[ovrdrive]

Ok guys and gals, here's one fer ya...


I am going to swap out the 4.10 gears with some 3.55 for better highway driving in the car and was wondering on the following:

Besides swapping out the gaskets, could I reuse the shims off the ring and pinion ( 4.10 ) for the new gears?

I will replace the crush collar and was wondering if the shims were a one time use only.

If there is anything else that I need, please let me know..

[Big Dave]

They are reuseable but your new gear may need different shims (they are all fixed in thickness and can be stacked to get the required spacing). The shims you need can be bought with a rebuild kit (a package of various thicknesses). The thickness you need is written on the new gear set after you determine what the dimensions are before you take it apart a little math will tell you what you need to set it up correctly.

Big Dave

[ovrdrive]

Thanks Big Dave.. Which dimensions are you talking about? The depth of the pinion in reference to the ring gear or the spacers needed under the ring gear? Its been about 5 yrs since I rebuilt this rear end and need all the help possible.

[big gear head]

Anytime that you change a part in the rear end you will have to go through the process of setting the epinion depth, backlash and bearing preload all over again. This is going to require a different shim set almost every time. I've built hundreds of rear ends and only 2 times have I been able to use the original shims again.

[Big Dave]

There are about thirty different thicknesses of shims. I recommend keeping every shim you can find and marking it's measeared thickness and storing it in a plastic zip-lock bag to keep it from rusting between builds (unless you are like Freddie or my best bud Robert who builds them all the time and just puts them on a peg board with the thickness marked beneath it). I gave my shim collection to Robert as I gave up on building anymore rear ends due to a pronounced lack of patience on my part (I am too easily frustrated now that the rewards don't seem as great).

Big Dave

[higleyml]

Dan wasnt that the purpose of the 700 r4? That should give you the best of both worlds, the 4:10 for pulling the hole shots and the forth gear for highway driving.

[ovrdrive]

Remember Mike, the 200 has a moderate 1st gear and having some fun getting out of the hole but, as of right now, I am just doing some research on this for the possibility of a change.