What rear end do I want to install in this car? Looking for mild street and very little strip. Very litle. Thinking of gears somewhere around 3:23-3:42 Any donor cars that will work well????
any a-body from 1968-1972 will work... All ratios are optional so you will have to check each car...OR a Wagon A-Body rear will have better ratios and still should bolt into your a-body I have some rears if you need one or you can search around on any of the Buick, Pontiac or Olds sites to find one used. Some GS rears and Pontiac GTO rears will have good mid 3 gears your looking for.
I have read that the 8.5 rear end is the way to go. Is the 1971 1972 buick rear end a drop in and the same length as the 1969 cars? The car is a big block car now.
As long as it was from an A body, it will work. There may be a small difference in actual width, and the drive shaft length will need to be changed, but it will bolt in.
Yes the 71 72 will work..brakes etc. Just the drive shaft will need to be shortened . Just remember when you guys are swapping in and out rears you think are stronger, that have not been rebuilt could be more a headache then an original good working rear. If you swapping rears you really should rebuild these diffs so you know your replacing one rear with a better rear. Ok? Jim
That is why I built an 8.5 10 bolt out of a 71 GS350. Moser 30 spline axles, and they bolt in, Eaton 30 spline Posi, and 3.73's. From what I've read on this board, the Buick 8.5's are one tough rear, and they have the same pinion shaft spline count and pinion support as a 12 bolt. I'd look for an 8.5 before I went 12 bolt. Probably cheaper also, and parts are plentiful. Just my .02:TU:
Is there a easy way to identify the 8.2 from the 8.5 rear ends? I"m a newbie, and Id rather not learn with my pocket book. Blood and skin only if possible. Also how about different GM cars? Is the cutlass, GTO/Lemans also good 8.5 rear ends? and with those cars what years should I be looking at?
