Chevy & GMC Vans

holy crap i just got of the phone with a GM stealership to confirm that 12471371 is the diff i want they quoted me $1658
i guess i will look for 4.1s since the price is more agreeable to me and the installation kits

My personal feeling is if you are going through the effort to swap gears from 3.42 to 3.73 there just isn't enough of a difference to make it worth the expense. The problem comes in when you want to swap a 350 into the van...then 4.10's are almost too low. If you go with 4.10's now, you will find the 4.3L will be enough engine for quite a while.

That's exactly how i feel but i'm not sure why, my heart keep saying something isn't right but my brain can't figure out why or what (it's actually really pissing me off) and probably the only reason i haven't ordered the parts yet...
i was actually looking at a 6.0L 364 not sure how well it'll fit but have plenty of time to figure that out. The only reason i'm thinking about compormising is that i thinking if i pick the right components for the new engine and get it programmed correctly i'll be happy, also i intend to do an overhaul on the 4L60E i have, during that it would be possible to change the gear ratios in it to sync the engine and the final gear better.
Oh this is depressing i don't know what i'm talking about (and that makes me angry) i'm going to bed before i irritate myself to the point where i can't sleep i'll come back and check out responses when i get to work good night

I think the 4.10s might be overkill if you are doing most of your driving without a trailer... I have 3.73's in my van and they have plenty of power, really you could propably leave it the way it is and not notice that much of a difference, I think the noticable difference would be in suspension upgrades over the gear upgrades, an astro is to soft in my opinion to be pulling even a small car... I know it will do it but not on any sort of regular basis without atleast an add a leaf. On average gear sets run about $250 bucks a set canadian +about $250 per axle install. A posi is a good $500+ on top of that... you can grap a parts van with G80 for $500 no problem and save at least $500. I will ask around for you.

Pierre,
If you aren't planning on larger tires and have a 'gut feeling' that the 4.10's are not correct,then stop right there........
There's too much time and money spent if you aren't happy with the results.3.73's will show up at the right price.
Patience grasshopper.....
My 2 cents......

Someone: that might be true bit i'm picky about the diff infact i've wanted this diff before i owned the van (strange isn't it). i know the G80 works well during it's lifespan but i wanna see if the Torsen is as good as claimed and i don't know anyone with it in a van . I have an add-a-leaf at my house to install to get rid of that nasty sag and intend to get a helwig rear sway bar to ruduce the roll. Also parts vans are a luxury of people with space something i don't have anything more then what i need is out out if the question

Dunedog: While i was attempting to fall asleep last night i set my mind on the 3.73 again, i don't remember anything after that lol

anyways i'll start on my hunt for them today since it's quiet at work (so far) and i brought my gm manual to read up on


Edit: ok i'm lost the number i gave the GM dude said it's listed as OEM on a 1998-2002 camaro/trans am and firebird did those vehicles have a G80?
the G80 is mechanicle with no clutch only gears to control the torque transfer right...?

Edit again: WTH i think the G80 code IS a torsen. Torsen site states that the T-2 design was implmented in some F body vehicles and heavy duty aplications since 1996. I guess what the GM dude told me does add up then..... need to do more digging before i buy anything tho.... this WILL be the last edit btw lol

98+ f-body will have a torsen diff installed, unless it was an SLP car (SS or firehawk) with the optional auburn diff.

you used to be able to buy the torsen take-off units from SLP up until they ran out of stock about 3 or 4 years ago. SLP sold them for $99 iirc at the time.

your best bet is ebay or one of the car forums.

ok so i've confirmed that the camaro's that were equipped with the torsen had the Y87 performance package, that code included the G80 which is a Torsen (i guess that means i do know people with a torsen in their vans and loving it?)

hey cobra, i did a bit of digging and here's what i found out on the torsen differential.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsen

wiki says 99-02 f-body models only.

http://members.rennlist.org/951_racerx/PS84Gleason.html

this link shows a good bit of history about the company.

i've heard nothing but good about them. no clutches to cook out, etc.

i've done alot of research on the torsen before i set my mind on it the thing i'm confused about is if the G80 code in the trucks and the G80 code in the sport packaged 1998-2002 cameros are the same or not. anyways i'm just going to get the camaro one since i KNOW it's what i'm looking for

so might as well resurrect an old post look what showed up at work this past week. all i have to do now is figure out how to install it......



some of you might recognize this btw and you can see my finger prints on it it's so new lol

Is it a torsen posi? I hope it's not a series 2. GM carriers normally have the series number cast into them and on yours I see a 2. Series 2 is for like 2.73 and 3.08 and Series 3 is for 3.23 to 4.56.

yup Torsen posi i'm very excited to install it and scared to mess up the install at the same time lol
wish i had some 11" backing plates to install at the sametime while i have there rear torn apart. anyone have a pair laying around?
the part number on the package is correct for a series 3 so unless it's packaged wrong it is the correct one. i did notice the 2 stamped on it and went and double checked the part number to make sure i was shipped the right piece

Cool, was always curious how they'd work in our vans, take lots of pics Pierre

Yes take lots of pictures.