SuprJames

Any chance of my '82's rear end not breaking if I run slicks? I'm running 3.45 gears and have 305 RWHP/380 ft. lb. I've run a 1.77 60', but I really have to ease on the throttle to not spin the tires. My best 1/4 is 12.74, and I think I can probably get a 12.5 on these tires. I'd really like to try slicks though.

DJ Dep

Not likely. You are running an auto. U-joints are actually more fragile than the rear end. Again...you shouldn't have to worry with an auto for u-joints or rear end.

Dep

turtlevette

you run a 1.77 on street tires. holy moley.

Glensgages

I can only offer this story.....

when I had the 2.87s in my '82 swapped-over to 3.73s in October of '03, the guy who performed the gear-swap, and who's set-up gears for my 10-bolt and 12-bolt rear-ends in my 12-second Z28, as-well-as many other strip-only cars (even a few 8-9 second cars) in the area, said:
" DON'T even think about putting the stickie-street tires (before I got a truck and trailer, I drove the Z28 to the strip and raced-on McCreary ROAD-STAR tires, running low-13s) you used to run on your Z28 on this Corvette with that rear-end:
that is the wimpiest rear-end I've ever seen on a Corvette!!!!! "


Seeing as he personally had a Nova running 10-sixties on street tires, and knows his stuff about rear-gears AND C2/C3 Corvettes, I follow his advice, althou other Forum-members have had success with the '80-'82 rear-end.....

SuprJames

That seems to be the reaction of everyone. I did it my second trip to the drags ever and I didn't know that was good until I posted it on the net.

Thanks for the heads-up on the u-joints. I'm blaming you if the rear end breaks.

Have any names?

Twin_Turbo

I broke mine without slicks, full throttle from a stop, uphill and the entire side of the pinion area broke away.

Grinchia

...and so now you have another late model aluminum-case rearend in your twin-turbo project????

TT, you gotta get that thing outta there before you take your first ride!!

Twin_Turbo

Temporarily until I find a C4 D44 ... I broke it when the car still drove (about 5 years ago LOL), I got another one to get it back on the road. I will take it easy on the diff, w/ my 31x16.5x16 tires I will break it immediately otherwise.

WOEII

MotorHead

With everything in good condition these rear ends and other components are a lot stronger than you think, I regularly put over 400RWHP and 400RWT thru mine and it holds up. I don't dump the clutch at a dead stop but spinning the 295's at 50mph has gotta be putting alot of strain on the parts back there

TT I'm betting the stuff you broke was original 30 year old parts. I mean somone posted a little while ago they blew there ( pre '80 supposed to be stronger ) rear end in an unmodified 74 ( read 195HP ) .

Talk to vettedrms he is running drag radials I think and high 11's and hasn't lost too many parts.

Anyway all that said I still wouldn't run slicks even on a bet.

gr8whte

Twin_Turbo

WTH is that little guy doing?

DJ Dep

Biting his nails worrying about his flimsy IRS exploding.

Dep

Steve's74

Chewing on his fingernails in fear maybe?

rihwoods

Waiting anticipating TT project completion......

SuprJames

Poor guy is going to chew his arms off.

Glensgages

Naw, sorry..... I probably SHOULD have kept-track of who those lucky-souls were:
when the time comes for MY car to run at the strip seriously, I'm going straight to a Ford 9".....

Wish I could be of more help.....

Twin_Turbo

Monty's 82 diff lived behind his 1200HP combo, don't know how many miles he put on it, don't think it saw hard launches but still.

turtlevette

he posted a video where he did a hot lap around his neighborhood. Thats all we ever saw or head of it.

I expect a lot more out of you. I know you will deliver.

MEGALADON

Is that video still around???