Rear End Change

[try2pas]

I have an 80 vette which, I believe, has an aluminum rear end that isn't as strong as the earlier vettes. I would evenutually like to end up with about 500 hp. I am changing out the u joints this winter to bigger and stronger. Can I just slip in say a '79 vette rear end or like buy a new Dana stronger rear end? Not sure exactly what I have and what is optional for me to do to handle more evenutal horsepower.

 

[Rodney Gold]

I changed to 3.0 ratio to a 3.55 , I run a hot setup motor wise along with a 2400 stall and can do high 12's with street tyres and low 12's with slicks.
Im using the stock housing , just changed the gears and it seems to be holding up. I abuse my car on both street and strip ...had 2 aftermarket higher stall convertors blow up , but the diff seems fine...
I estimat round 390 hp , I'm not so sure it will handle 500 , especially if you on slicks and get the traction...
I have read about rear end swaps , but it seems a major misson ands Im not in the USA with access to junkyard parts or cheap components so decided to leave it alone.
Maybe there are aftermarket setups to strengthen the diff?

 

[GTR1999]

The stock 80-82 diff's are weak and I won't push them too much. Now some have run 400-450 hp and st tires and they've lasted, others broke the bearing caps with the stock 200 hp engines.
I've built several iron units for guys to use in the 80-82's, you need to use your cover, buy the iron unit, earliers 1/2 shaft, strut rods, brackets, and maybe have the DS worked over. It costs a few bucks to do but you'll have a much better and heavier unit. The stock iron units should be good to 450-500hp, I don't build them in stock configuration and they're stronger then any stock unit but I still wouldn't push them too much past 500hp,some have stated 600hp but a lot depends on how they're driven.
Once you get to 500 the 12 bolt setup is much better suited but it won't work with the aluminum cover so you would have to start fabricating mount for the complete iron unit. this is very expensive but about 4x as strong as a 10 bolt.