New Rear, ..now what??

[madmax2099]

I just recently purchased a z28 rear axle with posi traction and 3.42 gears from speedautomotive. I was woundering if it is a good idea to do the trans shift improver after I install the rear or before I install it?? Plus I was woundering about all these discussions about .500 boost value? and a vette servo, Jet ECU..etc. I was woundering is it really worth getting all that? Or just get the Transgo shift improver and thats it?? Like I wanted to know what were the steps in putting all that in?

Another question is Jegs is selling the shift improver from B&M for only $40.00 and it is the "real" kit I guess that everyone is talking about. It looks just like the Transgo one so why is Transgo much more expensive? Is there any differences?

[cb1101]

Summit has the B&M for $25 I think...I love my shift kit, nothing but good things has come out of it. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[madmax2099]

Ok I had a few complications when installing my the z28 rear end. I have a 96 Camaro Open Differential with the drum brakes, and I am tring to put in a 96 Camaro Z28 rear end to replace the one I have now. So far the mechanic told me that I need to change the master cylinder and brake lines?? Has anyone in the NYC area do a Z28 rear end swap on their V6's?? And was their any issues with the drum to rotor conversion?? I am swaping same year rears, so please let me know.
Also if anyone can recommend me to a expert mechanic in the NYC that can do this job for me and has experienced this that would be great.

[madmax2099]

Pleasssee can any one help me out??

[hockeyman]

I have a 96 3.8 Camaro, and I installed a rear from a 97 Trans Am. There were NO compatibility problems with anything other than replacing the Emergency Brake Cables.
The stock brake lines and stock Master Cylinder from my car work great with the new rear. If you still have any doubts, I'll sell you a Master Cylinder I have in my Garage from a 2000 SS Camaro all wheel disk, but your's will work fine (I am selling the Master Cylinder in the Classified section). Sounds like your mechanic needs to be replaced! You should attempt this yourself if you have the time and tools, it really isn't that hard of a swap and there are NUMEROUS topics on this too, just do a search.
Any questions, please email me at pomarco331b@aol.com or marc5947@aol.com, I have done rearend swaps on 5 different f-body's so far from 2nd gen to 4th gen.

-Marc

[ March 06, 2003: Message edited by: hockeyman ]</p>

[cb1101]

im in rockland county and can refer you to a mechanic..he just did mine.

However..he did mention that the conversion from drums to disc brakes were not working as he planned so he left my axles and just swapped the gears and the posi unit into my car from the t/a....if you want I can give you his information and you can talk to him if you want to make that move.

He did a really good job on my rear and very reliable [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[madmax2099]

Ok well thanks for your info guys, I finally got the rear end put in. I went to this guy I know in Queens NY and he knew exactly what he was talking about when I took my car there. It didn't take very long for him to do it either. The car runs great! Two wheel burn out! I love it. The price for the install came out to be $400 with the brake pads put in as well. There is just one thing I noticed and that is my E-Brake cable is really really tight.. I have to pull really hard on it to make the car stop. I feel like I am going to break it or something.. I might need to check that out when it get a little warmer.

[AZ3.8Camaro]

I have heard to make the brakes work better, it would be wise (but not necissary) to get a proportioning valve from the same car you go the brakes from. That way it send the right amount of power to the right brakes.
Just my $0.02

[dstrbd1]

now that you got the rear in, open up the diff and count the teeth on your gears. i ordered a 3.42 rear end from the same place and wound up with 4.10's.

[madmax2099]

Ok here is some more info on the installation of my rear end. I looked up the master cylinder from a 3.8L 96 Camaro and a 5.7 z28 camaro which is from where I got my rear axle from, and the master cylinder and proportion values are the same in both years. I was worried that my rear brakes wasn't appling the right amount of pressure to the brakes in the rear. I pulled on my e-brake and while the car was moving and it stopped fine. I will be putting on my cross drilled and slotted Rotors which i got from ebay tomorrow. Set of 4 for only $200!! from Irotor. I think they are still selling some more on ebay now. I will check out my rear end one of these days to find out if it really is 3.42 gears but how can you tell by just looking at them??

[madmax2099]

Yup I checked it out and I definately have 3.42 gears! Also another thing I noticed is that I still haven't recalebrated my speedo, so judging by my speedomitor I was doing 100 but it didn't feel like it at all. I know I was going a lot slower, because I know how 100mph feels like.

Also I went down to the NJ area exit 11 off the NJ Turnpike. I talked to some guys at this performance shop there and they said it is possible to put in any turbo on our cars especially since we have a lot of room under the hood. Once I start saving my $$$ I will take my car to them so that they can design me one, and install it. They said just by looking at my engine that it is possible to have at least 320 Horsepower at the wheels! Maybe more if you start to tweek it. My friend just put in his Nissan Maxima for a custom turbo, I will post this custom job after he gets his car back from them, which might be in a week.