Well, the 8.2 BOP 10 bolt (2.78 peg leg) in my '65 Skylark finally gave out. Since parts are hard to find for this rear end, I knew it was time to get rid of the entire rear. Under the gun, I was lucky to find a '66 Chevelle 10 bolt 8.2 rear end in town. I dropped the rear off Friday at the best & trusted rearend shop in town, and they are going through what I have. But I wanted to get the opinions of the Buick guys first --- Obviously, I going to be putting in a posi rear. But... What gears are available for this? (I think the one I picked up was 3.36) What gears would be best for my setup? (3004v headers,cam... 2004r shift kit, lockup... and this is my daily driver, so I will be on the freeway regularly) Thanks
You can get 3.55, 3.90, and 4.11 from Jegs or Summit. Otherwise you'll be hunting on ebay for a different ratio.
I've been searching on the internet: http://www.drivetrainsuperstores.com/store_axle2.asp?axle=74 Looks like 3.08 3.36 and 3.73 are also available from Motive Gear. I'll probably go with the 3.36 ring & pinion and a posi differential from either Auburn or Eaton... What do you think?
With the chevelle rear you are going to be dealing with C clips and a weaker assy than the stock 65 buick 8.2 you removed. i would consider going a different route if i were in your shoes. gears and posi carriers are available for the 65-67 Buick 8.2 rear ends and they use bolt in axles as well as stouter internals.
Bob - I'm not doubting the BOP 8.2 (non c-clip) 10 bolt's strength, but there is a lack of parts available. The 8.2" BOP rear axles were only made from 1965-70 for BOP A-bodies, there is very little aftermarket support for them. Not to mention how difficult the bearings are to track down (discontinued, etc.) 68-72 axles are longer by about 2'', as is the 8.5 (which also uses C-clips) so I can't use those rears. 65-7 Chevelle 12 bolts (uses c-clips???) are impossible to find and are very exspen$ive. If built correctly (using aftermarket parts -- NOT stock parts), which it will be, I have nothing to worry about. The Chevy 8.2 c-clip design was used by Camaros, Chevelles, and Novas, which had some serious motors under the hood...Not to mention I'm not running 900hp..... so that's why I went with the Chevy 8.2 .... Your thoughts?
8.2 2.78 gears I have an 8.2 10 bolt in my 64 Skylark. I took out the 2.78 gears and cone and installed 355 Richmond gears and an Auburn Posi. The gears I took out and the cone (at least I think that is what it is called) is OK and I will give it away if anyone wants to come get it or pay for shipping. e-mail me if interested. skylark@swbell.net Karl
Dan your skylark has the smaller bearings and they are still readily available. as for axles they are the same for 64-67 lemans. cutlass, and skylark 10 bolt rears. I'm not positive but i think the chevelle rear may require a driveline modification due to a slight difference in length. Just a little additional info on the 10 bolt in camaros chevelles and novas.. that rear was only used in low hp applications such as low hp 283, 307,350 and 6 cylinders. all high hp cars got the 12 bolt. I have had a couple friends lose 1/4 panels from C clips coming off and i guess i'm a little leary of them, i do know that the parts for the chevelle rear ends are less exspensive than the BOP parts. sounds like you have taken all this into consideration and know what your doing. :TU:
Like Dan, I've run across my share of destroyed 1/4 panels from broken c-clip axles. History has proven, the 8.2 Chevy 10 bolts are a weak design & from doing 100's of swappers, undesirable after dumping money in them. Hardly worth sinking more than a couple hundred dollars in as a ready to roll rear. Only time, anymore, we build the Chevy 8.2's is for the occasional old fart who already has cobbled one into his put-a-round street rod. Before sinking a lot of $$$ in new posi, ring & pinion, & a build on a Chevy 8.2, might consider the alternative... the versatile 8.5 A-body rear. The 8.5's have: - very wide parts availability, - are as strong as a stock 12 bolt & can be built extremely HD, - use tapered bearing axle bearings (no sealed axle bearing to seize), - &, are not 2"s wider than the early 8.2's. Have built & installed dozen of 8.5's in '64-67 A-bodys. Probably the tightest fit was in a '64 Malibu. With the right offset of 15x8.5 wheels, we managed to get 275-60's up in the wheelwheels of that particular Malibu. Hope this helps. :3gears: Roger
