Hi guys, I have a line on a 62 rear axle out of a Flexible Hearse. I have heard that the hearse and ambulances came with higher numerical gear ratios to handle the extra weight. Does anyone know what gear ratio would have likely been used?o No: Thanks, Tim
The standard rear gear in '62 was a 3.23; 3.36's, 3.58's, 3.91's, and 4.45's were available though. Also, if I remember correctly, another board member had a '61 hearse that had 3.23's. I'd be willing to bet it has 3.23's.
Yep, any vehicle that was used for any type of emergency service usually had a slightly lower gear in the back.... raise the rear end up so you can get to the bottom of the case and wire brush it off real good and usually there will be numbers stamped on the out side of the case telling what gear was factory installed.... 08 would be a 3.08,,, 23 would be a 3.23,,, 93 would be a 2.93,,,, ect.... A circle with an x in the middle of it indicates a posi....
Thanks guys! This is a true rust belt car that has been sitting outside since the early eighties. The differential housing has been in the dirt a very looonnnggg time, doubt the identification numbers are still there! Looks like I may have to take a chance! Tim
If you remove the rear cover this should be a given. if the car has been sitting for 20 years, it's almost certain that there is a not insignificant amount of rust on the portion of the gears that were sitting above the gear lube. i'd take the whole thing apart and put new seals and bearings in it. it would be stupid to throw this thing under a car and burn up the rear end because there was too much crud in the gear lube or the seals were used up or something.
Guys, A 62 has a removable carrier, no bolt on rear cover. Not trying to install the axle into ANYTHING, it is still under the hearse! Just trying to get information about a possible gear ratio to determine if it is worth purchasing. Thanks, Tim
Yep, and it takes TWO 500lb. gorillas to lift it in and out, but like Bob said there is a good chance that there is water from condensation that has caused rust inside.... I bought a riv that had this problem, had to change out the ham and that fixed the thing..... after....i removed all the rusty crud from the inside of the case, replaced the axel brgs.,,,, lube,,,, ect,,, and replaced the blue glue gasket that allowed water to get inside the gear housing with a good factory type gasket that I had to make myself....dont trust rtv to seal the housing.... buy or make a good gasket....
Ok,the 62' buick has the stampings on the drivers side axle tube. I have been a 62' nut for 25 years now and IF you have an "X" stamped on the bottom of the drop out carrier, you have a posi too! Good luck. 1962 Buick Wildcat 401/dynaflow, 3:42 posi from a 63' riv.... Could you please send me some pics to mr62buick@yahoo.com I would love to see the hearse..... and where r u located? I think that car would be a great for a parts hauling rig for any business! You could pull out the casket slider thingy, load the engine blocks on it, slide em back in, and there your off...
Mr62, I don't have any pictures yet, but the hearse is well picked over and extremely rusted. If I can borrow my digital camera from my daughter the next time I go out to the "resting place" I'll snap some pjotos and try to post them here! Andy, I've got a couple of dead dynaflows here and am planning a "Dynaflow Day" on a Saturday in January or February to pull one of them apart and see what is wrong. I have a reseal kit and am going to order up an overhaul set, too. I'll let you know when this is happening if you are interested, I think one of your posts mentioned that you are in the Twin Cities? Take Care, Tim
Tim, if you would let me know when your going to do it, that would be great. I'm not sure that I'd be able to make it but I'll give it a helluva try! Steve, you've got me drooling! One day I'd like to build up a two door '62. And how the heck did you fit 15in Cragars over those massive finned drums?
well, since I bought my first 62' in 1985, I ALWAYS wanted the riviera ralley wheels or cragars to fit. But, the center parts wouldnt fit over the hubs on the riv ralley rims, and the rims wouldnt fit over the exterior part of the fins for the cragars I was kind of stuck on the ralley wheels, I had to beat out the centering ring on the ralleys then put a few flat washers as spacer on the drum before putting on the rim..... then recently a customer of mine BOB Patterson who used to own "Bob Patterson Tires" here in portland oregon told me that yes the cragar ss rims would fit on the large 12" buick drums. He told me to put the drums on a brake lathe and cut off the top leading edge of the rims (fins). Then, remove the drums from the lathe and fit on the rims, keep cutting material off until the rims fit. Since the original steel wheels were solid, they needed the fins as much as possible. But, since the cragars didnt need as much fins since they were more open and breathable, removing the edges of the fins didnt pose a problem to me. So, the rears took about an hour each to cut off the fins and machine the edges so they arent rough. Then, I took the 3 rivets from the front hubs, drilled them out of the drum, and pulled the from drums off of the spindles and took a small ball peen hammer to the edges of the fins. The aluminum rims were alot faster at 15 minutes each. I have a donor car, so I also removed the left hand threaded studs, and replaced them with right hand threaded studs. So, the wildcat in the pics have all right hand threaded studs for the lugs to work, and my donor car has all lefties. Enclosed are a few pics of the job...
Hey cameo, if you would like my dynaflow when I am done with it, your more than welcome to it. It has 43,000 miles on it. I am going to update the trans to a 700r4 4 speed. I have a posi with 3:42's in the 62 buick, and this would do alot better ang get mme alot more gas mileage. Also, a 1963, 64 or 65 posi will work in your 62 4 door. I have a extra 63 posi, but I am gonna send it in to some diff place and see if anything is interchangable so we can have these readily available with current parts for the 61-65 buicks. Steve
Steve, From what I have been able to come up with, the clutch plates are available. Bearings shouldn't be an issue either. Side gears and pinion gears (spyder gears) and the ring and pinion are the parts that no one is reproducing. Was there a change in the number of axle shaft splines from 28 to 30 in the early 60's? Thanks, Tim
The 61 and 62's used 33 splined axles and the 63,4,5's used 30 splined axles. I have a set of NOS 62' posi side gears that I am going to see if these are producable. Also, what about the posi carrier? does anyone make that? is there an aftermarket one that will fit? Yes, the posi clutches are a GM product and the bearings are good too. I used a 63 pumpkin, 63 posi carrier, 62 axle supports, (these are the pieces that are held in the case by the one bolt on each side and the axles fit in these, they also have a small bronze bushing in them) Then I had the axles resplined to 30. Worked great! I also read in my manual, they made 4:15 or something like that, gears for it too. Has anyone seen these??? talk about rare... I have 3:42's in the car, and the stock 3:31's from the original 62 wildcat pumpkin are on my shelf.
Yes, they are 4.45. I have one brand new set & one used set. I also have 3.90's. Talking about rare is 4.10's. Tried to have these re-produced without much interest.
