Rear Posi (is it worth the money)

[1969stepside]

i have a 308 gear i think in my 69. the rear end is from a 72 v8 2wd truck. my question is would it be worth putting a posi unit in it? should i leave it alone? what would be the price to put a posi unit in it? pros and cons? i will not be dd the truck it will just be a fun truck. any and all opinions are welcome

[Jason Banks]

I feel like it's completely worth it.

No one wheel peel. Better yet, less likelyhood of any peel, and both wheels are putting the power down and not spinning.

[Casper42]

Basic answer: rarely is it worth it.

Unless, you use your truck as a truck: towing/hauling, driving in various roadway surfaces other than pavement, weather conditions, or you're using the truck competitively like racing. The only time that you'll know you have posi is in these types of conditions...there may be a few more.

Other than that, I find most people think it's just cool to say "I have posi"

[truckster]

How often do you get wheelspin? If you're having problems hooking up, it can be worth it.

I just put a Detroit TrueTrac in my Blazer. My total cost was under $600. It's worth it to me.

That's really the question: Is it worth it to you?

[1969stepside]

i am not sure the truck is just a driver weekend truck so is the price of the posi worth it or is it just a waste of money?

[oneshotkyle]

I would say not worth it unless you have a heavy foot. Which don’t matter much for us inline 6 guys with 150hp����

[Shifty One]

Also, consider weather....ice, mud, rain, etc...easily worth it to me.

[HO455]

The vast majority of vehicles don't have an Limited Slip Differential (Commonly referred to as an LSD.) and their owners don't even realize it. If you haven't had problems with getting stuck in mud, dirt, snow and such and your not racing your truck I'd recommend putting the money elsewhere in the truck.

For me it was worth the money as missing work due to weather isn't a option.

[Casper42]

Originally Posted by HO455

....For me it was worth the money as missing work due to weather isn't a option.

oh! extra height roof! nice! musta been ordered as an ambulance. LOL

[c30]

Had a 400 HP C10 shortbed with posi. Almost as much fun as a roll in the hay with the ol lady. I said almost.
The truck was not much fun in the rain.

[LS short box]

Again depends on the HP of the truck and it's usage. I like and use the Tru Track. But today the posi itself is sneaking up on $700 from Summit. Then comes the maybe new lower gears? Bearing kit? Install and setup $500? unless you have tools and skills to do it your self.
New axles from Moser?
Could be some serious scope creep here but that's what hot rodding is all about. LOL.

[72SB]

Eaton LSD $450 ish
Master Install Kit $200
Labor $400 ish
Seals/Gaskets/oil $50

If you want a gear change also, no additional labor but $250 for gears and $10 for a new speedo driven gear

Shop may "discover" axle is worn so new axles and bearings $300

[Accelo]

One tire fryer I call them.
If you keep the gears and just change the carrier it's the price of the Differential and bearings plus labor. Not many can do this job themselves.
With the light rear ends on our trucks their is a lot of tire spin.
You didn't give your motor information.
However, with this high a ratio it's not as bad as if you had 3.73's.

[zicc1835]

I took one (373 hooked to a 400 trans behind a 402 ) out of a 2 wheel Burb in my short stepper 327m20 and I love the 11s it leaves in front of my neighbors houses ....I don't drive in the rain or snow anyway..... I have another I bought for short money when you could in my next build too and one drum to drum 6 lug 373 sitting on the side of my garage just because I like them if your a parts changer like me buying a good used one drum to drum is a real easy instal good luck on whichever way you go

[jocko]

I got an estimate from a local shop about two months ago to change an open 4.56 to a posi 3.54 in a D60 (so the estimate included the gear change also) ~$2200. I decided it was not worth it, right then and there, ha...

The ONLY reason I was considering the posi was because everything was already going to be torn apart for the gear change. If you're not racing - and if you're not going off-roading or intentionally driving in poor weather conditions (you did say it was only a weekend driver), there's really no reason to dump the money into a posi "just to have one" even if you installed it yourself to save a few bucks (especially with 3.08s).

