Hi, I was wondering if someone can help me identify the rear end that I have installed my car. I'm looking to upgrade to my car to posi, and can't tell what size my gears are. My car is a '71 Skylark Custom coupe. Reading about the specs, it sound like my car should have an 8.5" 10 bolt rear, but the current rear end looks different from a Gm 8.5" and may have been changed out at some point. Here are a couple photos of the existing housing: View attachment 306336 View attachment 306337 Can anyone identify this rear from the photos? Do I have an 8.2" 10-bolt installed? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks,
Another way to tell is to look at the attachment of the rear u-joint to the rear yoke. The 8.5 used brackets with cap screws and the 8.2 used u bolts and nuts.
Thanks, Larry. Does this look like it may be the original rear from the car? If so, do you know if the original rear have a 28 or 30 spline gear?
Looks original to me. They were 28 spline stock axles. That is the rear in my car. Mine was out of a 71GS350. I bought new 30 spline Moser axles, a 30 spline Eaton Posi, and 3.73 Yukon gears. http://jdrace.com/diff_id/10b85.htm
One last question for you, My goal is to get some more power from my gears and add a posi carrier to it. If I take a closer look existing setup, and find that it has all of the original equipment (open, 2.56 or 2.73 gears), would a kit like this have all that I need to upgrade the rear end? http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-8-5-10-B...Parts_Accessories&hash=item338d7e74a2&vxp=mtr
Looks like it to me. Before buying that though, I would ask our expert here on V8, Monzaz. His website is www.jdrace.com He may be able to save you money. I would at least give him a call or PM him to see. I don't know what the quality of the E Bay stuff is.
i have a '66 skylark and planning on doing the same thing. shopping around and even thinking of shortening the rear end an inch on both sides
Long way to send us a housing to narrow... I can do it though. Why not buy offset wheels instead if your in the market for rims etc. Jim
