I found an Ebay auction where a guy was selling a posi carrier. He said it came out of a chevelle but he does not know what kind of rear end it came out of. Is there any way to tell. He said it had 10 bolts to hold it in the differential. Is that what makes a 10 bolt rear end? Also, There should be no problem swapping out a limited-slip for a posi carrier, right?

Sean,

The carrier is held in the housing by 4 bolts. If he meant the ring gear had 10 bolts holding it to the carrier then yes it is for a 10 bolt. Remember though there were a couple different 10 bolts available in Chevelles. There should be a part number in the casting of the carrier.
Lastly posi is a slang term used to describe limited slip. They are the same thing. Posi-trac was the full name for the GM limited slip carrier. So that being said if you already have a limited slip carrier probably all it needs is a rebuild.

Dont the 10 and 12 bolt ring gears Both use 10 bolts to hold the ring gear to the carrier ?? The 10-12 bolt deal is about the rear cover. Just look at ARP's ring gear bolt set, fits 10 AND 12 bolt rears.

Originally posted by BLK64SS:
Dont the 10 and 12 bolt ring gears Both use 10 bolts to hold the ring gear to the carrier ?? The 10-12 bolt deal is about the rear cover. Just look at ARP's ring gear bolt set, fits 10 AND 12 bolt rears. bingo!!!! ""you are correct ... what do we have for him johnny!! smile.gif ""

The rear cover bolts have nothing to do with the naming fo the rear ends. The bolt count refers to the number of bolts holding the ring gear to the differential. The cover bolts just happen to be the same count. The posi-traction name was not used on all GM brands. Pontiac called it Safe-T-Track. Some other GM brands may have called it something else.

Andrew

This is a pic of a 12 spool for a chev 12 bolt rear end. Andrew is correct, while generally you can id a 12 bolt by the diff cover for chevs, some other GM 10 bolt ring gear(Olds) diffs had 12 bolt covers.
http://i23.ebayimg.com/02/i/01/18/69/ed_1.JPG
I guess 10 bolt guys are ending up with a couple extra bolts from ARP.

Here is a pic of a 10 bolt posi(Tahoe). See it only has 10 bolt holes holding the ring gear on.
http://i15.ebayimg.com/02/i/01/12/a1/2e_1.JPG

So, I was wrong when I thought that limited slip( one wheels spins when power applied ) is different than Posi-trac( both wheels spin when power is applied )? Did they make a 10 bolt Posi-Trac Rear End? I have also seen an ad in a local trading psot for a 10 bolt w/ Detroit Locker. What makes a Detroit Locker?

They did indeed make posi traction 10 bolts. GTOs had posi 10 bolts. A Detroit Locker is generally found in Ford 9 inch rear ends. They are called 9inch rear ends, because the ring gear is 9 inches in diameter. A locker does not slip. It is either locked, or open. SO its great for drag racing, but it tends to make ratcheting sound when going around corners.

Andrew

So, will the carrier from a GTO fit into a chevelle rear end?