POSI Options for 64' Skylark???

Discussion in 'Got gears?' started by Conner, Sep 22, 2009.

  1. Conner

    Conner Well-Known Member

    My apologies if this topic exists in another thread. I have searched for a little over an hour and was unable to find anything.

    My car is
    • 1964 Skylark 2dr Hardtop
    • Replaced 300 small block with Buick 455 and TH350 with mild shift kit
    • Has original non-posi rear end (not sure ratio or amount of bolts)
    • Will not be taking this car to the strip....only street
    I am looking into options about getting POSI. Looking for some advice from people who have done the same or are experts in this field.
    • Should I replace the whole rearend with a POSI rearend?
      • If so, which years/makes could I pull the rearend from that would be a direct bolt on?
    • Should I replace the pumpkin with a POSI pumpkin?
      • If so, which year/make could I pull the pumpkin from that would be a direct bolt on?
    • Should I replace the carrier with a POSI carrier?
      • If so, where is the best place to buy it and what gear ratios are the best for everyday crusing (won't be racing it at the strip)?
    Also, I am trying to do this in the most cost effective (cheapest basically) manner. Thanks.

    Jason
     
  2. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    From the www.jdrace.com site

    Ring Gear Diameter 8.2 B.O.P. Buick Olds (single lower webbing)

    Pontiac (diagonal upper webbing and lower webbing)
    Cover Bolt Count 10
    Ring gear Bolt count 10
    Ring Gear Bolt Size 3/8 Fine Right Hand Thread (11/16 socket headed bolt)
    Axle Spline 28 bolt in axle 60 degree spline
    Yoke style U bolt & nut Universal joint retention (reference picture)
    Pinion Spline 27
    Carrier Ratio Breaks 2.56-2.78 / 2.93-3.23 / 3.36- 4.33 and up
    Pinion Diameter 1.438 <<<<<< AFTERMARKET 8.2 GEARS WILL FIT THESE HOUSINGS
    Axle Shaft Diameter 1.382 press on bearing
    Supported Cars:
    Car Year
    GTO Tempest Lemans 64-67
    Cutlas F-85 64-67-
    Skylark 64-67
    Rebuild Kit Includes
    Part Part Number
    Carrier Bearing LM501349
    Carrier Bearing (Race) LM501314
    Inner Pinion Bearing 89449
    Inner Pinion Bearing (Race) 89410
    Outer Pinion Bearing 86649
    Outer Pinion Bearing (Race) 86610
    Pinion Seal (BUICK) single lower webbing only 8620
    Pinion Seal (PONTIAC) diagonal webbing 2043
    (BUICK GS) 66 67 AXLE BEARING RW507GR (AR)
    (BUICKGS) 66 67 AXLE SEAL 8594S
    Axle Bearing 64 65 66 sealed bearing RW507CR
    Axle Seal 64 65 66 inner tube seal 8594S
    Mega Axle Bearing Kit
    StatCounter - Free Web Tracker and Counter

    Best way is to replace the carrier with a Posi carrier. 3.08 is a great all around ratio. I would PM Monzaz right here on V8. Bet he could hook you up with everything you need and at a great price. jdrace is his site.
     
  3. Snowbound

    Snowbound Well-Known Member

    Hi Jason,

    Your car should have the early style 8.2" rear if it has not been changed. You can get gears and posi units for them, but I have been told they are not the strongest rear ends. If you aren't abusing it, it should be fine.

    If you someday get the urge to race the car, you might think about a '71-72 BOP 8.5" 10 bolt rear, which also have gears and posi units available. 12 bolt rears are good if you can find one.

    You will have to change to the newer style springs if you use a '67 up rear. Other than that, it should be a direct bolt in.

    On my small block car, it was easier and cheaper to just use the factory 10 bolt and install the gears and posi in it. No messing with brakes, drive shaft length, springs, etc. They didn't even have to remove the rear from the car.

