I tried this before, and even I can't understand what I was trying to say then, so let me try again. I have a 67 skylark. This is the axle that is there now, I have no reason to think it is anything but the original. I "believe" this is the oldsmobile rear end. I have been quoted about $900 for a posi carrier, gears and bearing/rebuild set for this, but I am not 100% sure I described it correctly to the local guy. The car will be a weekend street, cruiser, non-track car, however I do want to run it a few times just to see what it is. If my budget is around $1100-1300, should I add the posi to this axle? Or attempt to find something else, and if so what? I want a posi in the 3:23 to 3:73 range so that it is snappy off the line and since it is for fun only, I'm not too worried about road mileage since it will be a fun car only, not daily driver. OH, and it has a (72-74 ish) 455 and I have now purchased the th400 trans to go in.
Looks like an "O" axle to me. 12 bolt cover, square ears at 5 and 7 that indicate 8.5" 10 bolt ring gear. Be sure your guy is quoting the right parts. If you were to buy a rebuilt 12 bolt chevy rear it would cost more than 900 If you were to buy a rebuilt BOP8.5" 10 bolt rear, Id say youre in the 900 ballpark Is the 900 you were quoted including the install or just the parts? was it all new parts?
PS, would this work for me? And is this a good choice? http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/pts/2444081804.html
that $900 quote was just the parts alone for my existing axle. The auto repair shop next door to me has an old guy over there that does all the rear axle work. I have personally seen him put together over 6 rear ends in the last 3 years, so I would have him do it. Not sure what he will charge me tho.
DOH! after reading your post, I noticed the square ears on the one on craigslist. I was just heading back here to delete that post. Sigh.
If youre not in a hurry I would shop around, looking for a BOP 8.5" 10 bolt posi rear to swap in. I think you would get more for your money.
I found a craigslist ad for a 12 bolt from a 1970 442, would this work? The ad states.... "Compleat drum to drum, 12bolt posi ,3.23 to 1 rato. came out of a 1970 ,442. dont need any more. Will fit all GM A bodys " It is a few miles away, but hey, whats 3 hours each way?
If it is a 442, it is probably the same as you have now with the 12 bolt cover and 10 bolt internals that won't work with anything else. If you want a Chevy 12 bolt, that probably isn't it.
You want to get a 71-2 Cutlass/Skylark 8.5"....those are the only 2 models that will have the rear......very easy to get parts and they are cheap to rebuild. You can get posi units and gears from any GM 8.5" from 1971-1987....many GM full size wagons have 3.08-3.23 gears w/posi carriers.....so all you would need is a bearing and seal kit....runs me about $400-450 w/labor here and the rear is like new.....good luck!
