What's a good price, complete rear end, posi

[myyamr7]

I'm looking for a posi rear end for my truck, with 3.73 gears. I've found a few and the prices sure range a lot. I'm just trying to get an idea what people have paid for them in the past, or what they feel they are worth. There's one local and the guy is asking $800 for it, seems a bit high to me, but really have no idea, It's factory, never been rebuilt, so I'm guessing I'd have to freshen the unit up and replace bearings and seals at an added cost.
Any ideas?
Thanks

['68OrangeSunshine]

Really, that's not a bad price, considering it would take about $1000 to rebuild one.
A surplus outfit www.Colemans.com has 10 bolt GM axles, new on a pallet, for $600 thereabouts, but they are 3.08 with GovLoc limited slip. I have heard people say the Gov-Loc is a bomb and can frag on you. These axles are for the Squarebody trucks anyway.

[Already Gone]

In Sept 2012 I bought a redone 12 bolt posi with 3:08's and new wheel cylinders, brake shoes and good smooth original drums and painted with a chrome cover. The seller was wanting 650.00 and I ended up with it for 400.00.

I say the seller is asking way to much at 800.00 for an original. If you can be patient and keep looking I'm sure you will find a beter deal. Put a wanted to buy ad on the parts board.

[TJ's Chevy]

I could buy a whole truck for that much.

[kelsfine69]

I would buy one from a wrecker and your gonna rebuild it anyway so put the money into new parts(auburn posi, gears, etc) Rather than trying to find one already done.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by already gone

i say the seller is asking way to much at 800.00 for an original. If you can be patient and keep looking i'm sure you will find a beter deal. Put a wanted to buy ad on the parts board.

x2.

[too much stuff]

I assume it is for a 1/2 ton? If so, the 5 lug coil springs bring about $400 around here. The 6 lugs with leafs bring around $300.
$800 is way high...

[long'n low]

I bought a 3.73 ring gear and eaton posi for 450 on ebay with shipping. payed a garage 200 and change to rebuild my old rear end. Total was about $700. so 800 is a bit high unless it has been rebuilt.

[myyamr7]

Thanks for the reply's so far. I figured it was high, at the same time, I hardly ever see them come up for sale around here. Just with phone conversation, I got him down to 500, I'm sure if I show up with green, I can do better. I'd buy it for 400 if he came down that low.
Next question, his is a 6 lug, the rear end is a '69, and mine is a 5 lug, I'm assuming the axles are the same and I can put my 5 lug axles in?

[zeldman]

I have put 6 lug axles in place of 5 lug axles, just have to pull and count splines. I understand not all years interchange. Last 6 lug 3:73 posi I bought was 10 years ago and I paid $300.00 and still replaced all bearings and seals.

[leddzepp]

Nope, different lengths. 71-up is a wider housing.

[nds1968]

69 rear end may be a narrow rear end compared to your 71 5 lug so the axles may not be a direct swap. I ended up buying everything new for my rear end, I'll have around $800 into it after I pay a guy to help me put it back together. Nate

[myyamr7]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Nope, different lengths. 71-up is a wider housing.

Thanks for the info.
At this point, is it worth trying to beat the guy up more and just try to buy the center section and pinion gear? If i have to buy new bearings anyways to rebuild it, I'd have to re-set the pinion again I'm guessing?

[leddzepp]

You might want to look at it anyways, just to confirm it IS from a 69 for sure. About mid 70, GM went to the wider rear end, and your 5 lug axles would fit. You can also buy 5 lug axles aftermarket that will fit the narrower housing. I believe they are reasonably priced on eBay.

I would swap out axles as it is easy. Swapping the center out you will have to mess with the ring and pinion and I would avoid that.

[myyamr7]

Thanks again for the reply.
Is there a casting number the guy can give me to confirm the year? While it is local, it's still a 250 mile round trip drive for me to check.

[leddzepp]

This might help: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=527423

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Really, that's not a bad price, considering it would take about $1000 to rebuild one.
.

DTS has the following:
3.73:1 ring and pinion--$191.00
Eaton posi-traction carrier--$419.69
Full install kit--102.48

so, if you set up the new innards you keep your housing and get a new Diff for $713.00. Plus you avoid all of the problems that put a used rear end up for sale in the first place. What could be better?

[67ChevyRedneck]

You don't want the narrower rear end. They're 1.5" narrower, which doesn't sound like much until you want your back tires to fit the wheel wells and not looked sucked in. You can run spacers if you would like. I'd do what is suggested above, even at 4-500 for that axle, the posi is likely worn and would need to be rebuilt anyway, so just build yours like you want it.

[WIDESIDE72]

Captain Obvious here. Ask the seller to throw a tape measure on it an give you the measurement. If its a 6 lug it will be narrower than a 5 lug. As mentioned above i wouldnt bother with the conversion axles as the rear will give you headaches when selecting wheels

Imo, shop around for the gear ratio you want and a posi and find someone to set it up for you. You will be happier than using an unknown used rear that may have bad axles, bearings, slipping posi that whines going down the road.

[Dan Wales]

Settin up a rear end even with all new parts looks and sounds real easy, when you see someone do it with the right tools and experience.

I recal way back 66'ish I did one in my friends 64 Impala hardtop ( and I have only done a few since I have avoided the hassle and smell ).

Our first trip back down Speedway Blvd in Tucson AZ, every dog in town was howling.

Question was were we going to make it back to base before it seized. LOL

Boy did I ever get some first hand butt kickin quick.

Dan

['68OrangeSunshine]

Xx

[cool68]

never "assume" anything with swapping parts in rearends, and other stuff. what trans are you running that needs 3:73? what engine running that needs positraction?

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Dan Wales

Settin up a rear end even with all new parts looks and sounds real easy, when you see someone do it with the right tools and experience.

I recal way back 66'ish I did one in my friends 64 Impala hardtop ( and I have only done a few since I have avoided the hassle and smell ).

Our first trip back down Speedway Blvd in Tucson AZ, every dog in town was howling.

Question was were we going to make it back to base before it seized. LOL

Boy did I ever get some first hand butt kickin quick.

Dan

There are 9 moving parts in a rear end. A pinion gear, pinion bearing, two carrier bearings, two axles, and ring gear bolted to the center carrier. Set pinion depth, set backlash. That's it. Guess it's hard if you can't read the overhaul manual and you can't use a dial indicator.

[Dan Wales]

Thanks for the smart azz remark Fitz. I admit caught me off guard.

Didn't have a manual, he didn't have any money and we found what we thought were the right parts in a junk yard.

Not to be concerned Fitz, I've done okay since.

Dan

[LONGHAIR]

There is a whole lot more to it than most people think...reading the manual sounds easy, but most guys run out of patience before it is perfect. Pressing the bearings off-on, more than once gets old, especially if something slips and you ruin one.
I have rebuilt quite a few that the owner "tried" to do himself, all because they got it "close" ....and close is not good enough. If you run it "close", it is destroyed, and you start over from square one.
Pay a professional, get a warranty......priceless