    Good luck,
    Brian
     
  4. Conner

    Conner Well-Known Member

    Larry -

    Thanks for the information. I just found a 10 bolt POSI rear end from a 68 Camaro in my area for $80. When comparing the Rebuild kit parts for my rearend to the listing on JDRACE for a 68 camaro parts they are the same except for the Pinion Seal. Does this mean I should be able to transplant the carrier from the 68 Camaro rear end into my rear end?
     
  5. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Maybe, I would ask Monzaz (Jim) He would know for sure.
     
  6. techg8

    techg8 The BS GS

    the camaro was a chevy 8.2" rear, the posi unit would not swap into a buick rear.

    But you should definitely snap up that camaro posi axle. The posi unit in it is worth much more than that if it is the original unit to the axle. Sell the posi unit on ebay to finance your project.
     
  7. yacster

    yacster Lv the gun tk the Canolis

    Hey there Conner- A Camaro rear is a leaf spring style as opposed to the A-body cars which were all coil spring. A 68-72 rear will be an inch wider than the rear you currently posess. It will work but you will have to change the offset on the wheels if you go to wide tires (stock sizes will work). I suggest you look for an 8.5" 10 bolt. The Buick rears have axles that bolt in, a safer feature, but you did say you are not going to the strip so that is not a worry.
    Of course it will be easier to find a rear out of a Chevelle, but troll CL, here and E-bay I see them all the time. Make sure its a Posi and an easy way to estimate gear ratio is to mark the brake drum and mark the pinion. Spin the drum slowly one revolution and see how many times the pinion spin (3 and 1/2= 3.55, 3 and a little more =3.08 etc.) I would always open a rear up befor buying it, just check all the teeth on all of the gears inside and make sure they are not broken or chipped, check the oil and the housing for metal. - Good luck :TU:
     
  8. Conner

    Conner Well-Known Member

    Thanks guys, I will definitely get the Camaro axle for the POSI carrier unit for resale. Was never looking to use the whole rearend. I just assumed since the carrier bearings, pinion bearings etc etc are the same part numbers for a Chevy 8.2 10 bolt and a BOP 8.2 10 bolt that the carrier would work in both. At any rate, thanks for the input.
     
  9. Joe65SkylarkGS

    Joe65SkylarkGS 462 ina 65 Lark / GN

  10. ubushaus

    ubushaus Gold Level Contributor

    Actually you keep your current springs. The bottom end where the spring meets the axle housing is the same from '64-'72 (from '64-'66 the spring is bolted to the axle, from '67-'72 the spring slips over the perch). The top end of the spring is different between '64-'66 (wide mouth) and '67-'72 (skinny mouth).
     
  11. monzaz

    monzaz Jim

    Ok... here we go.

    Your Buick is the narrowest of all the A-body rears. 53 1/4 backing plate to backing plate.
    Your cheapest and best option is buying a posi unit and or gears rebuild kit.

    Your camaro posi will not work in the buick as chevy and BOP units have different 28 spline angles for splines. The axles for your buick will slide in BUT they will rock and be loose fit cause premature failure under heavy loads.
    Next the carrier series break from chevy to BOP is different. All depends on the gear ratio you want to run as to the carrier you need to buy. 2 3 4 series carrier.
    2.56 -2.78 is all alone
    2.93-3.23 another series break
    3.36-4.33 is another

    So not only do you need to find the correct BOP unit but you need the correct series carrier for the ratio you are running.

    Bearings are very available
    New gear choices are 3.36 3.55 3.73 3.90 4.10 even 4.56 and 4.88 if you can still find them.

    New posi units are also avaiable 2.93-3.23 carrier and 3.36-4.33 carrier
    Auburn, eaton, power trax units that will all provide posi action. Prices vary

    The unit linked to ebay has NO description on condition or series so it is a shot in the dark unless you ask the seller and he or she may not even know exactly what they have...be careful and unless you have the definete condition and series i would pass.

