GM 7.5 Question

I have a Gm 7.5 from a 1991 S10 mounted in my ch***is.I know it`s a wimpy axle,but parts are hard to come by here and this is what I have ( was lucky to get it) Blazer was hauled off 2 days later.
Has anyone here made something to hold axle in if it breaks?
I will be just cruising with this car.No racing.(stock 350 engine)
However I don`t want to see a wheel come off if I break an axle shaft pulling out in traffic.
I see C clip eliminators are not available if you run stock axle shafts.
Anyone here running a 7.5?Thanks

 

Hey Rex, I went through the same thought process with my O/T '79 HURST/Olds and settled on a diff from a '95 Z-28. Technically it is a 7.625" but it fits the 7.5" housing and has 28 splines over the 7.5"
What put me at rest is a friend has a LS-1 Camaro that runs 12.0's on Drag Radials with the stock (7.625") rear. He is running Moser axles but everything else is stock. As a precaution he puts in new C-clips every spring.

 

I have a couple parts trucks from the early 1980`s setting around my place.They both are f100`s and have car bolt patterns on wheels,5X41/2 .
A friend of mine at NAPA said they made these trucks with car bolt pattern only 1980-82 F100`s,then came the 8.8 axle.
Both have 9 inch axles but are way too wide and have offset pinion.
Would it be possible for me to narrow the housing to correct width,cutting a little more off one side to center pinion?
Then order new axles shafts?
Are narrowed axle shafts available for these early 1980`s 9 inchers ?
Prices?
thanks

 

The 7.5 ins't as bad as people say. I have used later 28 spline axles and camaro 28 spline posi units. They will hold a decent amount of power with an automatic. Good launch with ET streets 18 psi and a 3600 converter 370 rwhp ls1 3600 lb car broke the 3.73 gears after 45 runs down a well prepped track. Axle shafts held in there well.

 

Sounds good.If they will hold on strip they should work for cruising.Guess I am just worried about nothing.
Almost wrecked my pickup yesterday.I was driving north on 17 byp*** in the right lane when this lady jerks car over from left lane across in front of me trying to get into access road to turn off.I braked and matched her angle then let up and whipped around in front of her.It was a miracle I missed her.We were side by side then my truck somehow went around front of her car.She stopped and apologised.I was not angry,just glad we did not touch,Had my truck since 1994.Sure would hate to see it banged up.
Thanks for the axle info fellas.I appreciate it.Rex

 

I've had an S 10 rear under my '34 for 20 years. Had some carrier bearing problems that I think were a factory recall, but my rear end was already in the junkyard. No other problems.

 

Because I sell parts, I need to qualify one of the aspects of this 1991 S10 rearend.
It is not a 28 spline axle rearend. That didn't come around until around 1997 or so.
Did GM use a 7.5 26 spline axle rearend behind V8's? YessirreeBob!! From the body change in the early '80s until the late '90s.
The only rearend option I can think of in a F-body was part of the 1LE package, cop car Camaro/Firebird. They a variation of the Dana 44, aluminum driveshaft, etc. Formula Firebird, something Camaro, Police version of both. 8.5" ring gear, 30 spline axles.
Can it be used in a car build and be reliable? Only if the the vehicle is not used like a 3/4 ton truck, or to race every Mustang GT to every stoplight or ............. Cheap reliable parts material. Breakable like any other donor part. Pick your poison and desires up front of the 7.5 GM.
GM had carrier bearing problems in the larger 8.5 in vans and pickups more than in 7.5's, carrier problems too.

 

ranger 8.8

should be some stock car guys around. Check with them on who resplines axles in your area. narrow one side of a 9", respline that axle.
Machinist in my area does all the stock car (claimer cl***es) stuff, 28 spline open diffs with a mini spool is the standard set up.

or just run the 7.5, make sure the car wont hook up and you should be fine.

 

Ok, clarification; F bodies that I am talking about with the 7.5 is actually a little newer 7 5/8 but still the same peice. Big interchange. Those f bodies are 93-02 parts. I even used the 02 posi in a 86 el camino with 28 spline grand national axles. LS1 cars came with this axle, and most of them don't break. Beat it and it will, but then I have broken 9 inch rears on the track.

 

As long as you don't pound on it it should be OK. if you start to pound on it with wide sticky tires, then it becomes like cheating on your wife. you might get away with it for a while but eventually you will get caught.

Check out any of the forums dedicated to the G body late 70's to late 80's GM cars (Malibu, Monte Carlo, Regal, Cutl***, Lemans, etc) and search for 7.5 info. Same basic diff that is in the later S10/S15's. lots of info available if you take the time to track it down.

Check out www.Malibuthunder.com (my "home" board)

I know that of which you fear.......
powershifting breaks stuff

 

Gotta hate the look of leaking parts while the oil starts leaking.