so will 8.5 3.42 gears out of a 90's caprice or truck work in my 71 olds 8.5 rear end ?will the old 71 pinion yoke still work?....thanks dave.
No, you can not use your old pinion. Gears are machined as a set so you need to use the pinion that goes with the ring gear.
thanks george but.... let me rephrase the q.im looking for 3.42 gears for my 71 8.5 housing.....it currently has 2.56 gears.i have a 3 series posi unit from a mid 80s gm car.if i find a 93 chevy caprice with an 8.5 rear and 3.42 gears will the work in my 71 housing?basically im asking are all 8.5 gears usable in all 8.5 rears?
Yes, that will work. Your best bet of finding 3.42 gears is from GM trucks from 73-up with the 8.5 rear. My research/yarding experience has shown that Suburbans, Blazers have them. If the truck rear looks untouched, you don't have to pull every cover. Just find the build sheet, usually on the driver's fenderwell or on the glovebox door inside mount. Look for gear code GU6. For 3.73, GU7