[WorldsCrappiestTruck]

Don’t undervalue just how dumb you’ll look, when all the kids and ricers are watching and you lay down an endless burnout……



…..with 1 lonely tire 😔



You don’t want to be that guy. Save your pennies.

[novaX522]

I’m driving down to Quick Performance this Thursday. They have a great deal. Posi center, gears, and bearing kit for $525. I set up 12 bolt gears in my elCamino years ago, it wasn’t too bad. I’m going to borrow my friends set up tool. Obviously it gets a little more costly to hire it done.
I’m also replacing the axle bearings and seals while I’m at it. My axles weren’t too bad, but the passenger axle was a little worn , so I’ll use a repair bearing for it. Those were really reasonable from rock auto.
I plan to do some towing and I do occasionally goose it for my own enjoyment. For me, a posi was a must.
P.s. I did run it at the dragstrip right after I bought it, so I’ll have to try that again.

[zicc1835]

Originally Posted by WorldsCrappiestTruck

Don’t undervalue just how dumb you’ll look, when all the kids and ricers are watching and you lay down an endless burnout……



…..with 1 lonely tire 😔



You don’t want to be that guy. Save your pennies.

love this comment LOL

[dagnabbitt]

Just put it in my 81, drove it two miles then parked it for the winter. I can confidently state based upon those two miles: totally worth it!

Completely different driving experience, completely different truck. Lots of fun. I have 400hp, 400tq and a 700r4… but I think you’d feel the difference with any V8.

My two cents is that I do think that it’s a decision you should make when you are happy with the rest of the drivetrain. Get the engine and trans where you want them, first.

[special-K]

Other than being cool to say you have one, they are well worth it for two purposes. If you use the truck regularly in all conditions on and off the road a posi is a great improvement to your truck's abilities. The second purpose is for hi-performance. You won't have a truly hi-performance truck, street or off road, until you install a limited slip or locker.

Just to drive and enjoy occasionally, I'd say it would be just a cool thing to say you have. So basically you'd be doing it for others, not yourself. I put LSDs or lockers in all my trucks, if they don't already have it, because I am about better function and utility when it comes to my trucks. foe my '67 2wd shortbed the posi is to go with the hi-performance 327 and Muncie M22. My '72 K2500 has the factory Trac-Lok for obvious reasons. I hope to hand-build from scratch a third truck for off road. That will have a No-Spin (Detroit Locker) rear and a Tru Trac front for optimum utility

[bnorth]

Do you like doing burnouts? If so then yes

[RenoKeene]

If I did a one wheel squeal with my truck I'd be laughed out of the club.
But that's just my truck

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by 1969stepside

i am not sure the truck is just a driver weekend truck so is the price of the posi worth it or is it just a waste of money?

Are you saying you're not sure how the truck will be used?

Mud, sand, driving uphills on dirt roads, or exhibition of speed? Yes, a posi will make a difference.

Driving to Dairy Queen or Home Depot? No, it won't.

[WorldsCrappiestTruck]

I guess I’d equate it to throwing a baseball. If you feel that someday you’ll be in a situation where you’ll need to hurl an object at speed with accuracy….OR if you just plain old got a Hose and want to put it on display for StreetCred, (like hanging out at the DrownTheClown booth at the fair)…..you’d invest in the ability to throw the heat.

If you’re quite confident you’ll never need to throw an object….or even more confident you’ll never need to publicly display your (lack of) skills, then forego the effort and hope the odds land in your favor.




If you choose path 2 and someday are forced to hurl an object at a charging bear, or get asked to throw out the first pitch at a Little Leage game…..don’t say you weren’t forewarned. It’s ok to have a limp-wristed-noodle-arm, so long as you never need to show it, and nobody ever needs you to use it.

[Casper42]

haha. how old are you? I'm 56 an never, ever been one of those - "oh look at me, see what I can do".

LOL

But, whatever you enjoy. I think it's childish, always have.

Originally Posted by WorldsCrappiestTruck

Don’t undervalue just how dumb you’ll look, when all the kids and ricers are watching and you lay down an endless burnout……



…..with 1 lonely tire 😔



You don’t want to be that guy. Save your pennies.