Quote:
Originally Posted by Q-ship
You do know that there are more than one GM 10 bolt, the one in the 3rd and 4th gen F-body was the 7.5 (the glass jaw of the 10 bolts). The G-body used the 7.5 but the GN's got the good 8.5 that is the same rear axle used in 1/2 ton trucks. Then there was the 10 bolt from the early years 64 - 71 Camaro and Chevelle that are OK but not as strong as the 12 bolt. Do not compare the weak a$$ POS that was in your 93 as any indication of the strenght of all 10 bolts. The 12 bolt is every bit as strong as the 9" in most ways, the 9" is a bit easier to modify into many applications (sheet metal housing that is weaker) and gear changes are easier to do if you have complete center sections. The 12 has some stronger things than a 9" like larger pinion gear and bearings, the ring gear is only 1/8" smaller than the 9" and it is requires less HP to drive. As a complete rear axle the 12 bolt is lighter than the 9" even though the housing in actually stronger (sheet metal housing requires braces to keep from distoring), the weakness of the 12 is the axles and the c-clips. To put it in prespective, DeFranks used not a 9" or a Dana 60 in his Hemi AA/SS Baracuda....any guess what was in them? Thats right the 12 bolt GM.
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Obviously the rears were all 10bolt Fbody units. And two failed due to carrier deflection. The basic 3 bearing design of the Ford 9" is unbeatable, a 12 bolt is basically and overgrown 10 bolt. I would drop $1500 for a Ford 9" center section, Strange torque-line posi and a set of 4:11 gears in a heartbeat.