Hello,

You guys have been very helpful with my FWB upgrades. I have a couple of questions:

I am planning on changing the rear end gearing to 3:42 and adding posi. Does anyone have a trusted source from which to buy a kit from? I have looked at Randy's and Reider racing so far?

Who has had success with this and where did you order from? Also how much should I expect to pay? Seems like $700 is about what I've been getting quoted.

Thanks for your continued help!

David

Mods so far:
K&N FIPK, 1LE Elbow
Hotchkiss Sway Bars
Cat Back Exhaust

I have heard (no experience iwith) that non GM gears are noisier than aftermarket gears.

And that have GM or a dealer setup the gears is always the best. Randy's insists that setting up the gears oneself is no problem. Someday I might. I don't have posi yet, but have factory 3.42's.....

I had an Eaton (400#clutch) and 3.42s installed in my 95fwb, the gears were packaged in a Yukon Gear box. I bought it in a group purchase from a vendor on the impala forum, I forget which one now, the guys in cali. $700 sounds about right. Good gears are important, crappy gears will make more noise and be more difficult to shim or may never shim properly.

The Yukon gears, which I believe the vendor said were from American Gear, again to my best recollection. Well, the gears do make some whining noise, not alot, but I imagine this is normal. His name, the installer, Tom Moon at Moonlight Garage in Long Island NEw York is reputable, very reputable. He does all domestic musclecar big horsepower rearends for the dragstrip fellas. Which is why i say the whine is probably somewhat normal.

Allright, note of caution; when the installer disassembles your rear end, make sure he adjust the drum brakes properly upon reinstallation. Mine did not, I blew out a drum servo 300 miles from home and had to limp back on only the front brakes. I resolved that by installing the disc brake conversion from Bill Harper, also from the Impala forum.

Mileage is down to about 16-19 mpg, but I love the new launch.

Cheers and good luck

Hey, cool a Fleetwood owner in CHi-town!
Be sure to check out Welcome to the B.a.D. Bodies of Chicago Homepage (http://www.badbodies.com) - we have a message board also.

I added 3.73s and posi to my FW. I used a shop in Lake Villa (name: The Transmission SHop) because it was recommended to me by a Impala SS buddy of mine who had his gears done there. They did a great job and labor was cheapest I could find in our area, $250.

I try to everything as cheap as I possibly can, mostly out of sheer necessity -- but also because I like the added challenge: to make my car as fast as possible for as little as possible.
So I found my slightly used Impala SS posi & gears for $125 shiped to me from the B/D body community. Add in another $125-ish for a bearing install kit (outer axle bearings, seals, stuff) and my whole gear & posi swap was under $500. :) You have to shop around...

Supposedly there is a Chevy dealer in Palatine/Wheeling area (I think) that does labor for $250 also... that is just a rumor I heard though. Can't help other than that. But I do recommend the Transmission Shop in Lake Villa.

As for the gear install kit, posi, and gears you can get great deals and the appropriate parts for our vehicles (same as Impala/Caprice) at No Limits Motorsports - Sales / Group Purchases (http://www.nolimitsmotorsports.net/special_s___gp_s)
Great B/D body vendor for our community

Also, you do NOT need the ABS reluctor since the Fleewtood has 4-channel ABS. No reluctor in the housing.

I got my 3.73's and eaton posi along with everything needed to do the install from Clear Image Automotive :: The Clear Choice For Performance! (http://www.clearimageautomotive.com) It was like 700 or so shipped. I had a local guy that sets up race cars do my setup for 350. No problems no noise. Awesome upgrade by the way the car felt a 1,000 pounds lighter.

3.42 Eaton Posi It's a killer upgrade.

I am saving my pennies for a 3.73 w/Eaton posi :thumbsup:

Anyone ever use the G80 Truck posi in a car? This is the Eaton locking posi.

My old Suburban had one but it got replaced with an Auburn unit, and that rear got lunched and replaced with a 9.5", so I kept the Auburn for my Cad. Hopefully to go in soon!!

Didn't some of the 9C1 Caprice vehicles come with the G80?

It was an option. Only LT1 cars got 2.93's and L99 cars got 3.23's. So an L99 G80 would be a gem to find. Or a 1993 V4P with G80 is the ultimate gold mine.... 3.73s and G80 factory install....

It was an option. Only LT1 cars got 2.93's and L99 cars got 3.23's. So an L99 G80 would be a gem to find. Or a 1993 V4P with G80 is the ultimate gold mine.... 3.73s and G80 factory install....

My LT1 Caprice has a factory G80. This is the same differential that comes in the Impala SS (and all B-bodies, consequently). This is for a 8.5" 10 bolt rear end. My Fleetwood has a G80 plucked from an Impala.

The L99 Caprice had a smaller, weaker rear end. Don't know for sure, but I believe the differential from an LT1 car would not drop into the carrier for an L99 car rear (or vice versa).

Did they really keep the 7 5/8" rear end around for the L99? I have never seen one up close. I figured they would have killed it off..... The HT4100 RWD and 307 cars had it, but it seemed to dissappear with the 350 in place (at least in Fleetwoods/Devilles/Broughams RWD).

I have an Auburn to install soon, hope they are decent rear diffs....

Did they really keep the 7 5/8" rear end around for the L99?


Believe it or not, they did keep the smaller rear end for the L99 cars. Not only did the base model Caprice get the dubious honor of being the ONLY car ever to get the L99 engine (when the LT1 was standard in the FW, IMpala, RM, wagons, etc), but it was also the only B-body to get a smaller rear end.

To make it even more confusing, the 9C1 L99 Caprice had this same small rear end -- with disc brakes. This car has the 3.23s IIRC.
The L99 base model (aka, civilian car) had drum brakes and the smaller rear. I think 2.56 or 2.73 gears were standard here?

I don't understand why it wouldn't have been cheaper for GM to just stick an LT1 with 8.5" rear in ALL Caprices alike... I guess it was from a sales standpoint.

Less friction, a feeble attempt at better fuel economy?

Thanks guys. I appreciate the input. I ordered Eaton Rear with GM OEM 3:42s. That should wake her up. Now to the exhaust....


Best,

David