I'll be put close to if not over 800rwhp, but this is going to be a street car, I probably won't launch it too often.

Chris, is your car an A6 or M6?

Chris82xx · 12-12-2012, 10:29 PM

M6

Chris82xx · 12-12-2012, 10:30 PM

As naive as this sounds, I do all this to the car just to do it as a hobby and show off. You don't see many convertibles like this so I figured, what the hell.

12-12-2012, 09:06 AM	#1
SGNL99 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS CGM Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 50	Differential Main Caps I am looking at doing a swap to the 3.91 1le gears. My question is about upgrading the main caps to the billet ones. Is it worth the extra $200 for a DD? I'm putting down 415 now with the JRE package and my ultimate goal for the car is to go to 470 with Ted's rough idle blower cam. Are the stock main caps good for ~500 hp or are the billet caps worth the extra insurance? Thanks. __________________ CAI Black Intake w/ Apex scoop & ww bottle kit; VMAX throttle body; Borla S-type Cat back exhaust; Skip shift eliminator; Elite Engineering catch can; MGW short throw shifter; Stainless Works LT Headers w/ Hi-Flow cats and one awesome JRE TUNE! BMR stage 2 suspension; 3.91 gears

12-12-2012, 09:29 AM	#2
blazzin1 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS R6P Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: St. Cloud, FL Posts: 4,845 View My Garage	Better to have them and not need them..... Rather than wishing you would have installed them while looking at your newly "shredded" gears!!!! Cheap Insurance in my opinion!!! These are the JRE caps going in along with my 3.91's & Truetrac. Attached Images

12-12-2012, 04:06 PM	#4
blazzin1 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS R6P Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: St. Cloud, FL Posts: 4,845 View My Garage	These are the "stockers". Kinda hard to compare when they are not in the same picture, but the JRE caps are significantly thicker in all areas. You can also tell a big difference in the quality compared to the "cast" aluminum stock pieces. Attached Images

12-12-2012, 04:49 PM	#5
SGNL99 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS CGM Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 50	Thanks for the replies. I'm guessing the aftermarket diff support plate is another "must"? __________________ CAI Black Intake w/ Apex scoop & ww bottle kit; VMAX throttle body; Borla S-type Cat back exhaust; Skip shift eliminator; Elite Engineering catch can; MGW short throw shifter; Stainless Works LT Headers w/ Hi-Flow cats and one awesome JRE TUNE! BMR stage 2 suspension; 3.91 gears

12-12-2012, 05:55 PM	#8
SGNL99 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS CGM Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 50	My bad, yes the support cover. So the billet main caps will suffice with the stock cover? __________________ CAI Black Intake w/ Apex scoop & ww bottle kit; VMAX throttle body; Borla S-type Cat back exhaust; Skip shift eliminator; Elite Engineering catch can; MGW short throw shifter; Stainless Works LT Headers w/ Hi-Flow cats and one awesome JRE TUNE! BMR stage 2 suspension; 3.91 gears

12-12-2012, 05:11 PM	#6
SC2150 Account Suspended Drives: 2012 Camaro RS, RX supercharged Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 6,063	Make sure you machine the caps for proper fit when installing! Excellent mod.

12-12-2012, 06:19 PM	#9
Chris82xx Make your peace with God! Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS M6 Convertible Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dirty Jersey Posts: 1,595	So what is the added strength with caps, gears, axles, compared to a 9", or a ZL1? What is trashed when the rear blows? __________________ ECS base supercharger (NOVI 1500SL), ECS AlKY control kit, 92mm TB, ARH 1 7/8" LT's non-catted, Borla 3" exhaust, ID850 injectors, Squash fuel system, ECS Big Blower Cam, MGW short throw shifter, DSS 1000hp axles, LGW differential cover, billet caps, Tech AFX heater hoses, Pedders differential bushings, Eaton TrueTrac differential, PRC dual valve springs, Katech C5R timing chain, ATI balancer, Meilings oil pump, Pfadt Trailing Arms, Pfadt Tie Rods, Pfadt Sway Bars, Pfadt End Links, DSS Aluminum Driveshaft 811RWHP/719RWTQ UNDER MAJOR OVERHAUL!!

12-12-2012, 10:21 PM	#11
Chris82xx Make your peace with God! Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS M6 Convertible Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dirty Jersey Posts: 1,595	So for someone like myself, it would be more cost efficient to just buy a new rear end. With the upcoming upgrades, I'll be put close to if not over 800rwhp, but this is going to be a street car, I probably won't launch it too often. __________________ ECS base supercharger (NOVI 1500SL), ECS AlKY control kit, 92mm TB, ARH 1 7/8" LT's non-catted, Borla 3" exhaust, ID850 injectors, Squash fuel system, ECS Big Blower Cam, MGW short throw shifter, DSS 1000hp axles, LGW differential cover, billet caps, Tech AFX heater hoses, Pedders differential bushings, Eaton TrueTrac differential, PRC dual valve springs, Katech C5R timing chain, ATI balancer, Meilings oil pump, Pfadt Trailing Arms, Pfadt Tie Rods, Pfadt Sway Bars, Pfadt End Links, DSS Aluminum Driveshaft 811RWHP/719RWTQ UNDER MAJOR OVERHAUL!!

12-12-2012, 10:29 PM	#13
Chris82xx Make your peace with God! Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS M6 Convertible Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dirty Jersey Posts: 1,595	M6 __________________ ECS base supercharger (NOVI 1500SL), ECS AlKY control kit, 92mm TB, ARH 1 7/8" LT's non-catted, Borla 3" exhaust, ID850 injectors, Squash fuel system, ECS Big Blower Cam, MGW short throw shifter, DSS 1000hp axles, LGW differential cover, billet caps, Tech AFX heater hoses, Pedders differential bushings, Eaton TrueTrac differential, PRC dual valve springs, Katech C5R timing chain, ATI balancer, Meilings oil pump, Pfadt Trailing Arms, Pfadt Tie Rods, Pfadt Sway Bars, Pfadt End Links, DSS Aluminum Driveshaft 811RWHP/719RWTQ UNDER MAJOR OVERHAUL!!

12-12-2012, 10:30 PM	#14
Chris82xx Make your peace with God! Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS M6 Convertible Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dirty Jersey Posts: 1,595	As naive as this sounds, I do all this to the car just to do it as a hobby and show off. You don't see many convertibles like this so I figured, what the hell. __________________ ECS base supercharger (NOVI 1500SL), ECS AlKY control kit, 92mm TB, ARH 1 7/8" LT's non-catted, Borla 3" exhaust, ID850 injectors, Squash fuel system, ECS Big Blower Cam, MGW short throw shifter, DSS 1000hp axles, LGW differential cover, billet caps, Tech AFX heater hoses, Pedders differential bushings, Eaton TrueTrac differential, PRC dual valve springs, Katech C5R timing chain, ATI balancer, Meilings oil pump, Pfadt Trailing Arms, Pfadt Tie Rods, Pfadt Sway Bars, Pfadt End Links, DSS Aluminum Driveshaft 811RWHP/719RWTQ UNDER MAJOR OVERHAUL!!