the corporate 10 bolt that GM developed in 1971 is very stout, it uses the same size pinion gear shaft as a 12 bolt and the ring gear is only a little smaller, 8.50 vs 8.875, I often tell people to do just what you're doing, the early 10 bolts (8.2) were terrible they snapped even with a 6cyl cars!! the 8.5 is king
