I've been restoring and rodding out a 65 Buick Skylark convertable for 6 years now. The 310 wildcat engine and TH300 tranny are gone and a fresh Chevy 350 (about 350 HP) and TH350 (non lockup) with 2800 stall converter have been installed with 28" tires on 15" Buick GS rims. The rear end is my next project. The original 10 bolt 8.2 BOP 2.56 ratio needs updating. I've been told the 65's use a shorter axle then latter models so I'm limitted on axles that with fit. An 8.5 12 bolt posi with around 3.08 ratio seems to be a good choice for stock Skylarks but my new engine/tranny set up has me confused on a good ratio to use. I will need the car for hyway cruising, parades and streeting cruising so I'm looking for a compromise between good launch and lower rev hyway driving. Please give me your recomendations. 65 Buick Skylark Convertable 85 Dodge Shelby Charger Turbo 02 Subaru WRX
specs Do you have some engine and tranny specs? duration of cam, lift compression, intake type, stall speed, etc. You probably picked the correct gear for it already 3.08 3.31 3.23 3.36 are all very good cruise and give a crisp throttle response caomared to anything in the 2 series gears. I would just like to know how your engine was built to make sure you have enough rpms for the cam you picked. Hope you did not go overboard with a street cruiser parade runner. lol. Jim
use If you not going to put a hurt on the rear... or not often why not just built that rear original diff you have? Put a posi all new bearings and find a set of good used 3.08 or 3.36 gears. Jim
Sounds like I could get buy with the old 10 bolt from your advise. The engine is a 4 bolt, 4 barrel, daul plane intake, 10:1 ratio with stock heads and valves. Cam is mild (I forget the specs) and dual 2 1/2" exhaust with headers. The Flowmaster 40 series mufflers sound lean and mean. I will be updating the heads and cam at some point (That is where the 350 HP comes from). I found a set of 3.08's and 3.36's for the original 8.2 BOP 10 bolt. The 3.08's require a used posi carrier which is hard to find in good condition. The 3.36's will work with the aftermarket posi carriers that are still available (I think). I'm assuming that you could sell me a rebuild kit for it? Any posi carrier's laying around in your shop that would work? Do most rear disc brake kits fit these 8.2's?
rear diff 8.2 Yes you can, esspecially if it is street bound ride. I only have ne wat the moment 8.2 BOP Auburn 379.00. 3/8 ring gear bolts. Eatons are way out of this world at 489.00. Jim Rebuild kit- 85.00 Bolts shims gasket marking compound bearings seal etc. axles bearings do not come with this ...but i can supply them seperately if you need. Jim
Well someone wanted the 3.08's more than me. I bought a set of 2.93's last year for a good price and I guess I'll go with them. Still need a posi carrier that will fit em. I've been told the posi carrier for the 3.08 - 3.36 will also fit the 2.93's. Know of anyone that has a used posi carrier in good shape for sale?
Posi Carrier nO USED AT THE MOMENT... Yes I think roger said there were 4-5 different carriers for the 8.2 buicks pontiac has 4 different carriers. Since the axles are bolt in you can get away with a close series carrier and shim it over a bit. With c-clip rears the tolerances are much more critical because the c-clip has to havwe enough room for the axle to slide enough in to put the clip on the end of the axle and recess them into the side gear. If the carrier is shimmed to far one way or the other to get the proper pattern because of the wrong carrier series used you may not get one axle in because of this. If you need a NEW one let me know I am going to order real soon . Take care. Jim
