Re: Differential question
The 7.625" 10 bolt is exactly what all 4th gen camaros came with. Every single one of them. Which in my opinion was STUPID! What business does a 7 5/8" 10 bolt have behind a LS1 making 350 hp from the factory (they were underated)? None. Especially behind a manual trans. I think that axle originated in the Vega, behind a 4 cylinder.
The biggest problem is that they're hit or miss. Some of them will break if you look at them funny, some of them have gone 10's (maybe faster) behind manual transmissions.
Which is why there are an awful lot of 4th gen Z28's with 12 bolts, 8.5" 10 bolts, and 9" Fords under them. Or that are on their 3rd or 4th gearset in the stock housing (mines on it's 3rd, and its a LT1 bolton car).
There's a couple reasons that they live in Sy's and Ty's:
1.) They're seeing part of the power, not all of it. 65% of 500 ft lbs is only 325.
2.) They're automatics, so you don't have the shock loading of a manual (it takes the slack out and doesn't bang it back and forth on every shift).
3.) The turbo'd V6 makes good torque and power, but it isn't "instant". It takes a little time to build boost, which keeps it from creating shock loads (see above).
All those things add up to give both axles a good fighting chance. But some rears have been changed out either because of breakage or to prevent extreme excitement in the event of breakage (stock rear axle runs c-clips, when you loose them, oh what fun.)
'JustDreamin'