There have been a few Challenge cars using S10 rear ends(I think) and the 2wd version is the right length to go under my Challenge candidate. How much power/torque will one take? I know the interwebs say to find a unit from the 2wd,manual transmission, 4.3 V6 truck but they weren't plentiful. I'm thinking of having something less than 300 HP/torques.
It should take 300 without too much trouble. Sticky tires, hard launches and hard/fast shifting will eventually take its toll on the rear. It's the same rear (internal parts) as the 4th gen Camaro/Firebirds use and they hold up okay.
4th generation V8 F-bodies, or the V6 versions ?
Same rear end, V6 or V8. Only difference was 93-97 V6 cars had drum brakes while V8 cars had discs. 98-02 all were disc brakes.
the standard upgrade for s10's is a ford explorer 8.8"... lots of options for gear ratios and factory LSD... seems the s10's don't last for some people and for others they never have an issue after many many passes with a v8... go figure
The S10 has the advantage of being less than an inch longer than the stock axle in my Corolla. Most other axles will need to be narrowed.
Is the third Gen F-body is 62" flange to flange. Is that the same? The 4th gen cars are 4" wider.
up to 1989 had 26 spline axles, 28 spline from that point on.
Are you using leaf springs or coils? 4X4 S-10 will yield a better gear and posi to swap into your 2wd housing.
Watch for RPO G80 to score a posi. 3.42 and 3.73 are common in the small SUV's. Bravadas and higher trim level Jimmys with AWD vs. 4WD
some 4X4 S trucks (and the S10 Extreme, i think) got the beefier 8.5 rear end, but any of the 90ish and newer 7.5 rears will handle 300hp in a light car without complaint due to a few upgrades... maybe put new bearings in it, and a mini spool if you don't mind not having a differential.
The only common breaking point that I recall on those is the spider gears, and the failure usually occurred during prolonged one-wheel-peel burnout sessions.
In reply to Gearheadotaku:
Jeff, I plan on using the leaf spring set-up that's in the car now. 2wd S10s are supposedly 54.5 inches between wheel mounting surfaces,4wd are wider. If everything after the early 90s is the same at 28 spline then getting a posi and the narrow width would be good way to do it. Do you know if GM axles would be relatively easy to drill for a new 4x4.5" bolt circle? I wouldn't have to factor wheels into the budget that way.
In reply to novaderrik:
Both the Extreme and the 4WD trucks use a wider axle that I'm hoping to avoid butthe upgraded 7.5 is starting to sound like the ticket.
Here is an article on turning an 8.8 Mustang rear end into a S-10 rear.
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/1410_how_to_build_a_gm_12_bolt_version_88_ford_for_any_leaf_spring_car/
In reply to 81cpcamaro:
Now, ain't that clever. May be beyond my skill level to do it at home, but clever nonetheless.
any 2wd s10 rear is going to do what you want it to do in your light car with 300 or less hp, regardless of year.
Agreed, just need any rear end with the limited slip and I'll be good.
novaderrik wrote: some 4X4 S trucks (and the S10 Extreme, i think) got the beefier 8.5 rear end, but any of the 90ish and newer 7.5 rears will handle 300hp in a light car without complaint due to a few upgrades... maybe put new bearings in it, and a mini spool if you don't mind not having a differential.
The xtreme never got the axle you speak of, only 4wd. It is however the standard upgrade for when we grew tired of shredding the 7.625 rear end in the late 2wd trucks....
I shredded 5 7.625 rear ends over 150k miles with a pair of s10's....they're weak and DO NOT like dragstrip launches
I recall driving about 2 hours south to pick up a specific 8.5 S10 rear to replace the 7.625 when we put the LQ9/T-56 setup in my S10. I thought I remembered it being out of a V-6 ZQ8 (sport suspension) with a manual, but it has been awhile since I had to think of it. That was definitely a stout enough rear-end to handle 300HP.
I used an Explorer disc brake, LSD, 8.8 in my challenge S10
In reply to CobraSpdRH:
Possible it had already been swapped....because both my trucks had the zq8 sport suspension and were both 7.625's
We have a couple of stock car classes here that run the GM metric chassis, with the 7.5/7.625" diff. They actually last reasonably well, in a Monte Carlo chassis, with a 300hp crate motor. Downside to them is heat in that application- They get pretty smoky after 100 laps on a 1/3 mile oval.
This link if it works will tell you just about everything you want to know about S-10 rear ends. It give dimensions, options for swaping bearings, races, etc. It also gives information about installing a zexel torson limited slip which I did. I found this article while looking for information about the limited slip installation. Hope it helps! http://dave.h-body.org/Build%20a%20Better%2010-bolt%20H-body%20Rear%20End.htm
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