finished up the elcamino finally and looking for a new rear end to stick in it. I have a 400 small block hooked up to a 700 r4 transmission. Only problem is that the camino use to be a 6 cylinder from 1981. From reading on the forum in other threads i see that that having a car equipt with the big engine and 700 r4 trans wont show good results. Anyone have any suggestions of what to stick in in place of it.

With a 400 and a 700-R4, you're going to make decent power. I'd think a really nice, lively gear would be 3.73. You'll want a limited slip or posi. At this point, you may as well go with an 8.5".

If i can stay with the rear end i have and just change gears inside would that be a problem. Im not really up to speed when it comes to rear end set ups. Guess its time i should be. What would the results be if i just kept the original rear end on the car. Am i headed for trouble?

Depending how much torque your 400 produces, if your suspension hooks up good, and how much you abuse the rear, yes you will probably eventually destroy it. There is not much you can do to beef up the 7.5 rear. Putting different sized gears like 3.42 is only to benefit from the 700R4. I recommend that you do not put any money into the 7.5 but invest in a stronger rear like the 8.5 or even the 12 bolt Chevy or a 9" Ford. An 8.5 out of a Grand National or a Regal Type T is a direct swap, but you'll need a slightly shorter driveshaft.

I have a 7.5 rear in my Monte Carlo SS with a healthy 383 and a th700r4 and a 3.73 gear with eaton posi----I have tested this rearend and it has not made the first noise yet---(might destroy it tomorrow). as long as you don't put the car on slicks I have had good luck with the 7.5 living fairly long lives----now having said that, the ones that lived are the ones with posi's and automatics I have broken a few spider gears in the 7.5 with a peg leg or destroyed them completely with a standard and a good clutch..............Dan

swapping rear ends is no problem. would i have to customize the drive shaft or can i pull the right sized shaft off of another type of car.

It's possible to find a shaft out of another car at a local boneyard, I wouldn't be able to tell you which would fit, but this would by far be the cheapest route. You could have your exsisting driveshaft shortened to the required length, this could be done by a local shop and shouldn't cost to much, or you could buy a custom made shaft which of course would be the most expensive alternative...I think the going price is around $300. If your going to do this, I would recommend also changing your upper and lower rear control arms with aftermarkets.

anyone have a gn rear end for sale in california :D

Where are you in California?

im in the los angeles area

My wife is from Torrance and we're up there all the time. We live outside of San Diego.

I think there needs to be a So Cal area ECC meetup somewhere.

i live in carson and went to school out in torrance as well.

THis car is not going to be a burner at all..just pretty much an everday or every other day type car. What about el caminos that CAME with v8 engines. What type of rear ends did they come with. IM guessing not the same as V6 el caminos.

They were identical as were all the other millions of G-Bodys (except the very few that had 8.5" 10-bolts).

what about a monte carlo ss rear end..would that be a direct fit i thought they had the same rear ends as grand nationals.

scratch that just looked around..monte carlo ss is 7.5 too.