10-bolt question

**K_garretson23** · 06-30-2011, 12:41 PM

I have stock 10bolt on my 02 m6 ws6. I plan to do a h/c swap in the future not anytime soon though. Right now my best track time with bolt ons is 13.37 at 108mph. I know that the majority rule is dont waste money on the 10bolt but right now money wise a 12bolt or 9inch isnt in the cards. I dont race much just weekend street nights. Would upgrading gears be a complete waste or for what i'm looking for be a good investment. Like said im not building a 9 second car just looking for quicker times. This is my daily driver during the summer aswell. That being said question is would going to 3.73s or maybe even 4.10s be worth it? When i do my h/c swap down the line would the 10bolt live long enough to get a 12bolt? most im looking for is like 430rwhp.

sorry if its tl;dr

**Mike0202** · 06-30-2011, 12:50 PM

You could build the motor first and drive it easy. Its tough to answer your question because I know kids who have broken 10 bolts fairly easy, and others who burn out all the time and nothing ever breaks

**K_garretson23** · 06-30-2011, 12:58 PM

Im asking because everynight at the track people tell me with gears they'll run 12s all day. Considering gears are considerably less exspensive than a h/c swap i figured why not but im not about wasting money either lol. Engine build is future plans gotta save up for that just lookin for less exspensive things to make me quicker for now.

**Zinergy** · 06-30-2011, 01:47 PM

There is no timeframe we can give you on how long it will last. Howling is a good sign that its on its way out. But like Mike said, people break 10 bolts launching on stock power and gears with sticky tires and there are people who have dozens of track passes with cammed, geared cars on sticky tires and there 10 bolt is still going.

ITS A GAMBLE every time you race your car hard. Which is what you do if you want some good track times.

**Too Fast** · 06-30-2011, 01:53 PM

Most people who do the 4.10 swap LOVE it! I say go for it. I have a girdle on my diff, and I welded the axle tubes to the center section. 101k miles now, and no issue with the diff. Some have lasted into the 11s with the stock diff and drag radials, others have blown up on stock power, especially with M6. I'm mostly satisified with my MPH in the 1/4, (107-109.85), but I'd like to hit the 12s consistently, something I can't do without a good sub 2.0 60 ft. But, like you, I don't have the extra ~3k for a 12 bolt.

My car is a DD also, except in the winter. You already have LTs/ORY? That helps, a lot in my case. Bonus was the highway MPG went up 1.5.

**White99ta** · 06-30-2011, 08:14 PM

If its a auto then id go 373 if a stick then I'd go 410. Like they said some tears last. I had 410s in a 10 bolt in my camaro (m6) and got 2 runs spinning a little at hitting 12.10 and 12.09 then the 3rd pass I got traction and the rear blew and the drive shaft came through the floor and cracked the tail housing. The same car with a diff 10 bolt with 342s launched at same rpms on slicks and its fine. It sucks playing the guessin game when your about to launch. You can find a comet 12 bolt with your choice of gears for around 2500 which sucks especially when you barely make money anyway( I'm a marine, I don't make shit) .

**35th-ANV-SS** · 06-30-2011, 08:53 PM

He says M6 in his original post.

If you break your 10 bolt, you can get a used one for $150-$300...just sayin.

**Mike0202** · 07-01-2011, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by 35th-ANV-SS

He says M6 in his original post.

If you break your 10 bolt, you can get a used one for $150-$300...just sayin.

Good point.

**Durango** · 07-01-2011, 07:45 AM

You will not find them down here and when you do they are $600 bucks and ususally no good they need rebuilding anyway :-(

**Sickls1** · 07-01-2011, 07:48 AM

I have a 10 bolt in my M6 TA, and i have a MS4 cam, LT headers, 373 gears, and my 10 bolt has held on. On the other hand my buddy has a TA with just LT headers and 373 gears and he blew his 10 bolt on the first pass. So i guess it is just a guessing game when it comes to 10 bolts.

**Firebirdjones** · 07-01-2011, 08:24 AM

I personally don't bother sticking money in the 10 bolts. They are just 7.5 inchers, not really meant for performance.

You can do it if you wish, but you'll be on borrowed time. Then there is always the issue of,,,"well now my gears whine, they were quiet before" syndrome. It's up to you.
Gears will definately make the car quicker and it'll pick up your mph at the track as well. I personally don't want the gain in ET and MPH by sacraficing the rearend and creating more headaches than I need.

Like mentioned, you could always buy a couple of spare 10 bolts to keep around, but even that's a crap shoot. You don't know what you are getting for certain. In my opinion they aren't worth more than $100 a pop, they are just door stops. I had at least 4 of them when I moved out here, and couldn't give them away, I tossed them in a dumpster.

**35th-ANV-SS** · 07-01-2011, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by Durango

You will not find them down here and when you do they are $600 bucks and ususally no good they need rebuilding anyway :-(

Sucks to live in Canada

Here they can be had for cheap. You can get a fully rebuilt one for $600 from a junkyard.

Not saying to go this route by any means, but if the OP breaks his and is in a pinch, they are sold for around $200 all day long on plenty of car sites.

**Knight** · 07-01-2011, 09:51 AM

I'd say if you have the know how, and can install the gears properly, go ahead and throw some 4.10s in it. If you can't do it yourself, or know anybody who can, a shop will charge around $1k or so to do it. At that point, you'd be better off saving for a 9".

**Knight** · 07-01-2011, 09:52 AM

But as stated, you are playing with fire. It's only a matter of time before you get burned. And getting towed off the track is no fun.

**1998 T/A** · 07-01-2011, 10:04 AM

from my experience...I had a 10-bolt with 4.10's freshly installed and the whole thing blew up maybe 1 year later...I wasn't necessarily hard on the car..I burned out and went to the track about 4 times that year, other than that it was drivin normally

**35th-ANV-SS** · 07-01-2011, 10:19 AM

There is already a sticky in the drive train section about this just so everyone knows. This is one thing that gets pretty beat to death on this forum, as well as other forums.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 07-01-2011, 10:40 AM

I would just save money and get a rear with gears before a cam and head swap if you plan on racing it at all. Just my .02

**Durango** · 07-01-2011, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by 98TransAmWs-6

I would just save money and get a rear with gears before a cam and head swap if you plan on racing it at all. Just my .02

I'm realising that right now !!!

**67CamaroRSSS** · 07-01-2011, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Durango

I'm realising that right now !!!

Good! Take heed of it. I wish I'd never modded the 10 bolt in my car (the 02) - 2 housings, 3 posi's and 4 gears sets later I've almost spent what it would've cost to buy a 12 bolt.

And I'm an A4 car.

**Z28Thunder** · 07-01-2011, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by 67CamaroRSSS

Good! Take heed of it. I wish I'd never modded the 10 bolt in my car (the 02) - 2 housings, 3 posi's and 4 gears sets later I've almost spent what it would've cost to buy a 12 bolt.

And I'm an A4 car.

And why instead of fixing or getting another 10 bolt. Just save for a 12 bolt or 9 inch. If you're already broke I would still put the money down for a 12 bolt or 9 inch. Can you put a band-aid on it sure. But you could end up like 67 here and have spent the cost of buying a 12 bolt or 9 inch. I bought 1 used to bolt and it broke as well. After that I parked the car and started saving money.