I think that everyone is misunderstanding me... I realize the 8.2 isn't as stout as the 8.5 inch unit, but it can certianly handle small block Buick performance on a daily driver. Even if it isn't the strongest axle of the bunch, the 8.2 inch unit is easy to find parts for, and the prices of performance parts for this unit are very reasonable. Plus don't 8.5's use c-clips also? And I could have sworn that the overall length is longer than a 64-7 8.2...I don't want to change my wheels either (Cragar S/S mags come only in one backspacing) The 8.2 '66 Chevy housing I found had good axles, as well as a good ring & pinion (3.36)... So new bearings, and a posi-unit and I'm set.... I spoke with the shop inquiring about c-clip eliminators, and they said that they were "not needed for my application", and that I have nothing to worry about for my application. "C-clips are fine for street applications." If money were no option, I would have Moser build me a custom Ford 9" or a 12 bolt. But this is for my daily driver. 3004v & 2004r .... This is not a 900hp, 8 second car....BUT ------------------ now you guys have me worried... FOR MY APPLICATION this rear end will work just fine. Correct????????? Yes or No
I agree with the 8.5 rearend swap. Don't mess with the 8.2 chevy rear. I have an 8.5 10-bolt in my 70, out of a junkyard 72 skylark. The rear had a 2.73 posi when I got it, and my dad had an extra 3.73 ring and pinion. The 3.73's are kinda steep for the highway, (my car spins 2800 @ 65 with a 27" tire) but they give the car an awesome holeshot. If I were you, I'd build and 8.5" 10-bolt with a 3.42 posi. 3.42's are good on the highway, but you can still use them at the strip. Kevin
I'm looking into the BOP 8.2" replacement parts now and have found Auburn makes posi carriers for these and are readily available. (thanks Roger-see other thread on this) Now I just have to decide tto either utilize my existing 3.23 gears and hope they never break, or get the carrier for 3.36 and up gears and get 3.55's, the lowest(numerically) gears readily available still. Olcar bearings has bearings and seals for the '65-I called today, $42 each + $9 fir the seals. No problems! Only wish I could get an Eaton that would work with the 3.23....
don't worry be happy Hi Dan. I hear (or read) what you're saying. I personally think for your usage and application the 10 bolt chev. with fresh brgs.,3.36 and new "posi" will be just fine. Been there, Done that & Abused it worse than you probably will on street tires. So my .02 is to go for it! Tim :grin:
Tim - FINALLY someone agrees with me!!! Everyone does have valid points... Everyone can't argee all the time... Heck, there are people that say the th350 would be a better swap than the 2004r I installed in my car... To each his own I guess... If I stayed with the BOP 8.2, it would cost me more, and I do not want 3.55 and numerically higher gears. And let us not forget the 8.5 used c-clips as well. -------------------------------------------- I called the driveline shop and voiced my concerns. I spoke with the owner, who has been building rearends for 30+ years... I asked him about the weakness of the c-clip rear end... His reply: "C-Clips are just fine on the street and the occasional drag race. In fact, I prefer the floating axle for street use. The only time the c-clip is problem is when you are hooking up A LOT of horsepower." What about c-clip eliminators? His reply: "You do not need c-clip eliminators for your application. C-clip eliminators tend to leak when they are driven daily." What would you do if you were me? "This swap (8.2 Chevy) is the way to go. If it were my car, I would want something that you can buy parts for if it broke down. (Chevy vs BOP 8.2). Don't worry about the c-clips." I wonder if he heard my sigh of relief...
I re-read this post to see where you were coming from and it looks like you have a good setup for what you want-especially since the ring and pinion are a good ratio! I'm for it- plus it seems like a good fit with the transmission. Since I already have the 3.23's in the BOP thats how I'll go-and hope they never go bad, cause you are right about no aftermarket on the lower gears anyway.
I may have a nice set of 3.08 gears and a tight posi carrier available shortly. just have to nail down a 3 series carrier for my 3.36 gears first.
I got my rearend back today. The specs: NEW Eaton posi, seals, bearings, pinion nut, & crush sleeve. USED pinion yoke, axle shafts, and I kept the 3.36 ring/pinion. 2 qts. Torco racing gear oil, GM posi additive... Cleaned, blasted, & painted... I will be installing it this weekend, along with new control arm bushings... I will let you know how it works out when I finish my disc brake swap. Thanks for everyone's opinions.
Chevy 8.2 Hi Dan. Since you have stayed with the original gears there is no gear "break in" time required. You may want to take a few short trips to "warm" the bearings but I only do that to be precautionary. Sounds like you're READY TO RUMBLE! :laugh:
