been looking around with the search on this but haven't found anything for a width comparison. I've got a stock, 2.56 one-legger under my 66 Special right now. I happen to have a 3.31 with an auburn posi that came out of my 70 Camaro with an 8.2. If I can find a good Chevelle 8.2 housing to drop my gears and carrier in to will I gain anything width wise by going to the Chevelle housing? Just curious because I hate this carrier and gears just sitting here taking up space and I NEED gears in my special!! Thanks
Between A-body makes, the widths are the same. Widths change with the years. Your 66 is narrower, a 66 chevelle will be the same width..
Hi, 64-66 most all A-bodies are they same narrow width. 60 or 60.5 overall not positive. Mid-66 or 67 depending upon make 8.2 BOP and believe 67-68 Chevy got a inch wider 10 or 12 bolt The Chevy 8.2 is a weaker axle vs a 8.2 BOP that is in your 66, might be better of looking for a posi and gears for it, and sell the Chevy parts. BOP uses 3.08-3.23 on 1 carrier and 3.36 on up on another carrier Also springs mounts on 67 and up changed, but other than that you should be able to swap a later axle in as long as you have tire clearance to allow for the extra width Regards,
Definitely can’t go wider on the rearend as I already run an 18x9 wheel with a 275/40 tire in the rear. I have zero room to grow! lol I might just order a 9” for it and be done. I know the BOP rear is supposed to be stronger but it’s just not user friendly from my perspective for gears, posi carriers, etc. if I do a 9” I can have it built a couple of inches narrower and help me out some. Just a thought. Thanks
The BOP rears were only narrow for 64-65,and some very early 66’s got the leftovers. Chevy had the narrower rear from 64-67. When was your 66 built?
I would think you could sell the Camaro rear pretty easily. Then put the money into getting a correct 66 rear.
nah, my wife says the 70 has to stay because that's her favorite car. The new ZL1/1LE is a close second though. The Buick is a long-haul project although I'm sure she'll enjoy it once it's really drivable for more than around the block. The 5.3/4L60 I have for it will make it fun!
1966 the rears in the BOP were already wider at 55.25 1964 and 1965 are definitely narrow. You need to measure before you do anything so you have all your ducks in the correct rows. picture on how to measure your flange to flange width on the GM a-body and F-body rears Chevy 1964-1967 are narrower at 54.25 1968 is when the chevy rears got wider.
You can install the Chevy 8.2” guts into a BOP 8.2” housing,with a special pinion seal,but it’s not really worth it. I have done it for a few customers. Just sell the Chevy parts and buy the correct BOP parts.
Brian, He said he was going to look for a chevelle housing. That is what the measurement deal was all about. Reread his first post
bygblok, You need to figure out what you are going to be doing with this Buick. Then build accordingly. Meaning...Are you building this car to look and be more stock restored car? Or another street beast which seems like you already have in a newer vehicle. ?? On the street most any rear, trans, engine can be built to handle most any power on the street as traction is always an issue on the street. Track conditions being sticky is what put hurt on drive lines parts of any size. Heavy car, tons of torque and how it is delivered plus excellent traction adds up to broken parts. It is what we all deal with and it is the hurdle that we all try to maintain above. Everything has a breaking point. You have to make an educated guess where that is in your build and how far you want to go to stay above it and its needs. Jim
There are plenty of parts for the BOP rear you have under your Buick. Shoot a PM we can list then and price them out.
I did see that,but he “could” make everything work with what he has. He would need the special seal,and a Chevy 25-spline yoke. This would also require him to swap the rear u-joint to a 3R/1310 hybrid joint. He would retain his existing housing with his bolt-in axles. However,I would sell all of the Chevy parts,and get the BOP 8.2” parts.
Jim for the time being my 5.3 will be running n/a to get bugs worked out. It is a boost-built motor though and made a tick over 500rwhp on 8psi in another car. The motor is built for 20lbs but I’m going to keep it down at 13 for reliability. Oddly enough I’m building a distance touring car out of it because when I finally retire again(3rd time) my intent is to drive Route 66 and do some cross-country digs with it. Suspension is pretty much done other than air ride going under it at some point. All aftermarket arms and big sway bars, 18” wheels/tires etc. I’d try to run the bop rear but will probably bite the bullet for a custom width 9” to get another inch of clearance for the tires. I though I had read somewhere that the chevelle rearend was an inch or so shorter than my Buick so I thought I’d ask. Thanks for the responses though and it’s good for thought.
I did many of these when I started doing rears...lol. Over it now. every 5 years i might get a 3.08 into a Pontiac as they still have NEW 3.08 chevy gears. LOL.
That is why I said MEASURE first...Be sure what you have before buying or making any decisions . Pretty sure you Buick 66 rear is 55.25 even with flat perches. I always bought the flat perch 10 bolts thinking they were all narrow....NOT TRUE. Measure it to be sure. Then you could dom what you said with your camaro 8.2 guts into the chevy housing 64 65 66 67 . Only trouble is the axles from a 1970 camaro will be longer. Make sure the exact year of that camaro rear too by measuring it. if it is a 55.25 that is 1970 camaro 54.25 is a 67-69 camaro. If you have the 67-69 camaro you can use the axles in the early chevelle el camino housing also. Jim JD
I knew the camaro axles wouldn’t work, one of mine is slightly twisted at the spline anyway(surprised it didn’t break the gears or spilt the trans case) I’ve got plenty of time to consider options and if a lonely chevelle 12-bolt comes along on the cheap who knows? lol
On the cheap...lol. That was a good one. I do not even try to buy them anymore...Everyone thinks that have GOLD at the swap meets. I Buy New Moser 12 bolt housings at this point they are the same price the swap meet guys are selling old bent, pitted and twisted housings. I will pick it up LIKE you said on the cheap 300.00 and less. BUT at that price I am always assuming it has issues.
Well I'm in a jungle of what to do with my 1967 Buick skylark BOP 7.5 with 273 gears. It has a Super Turbine 400 switch pitch and a 455 engine swapped, Long tube headers, Poston intake, Holly 4 barrel . I been working on the issues that the previos owner must have gave up on. I bought the car online from Maple Motors. I'm sure you all have seen the video's on Youtube. They sell nothing but Muscle cars and the show you a complete test drive video. Well I saw this one and had to have it. Anyhow JIM Monzaz I saw your web page and was looking and you have everything I was looking for. I want to rebuild my 8.2 BOP rear end because I noticed the cross shaft has worn the carrier and the cross shaft is moving alot. Spider gears are loose, Ring and pinion are still ok.. But can't seem to find any parts CARRIER, must be able to fit a 273 ring gear.. And also was wondering If this BOP is to weak for my 455 engine that takes off really good launch and gets a mean tire spin on second gear. No Posi ? And pulls really good, I think I broke it ? Am I looking for a 9 inch custom $4,000 setup
You definitely don’t need a 9” for what you are doing. Your existing 8.2” can be rebuilt to handle your 455 just fine for a street cruiser. If this is something more of a street/strip,you can swap for a 71-72 8.5” 10-bolt,or a 12-bolt Chevy. The 67 Skylark has the same axle width as the 71-72 8.5” and the 68-72 12-bolt Chevy. The 8.5” swap will require you to shorten your driveshaft 3/4”. If the cross shaft in your existing carrier is moving around,the carrier itself is likely junk. Yes,the pin might be worn,but the bore that the pin is in is likely chewed out.
