What did you do with your Trans Am today?

[pajeff02]

They do crank out amazing heat. Cement block walls don't do too bad holding in the heat it seems.

[35th-ANV-SS]

My car hasn't been driven in 4.5 months now.

[WV Ridge Runner]

I placed my order for my new Strange S60 with 4:10 gears.

I've been sitting here with my slow as Ford innerweb server, trying to research what to do about my rear end when I ran across your decision.

Can you point me to some of your research sites, and talk about how you came to your decision?

My 10 bolt is busted, and I was trying to decide between a 9" and a12 Bolt. Hadn't thought about the Strange S60...

I'm pushing 600HP so rebuilding the 10 bolt isn't an option for me...

I'm also torn about how to proceed. I want to buy the rear end already set up, and put it in myself. I don't want to pay a shop to put it in.

Also, my car is lowered 2". Is clearance going to be a problem with any of the 3?

Thoughts?

[pajeff02]

Here's a discussion from way back when on rear end selection: http://www.ls1.com/forums/f8/how-pick-rear-125182/

[RONS98TA]

I cant speak for any other rear end companies, but I ordered a 12 bolt from Moser. It can 100% complete, minus the backing plates being installed. This is only because I chose the option of my axles being bolted in using the u-clips (not sure of the proper name) on the outer edge of the axle next to the brake caliper, rather then the traditional factory setup using the c-clips inside the pumpkin. This is a better setup if you just happen the snap an axle, the wheel will stay on the car, rather then come flying off the car. I believe you can now also order it 100% complete with brakes too, but i'm not sure. I've had mine for over 10 years now.

[RichWS6]

I've been sitting here with my slow as Ford innerweb server, trying to research what to do about my rear end when I ran across your decision.

Can you point me to some of your research sites, and talk about how you came to your decision?

My 10 bolt is busted, and I was trying to decide between a 9" and a12 Bolt. Hadn't thought about the Strange S60...

I'm pushing 600HP so rebuilding the 10 bolt isn't an option for me...

I'm also torn about how to proceed. I want to buy the rear end already set up, and put it in myself. I don't want to pay a shop to put it in.

Also, my car is lowered 2". Is clearance going to be a problem with any of the 3?

Thoughts?

I have done a 9" as well ismall a 12 Bolt install and the 12 bolt went in easier and responded better to the ABS sensor where as the 9 " that me and a buddy used the abs sensor (3 channel) was to short to reach the reluctor wheel so we had to machine down the bung to get it to work. But no matter what you go with here is my advice, 1. Stay away from tunnel mounted torque arms (especially with the 9" as the mounting point on the rear itself is a couple inches forward. 2. Get the sway bar adapter for 3" tubes this is important on the 9" so the bar can clear the pumkin. 3. If you like a quiet stock like drive get a true track, lockers on the street are a pain and can generate lots of clanking.

[kingls1]

A few ways to research it is do a google search on Strange s60 for f-body's and you will find lots of articles from this site as well as Tech and others form guys who already bought and their thoughts. I would also suggest calling Carl over at Strange Engineering PRSF05 Bolt-IN S60 for 82-02 F-Body 35-spline POSI he is a great guy to talk to and will give you a lot of comparisons between the 9",12",s60 and he Sales them all so you get the truth..IMO
You can get the Strange rear completely ready for bolt in I know if you send in your backing plates and reluctor rings they set it up for free.
One thing the S60 has a bolt through design for the torque arm and is closest to the factory rear, they also use genuine GM brackets so lac's and panhard bar fit with out any grinding.
You will have to buy a new drive shaft or have yours shortened but if you have that kind of power you will want to upgrade anyhow, they sell a nice replacement with all the HD yokes for a little over $300. Let me know what you come up with I'm still waiting for delivery should be any time now I will post some pics when it arrives.

[raynor139]

My S60 just came in today. Ran by the shop to take a look real quick and grab the drive shaft so I could put a layer of paint on it this weekend since it's chromoly. Should of snapped some pics but in my rush to get out before the snow started I forgot. Just gotta get some time to install it now. But no rush with the snow and ice this week. Not in a rush to drive it till the rain cleans off the roads.

[raynor139]

Also ordered it on the 23rd of January so just slightly over a month turn around time to have it built and shipped.

[raynor139]

Like king said Carl is a good guy to talk to if you need info same with midwest chasis. Basically I chose the S60 since

A)It was much cheaper then the others at the time. Carl said strange was raising the price at the start of February.
B) It's alot more quiet then a 12 bolt.
C) It will handle all the power I ever intend to throw at the car. 9 inch is much stronger if you do a fully built fabbed 9. But other then maybe some forced induction I don't plan on building some crazy 1000 hp car.
D) Other then occasional goofing around I don't take it to a drag strip or anything so I'm not too concerned over it being a few pounds heavier then the 9 inch.

[bhunter0830]

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Coupe 2 Door | eBay
https://post.craigslist.org/k/aD_ddE...yz_-f7NQ/yiksj

[Nutball]

Ben, your selling her????????????????????????

[theorangeguy]

Well damn...

[WV Ridge Runner]

Thanks for the links and ideas, time for more research! I think my next step is to go out and jack 'er up and take the rear end out of the car to see what I am dealing with... Are these cars stock 3-channel ABS?

I don't think noise is going to be a problem, as the car is fairly loud through the mufflers, and dammit loud when un-corked...

The car will be on the track once in a while, prolly on Friday night test & tune days. And it WILL see street action...

To keep the thread on topic, I did go out and check the battery tender since the power has been off and on... That's all I did for her today!

Maybe tomorrow I will build one of those signatures so you guys can see what I am running...

[RONS98TA]

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Coupe 2 Door | eBay
https://post.craigslist.org/k/aD_ddE...yz_-f7NQ/yiksj

Damn! Such a beautiful car. Somebody is gonna get 1 hell of a good looking ride.

[SMWS6TA]

order this today...

[kingls1]

Thanks for the links and ideas, time for more research! I think my next step is to go out and jack 'er up and take the rear end out of the car to see what I am dealing with... Are these cars stock 3-channel ABS?

The only true 4-channel ABS is the Bosch 5.3 system in 1998-up F-bodies with traction control (ASR = TCS = GM trying to gloss over the fact that Camaros and Firebirds are mechanically identical). But with regards to an aftermarket rear axle, if the car has traction control the rear axle will need to be set up for 4-channel since cars with TC have two rear wheel speed sensors reading off the hubs instead of one sensor reading off the ring gear. That goes for all 4th-gens.
This is what I found

[SMWS6TA]

Little update on a side project. Got a broken WS6 air lid tray and started repairing it.

Took it from this ....





to this...






a little filler, some more sanding and it will be ready for paint....Just saved me $160 - $200

[bhunter0830]

Ben, your selling her????????????????????????

Yup... Two kids, can't fit one in the back let alone two... Looking for something older and larger.

[pajeff02]

Yup... Two kids, can't fit one in the back let alone two... Looking for something older and larger.

Nooooooooooooo!