I'm building a mild 455 for a 78 TA and I'm going to run a WS6 rear out of an 80 with 3.08's. It was hard to find the rear and I don't want to trash it. The rear is in good shape and I don't want to go into it. Any advice on this combo. I have a set of 3.42's that I can install but I think the 3.08 will make it a lot more fun to drive on the open road. I was thinking about installing an aluminum cover with the reinforcements and maybe a stouter yoke.
Thanks

I'm building a mild 455 for a 78 TA and I'm going to run a WS6 rear out of an 80 with 3.08's. It was hard to find the rear and I don't want to trash it. The rear is in good shape and I don't want to go into it. Any advice on this combo. I have a set of 3.42's that I can install but I think the 3.08 will make it a lot more fun to drive on the open road. I was thinking about installing an aluminum cover with the reinforcements and maybe a stouter yoke.
Thanks

Unless you're planning to run Slicks the rear should be fine.
Street tires will spin way before anything in the rear will break.

daves got it right. the 8.5 will take a lot of abuse on the street tires. mike

not saying it won't break but my 83 trans am with the 455 is running a 7.5 singal track rearend on slicks with 1.6 60 ft's. i'm sure it will break some time but it works for now and uses less HP. slow77ta on here runs a 8.5 using ET STREETS runs 10.90's and hooks up good. if your running a stick on slicks you might have some problems.

The 8.5 is a lot stronger than people give it credit for. But the torque of a 455 and slicks will find it's weakest link.

No I don't plan on using slicks. Are any mods necessary or can I just bolt it in and go?

Bolt it in and go. If you're doing more highway driving than racing, stay with the 3.08's.

Ran my 10-bolt 8.5" disc rear in my 79 T/A for 3.5 seasons at the track with M.T. ET/Streets at a weight varrying between 4050 and 4150 lbs. and running high 12's to low 13's. Never broke anything.

The 8.5" is a very good rear! A friend has a 10 sec. 1973 Cutlass, and the stock rear took many seasons of 10 sec. abuse, and finally died when the axle tubes separated from the housing, but the ring gear never failed! The 8.2" is the one you have to worry about, and many people confuse the two..