What options are there for someone wanting to put a deeper gearset(like a 3.91) and a posi unit into a 1961 housing? Will the repro fabcraft early Olds stuff work in the Buick rear, or is a person stuck trying to find 50 year old used pieces that are still useable? Thanks, Tom
Allrighty then................ next question, hope this one gets more replies than the last question. Will a ring and pinion from a 59-60 torque tube car work in a 61 rear????? Does anyone know anything about these rears, as far as what will interchange between the different years???? Any info is appreciated.
For fullsize, Olds/Pontiac interchange but Buick is different. You can not use 1956-1960 Buick torque tube ring and pinions in 1961-1962 rear ends because the end of the pinion gear is different. You might be able to use 1963-1970 gears, but the pinion flange for 1961-1962 is different than 1963-1970 and I think the splines for the flange are slightly different too, but they both have 28 splines. The 1961-1962 open drive center sections will bolt into the 1956-1960 housings and the 1959-1962 posi units will also fit 1956-1958. Here is some axle shaft spline and length info: Axle shaft spline count: 1937: 10 spline axles (Series 80 and 90) 1937-1955: 12 spline axles (Series 40, 50, 60, and 70) 1938-1942: 13 spline axles (Series 80 and 90) 1956-1962: 33 spline axles (fullsize) 1963-1970: 30 spline axles (fullsize) 1971-1976: 31 spline axles (fullsize) Axle shaft length: 1956-1958: 29.5 in. right, 27.25 in. left (Series 40 and 60) 1956: 31.0625 in. right, 29 in. left (Series 50 and 70) 1957-1958: 30.5 in. right, 28.25 in. left (Series 50, 70, and 700) 1959-1960: 30 in. right, 27.75 in. left (all fullsize) 1961-1962: 30.5625 in. right, 28 in. left (all fullsize) 1963: 30.5625 in. right, 28.25 in. left (all fullsize, excl. Riviera) 1963-1965: 29.5 in right, 27.1875 in. left (Riviera) The carriers break like this: Carrier 1 = 2.78, 3.07, 3.23 Carrier 2 = 3.36, 3.42, 3.58, 3.91, 4.45 I've attached some pictures, hopefully they help.
Full size, 61 Invicta Ted. Thanks for the info guy's. I need to put together a 3.91 posi for a 61 Invicta. Have access to 1960 gears, and was hoping they would work in a 61 center section.
What ratio for 1960, 3.91? I have a set of NOS 3.36 1961-1962 gears I'd trade for either 1956 or 1960 3.91 gears.
Ok what is the difference between the 61 62 and the 63-64 Buick pinion? The spline count? Length? I have a set of 3.42 gears and was wondering what year they will fit now? I know I am suppose to know the rear diff stuff BUT even I have limits of how far and what we normally build. LOL Jim CAN NEVER STOP LEARNING.....
I was always under the impression that the later '63-'65 gears could be used with an early '61-'62 carrier, and that the only difference was axle spline count.
The spline count is the same (28). In my post with the pictures, the picture of the 1961-1962 pinion gear is from my NOS 3.36 set. I have also shown pictures with a used 1961-1962 pinion flange and a NOS 1963-1970 pinion flange. All I know is the 1961-1962 pinion flange slides right onto the 1961-1962 pinion gear, but the 1963-1970 flange won't. I didn't want to force it, but you might get it to go on if you hit it with a hammer, how easily should it slide on? Other than that, the 1961-1962 and 1963-1970 gears appear to be the same, so they should interchange, but you might need to use the corresponding year's pinion flange. Here is a good thread on the later 9 3/8" rear ends: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?71740-9-3-8-quot-rear-differences Post #9 in that thread also talks about using 1963-1970 gears in 1971 and later rear ends.
