What can someone tell me about that big 9" ford looking diff in my Wildcat. How big is the ring gear on it and can you get gears/posi for it. Was the diff in my 65 Lesabre a standard GM 8.2 and are they easy to swap out?
X2 You can find used gears/posi units, but they are hard to come by. I was lucky enough to score a 3.07 posi unit for about $200.
You're right not cheap, but I'll keep you in mind if my drag race Wildcat project gets off the ground. Thanks. Randy P.S. Are those diffs as bullet proof as the massive 9 3/8" would seem to suggest?
Does your rear have a pull out stump. I thought only the Riviera in 65 had a stump. The 65 should have a plate and I didn't think it was a 9.3. It's either a 10 bolt or a 12 bolt. I could be wrong. I.ll tell you one It is not the Pontiac / Olds -1957-64 9.3 rear. That rear end was and is the strongest car rear end there is. I know that. I have run them for 48 years. And tell me about a Ford 9 in. They are not near as strong as a P / O 9.3.
Its the same as the Riv= pull out pumpkin, except the riv has a flange to bolt to the driveshaft and the Wcats and Electras have u bolts. I've converted a 3.42 riv to Wildcat just by changing the flange to a ubolt connection. 3.91: 1 are out there, just have to keep looking. I just bought one and all the NOS stuff to rebuild the good posi :TU: That style changed in 66, but they kept the 9 3/8 thru the 76 model riv
So what you are telling me is all 65 big buicks have the stump rear end. And you are saying that Riviera only used the stump thru 76. All 66 up Buicks that I have seen had the inspection plate rear, even the Riv. I have a 66 and a 68 Riviera parts car. Both have 12 bolt GM rears in then. Now help me on this if you can. Thanks
I can confirm that my Wildcat indeed has the stump rear end but I too am surprised that Rivs had it to 76. I briefly had a 74 and never noticed it.
Ted didn't say that the removable center section was used all that time, just that the ring gear diameter stayed at 9-3/8". '65 was the last model year for the removable center section. Good info regarding the '66-'75 9-3/8" rears here: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=71740 Devon
Well, my questions about the big diff have been answered, but what about the small diff in my old 65 Lesabre? Are those just a standard 8.2 GM? I want to build a Wildcat drag racer and perhaps that small diff would be better for gear ratio availability.
Parts availability for the 8.2" rear is just as hard, if not harder to find than parts for the BIG 9 3/8ths. rears & no wheres as strong. Would be best to swap out the 8.2" for an 8.5". Now the 8.5" has availability for just about ANYTHING!!!!