    For your 3.08 you will need a 2.93 3.08 3.23 carrier AND it must be from a Oldsmobile, Buick or Pontiac A-body from 1964-1967 with 3/8" bolt holes in the carrier ring gear flange of the posi unit (the 10 holes that the 3/8" ring gear bolts go through to hold the ring gear to the carrier.

    Pictured is the carrier break examples i am talking about.

    Hope this helps. Jim Mitschke

    I can help more just PM
     

    Attached Files:

  12. BrianTrick

    BrianTrick Brian Trick

    The factory 8.2 BOP axles are a little on the soft side,& can twist or spin the bearings.I would pull each shaft out & check where the bearing is pressed-on.If the inner hub of the bearing is spinning on the shaft,then they are on the way out,& a new set of shafts would be recommended.As long as those are good,& you stay with your current intentions for the car,then you would be fine getting a posi carrier,gears,& bearing kit to redo your existing rear.
     
  13. sd-slider

    sd-slider Blue Skies!

    I am currently going over all of my options to get my GN 3.8 Turbo/200R4 drivetrain installed into my 64 Skylark Hardtop. I will probably be set up for 300-350HP with my intended mods and would be curious to know how well the stock re-geared rear would fare under normal cruising and the occasional "romp"....no racing plans with this particular setup.

    I had originally planned to "tweak" the spare GN 8.5 3.42 posi rear that I have to work in the 64. Between the spring perches needing replaced/relocated, 1" narrower @ 52 1/4"), adjustable UCA's, and, the shortened driveshaft, I started looking at my other options.

    I am trying to find the best overall solution with the least amount of modifications(ones that I will no doubt be paying for...).

    So, based on all of the opinions, facts, and recommendations in this thread, any suggestions on what would be my best scenario....

    It's really hard to find "good deals" in Southern California with all of the competition and parts hounds snatching everything up for resale...

    On a side note, were the 65 Skylark rear inner fender wells wider than the 64? The reason I ask is for comparison to a similar project that I have some notes from.

    Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.

    Eric
     
  14. monzaz

    monzaz Jim

    Conner, ever figure out the rear situation?

    You kind of need to decide on what you will be doing with the car most of the time. Some track and mostly street duty you will be fine with the 8.2 Buick rear. It truely is the less has cheapest way to go even with NEW parts...If you have a keeper car you will be glad you spent the money as you will not need to worry about a maybe used rear replacement on the cheap. Jim
     
  15. sd-slider

    sd-slider Blue Skies!

    Thanks.

    It's so easy to get sidetracked looking for every "overkill" solution and lose sight of what you will actually "need". :(

    It will be a few years before I get enough torque and HP to actually stress the "re-geared" stocker. My primary focus at this point is to have a clean cruiser that can eat a little rice from time to time. :beers2:

    =Eric

    =Eric
     
  16. sd-slider

    sd-slider Blue Skies!

    Question for monzaz, Is the information from your site in the attached link the correct parts/specs for the 64 Skylark? If so, my rear guy is going to follow it for the re-gear.

    JD RAce BOP Early Rear Specs

    Thanks,
    Eric
     
  17. monzaz

    monzaz Jim

    Yes but best to ask as there are probably extra number because they site covers 64-67 and in those years wagon and later 67 GS had different axle bearings. Everything else should be the same. IF you have ANY questions just ask me through PM or on the forum web site . Jim
     
  18. monzaz

    monzaz Jim

    Just double check the numbers and your good with those. :)

    The title I need to fix from 65-67 to 64-67...lol. OOOPs:Comp:
     
  19. wkillgs

    wkillgs Gold Level Contributor

    Eric, I'd suggest searching for a 71-72 A-body 8.5 inch housing. It'll be about an inch wider than the 65. You can easily modify the spring perches to work with 64-66 springs.
    You could swap in the 3.42 GN innards, then sell the GN housing for some good $$.
     
  20. sd-slider

    sd-slider Blue Skies!

    Found a 12-bolt rear that is supposedly out of a 68 442 w/ 3.43 gears. It's an open rear with the exact gearing I'm looking for...:)

    Any experts have any idea if this will work n a 64 Lark?
     

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