You will lose 3% out of the converter or...climbing the ring gear.Hiway said:3%, cheaper, and lighter. Sounds like good reasons to me...esp. for a N/A car
A Salisbury axle "10 bolt 12bolt are not stronger than a 9" ".
The amount of spead in the case underload could be as much as 10MM.
The 9" atleast Had a pininon support.
The bottom line is GM (General Malfunction) was only interested in low cost...as with everything they did.