rear end upgrade 1969

[KERR]

Hello guys,

I want / need to upgrade my rear end.  Its currently a 10 bolt and some one down the line has swapped some of the suspension.   Im not sure where to even start unless i just take everything off and start with nothing. 

Ill get some photos so you can see what im attempting to type out lol.. 

I have the rear axle,  it has one leaf attached to it on each side. 
then it has big traction bars.  the traction bar on the passanger side is bent inward.  Im not sure if it can be made straight again or not.   
At any rate the traction bar is bent, so when it rotates upward to hit the leaf spring it missing it, which causes the car not to go straight even thought at its current state it doesnt have enough power to be a big problem lol.   

It also has air shocks, and sets of sub frame connectors. 

What i would like to do is swap to a stronger rear end that live with a bunch of abuse.   Ive looked on e bay and other web pages but they all offer differnt lengths,  some say they are out of other cars and can be interchanged and some cant.   
then in the local paper there is a ad for a few 12 bolt rear ends out of different letter body cars.  So which letter cars work on the camaro?   

[ko-lek-tor]

The only 12 bolt that is a bolt in fit are the housings made for 1967-9 Camaros and 1968-71 Novas. You need to research on your own this topic on this site and there is plenty to read because having told you which housings fit, those housings, at least most, will have multi leaf perches so you would need different perches or adapters or different springs. Having said that, I only would pursue that type rear if I was a purist for original equipment(which I am). A 9 inch ford and Dana 60 have always been regarded as stronger units and preferable. If 12 bolt is your pick, then I feel a cheaper route would be to get an 67-72 A body (Chevelle,Cutlass,LeMans,GS Buick) coil spring which are much more plentiful thus cheaper and weld the leaf perches on. They are a little wider, but wheels are available with many offsets nowadays. I would keep the mono (single) leaf springs as most serious drag only cars ran these. Good Luck...Oh, and the traction bar? If it is metal, it can be straightened,and I will add-cut,drilled,welded,altered and re-fabricated. Would like to have a pic first to see for myself how to proceed, but guessing an arbor press and a rosebud torch will take care of this. Air shocks...scrap 'em. Those A body rears came in a lot of 6 cylinder cars believe it or not. I got one out of a Canadian 69 Buick Special 2-door post I scrapped if you can't find one.

[hotrod68]

  Moser sells a brand-new 12-bolt that is a drop-in. You can order it with any spring perches you want, almost any gear ratio and with C-clip eliminators. They're stronger than the original 12-bolts and come with positraction. Downside is they're rather pricey. As for traction bars, Competition Engineering sells an excellent set with J-bolts and the snubber contacts the front spring eye. They eliminate any wheel hop and actually help plant the rear tires on launch. Rick's Camaros sells rebuilt original 12-bolts, too. Hope this helps and good luck!

[KERR]

Thanks guys,

Ive been looking on line at all the different option.   I think from a time stand point and not much more money just ordering one from a online place is the way to go.. 

[zman1969]

I wouldnt bother with 12 bolt(unless your restoring it to be original) the 72-79 Nova 8.5 10 bolts or big 10 are near as strong as 12 bolt and alot easier to find and alot cheaper

[BULLITT65]

 

I wouldnt bother with 12 bolt(unless your restoring it to be original) the 72-79 Nova 8.5 10 bolts or big 10 are near as strong as 12 bolt and alot easier to find and alot cheaper

That would be my question as well: What are your intentions for the car? How about just re-doing the suspension so it works correctly?

[Stingr69]

I would beef up the 10-bolt and beat the crap out of it before I would try to put a 12 bolt or something else in there.   Save the money and headaches and just fix what you have now.  JMO

-Mark.

[bcmiller]

Let's see some pics of what you have first.

I would lead you away from a 12 bolt from an A body car.  The Chevelles had the Chevy type 12 bolt but most of the Buick, Olds, Pontiac "sister" cars to the Chevelle like the GTO got the BOP 12 bolt - and that is not what you want.  They also had the "ears" on the top of the center section.  Not ideal for a 69 Camaro since these are not leaf spring cars.

The 8.5 inch 10 bolt Corporate rear from the 72-75 Novas (and I believe the V8 76-79 Novas) or the other "sister" cars to the Nova (Pontiac Ventura, Olds Omega, Buick Apollo) would be a good choice.  This is a direct bolt in, as mentioned earlier.  Just make sure it is the 8.5 and not the 7.5 rear.

This is interesting reading and for the most part pretty accurate.  http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/48518_posi_10_bolt_upgrade_install/
But NO NOT use the ratchet type posi from a pickup - it will break.

But again - let's see what you have first. If you are not putting down a lot of power, an 8.2 rear may be fine for your needs.

[hotrod68]

  If you can find one, a '69 Firebird 8.2 is stronger than the Camaro 8.2. It's a bolt-in except for a bastard U-joint you can get at any auto parts store. I ran one of these in my '68 years ago and it lived with a healthy 406. Just a thought and good luck.

[tom]

How would I identify the 8.5 10 bolt at say a swap meet? Are they also stamped on the axle (like the 69's) with ratio & posi codes ?

[bcmiller]

Tom

See this link.

http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36301

[tom]

Thanks!

[69CamaroConv]

8.5 10 bolt is the best for your money but doesnt everyone want to say they have a 12 bolt lol? A 67 camaro 12 bolt rear will be set up for monoleaf and bolt in perfect. I switched my 10 bolt mono to 12 bolt multi. Very easy to do.  I wouldnt use a chevelle its wrong length too much hassle. Only camaro/nova are direct bolt in not firebirds as some people say. BOP may have 12 bolts on the cover but 10 bolt internals so be careful.

[KurtS]

You never mention auto or manual. The original 10 bolt will live behind quite a bit of power if it's auto - less impact shock.