In this version, the axles bolt to the housing ends just as on a Ford 8- or 9-inch. These are highly sought after, and as such, are hard to find. These axle assemblies had bolt-in axles and were used sporadically in A-Body wagons as well. To help you identify the 8.2-inch housing, remember that it may have an irregular-shaped cover or a round cover, but it does not have lugs as on the 8.5-inch.Ī variant of this axle assembly was used in 1971–1972 Buick GSs and Skylarks, Oldsmobile Cutlasses, and some 1969–1972 Pontiac Grand Prixs, as well as the 1970–1972 Monte Carlos. Most 8.5 10-bolts are C-clip axles, so a set of C-clips retains the inner end of the axle shaft inside the carrier. The pinion shaft diameter is 1.625 inches with 28 or 30 splines, which is the same as the GM 12-bolt design. The 8.5-inch differentials have 103/4-inch hex head bolts with 7/16-20-inch left-hand thread or reverse-thread bolts that hold the ring gear to the carrier. The distance between the lower cover bolt and either adjacent bolt is 33/4 inches. The covers are often 11 inches round with a bulge on the driver’s side for the ring gear or a 105/8-inch irregular shape with the same bulge. These should be square blocks, each with the outer side 90 degrees (vertical) to the road and the bottom-side surface horizontal to the road. Most 8.5-inch 10-bolts have two lugs on the bottom of the housing at the 5 and 7 o’clock positions. The axles are retained by a set of C-clips on the inner end of the axle shaft inside the carrier. The pinion diameter is 1.438 inches with 25 splines. Inside the 8.2, the ring gear bolts have 9/16-inch socket heads with 3/8-24 threads. Also, these surfaces run cooler because of their sheer size. The 8.5- and 8.6-inch provide superior performance and have a larger ring and pinion gear surface to handle high horsepower. These sizes refer to the diameter of the ring gear, and the one you use makes a big difference in the performance potential. That is the great caveat there are four sizes of 10-bolt GM rear ends: 7.5/7.625-, 8.2-, 8.5-, and 8.6-inch. The 10-bolt can handle just about anything you throw at it, as long as you use the right axle, either the 8.5- or 8.6-inch. Even though it has been used in every major GM rear-wheel-drive platform, the 10-bolt has a bad reputation for being a low-performance unit. The GM 10-bolt rear end is quite possibly the most misunderstood and undervalued rear differential ever created. You can copy and paste this link to share: SHARE THIS ARTICLE: Please feel free to share this article on Facebook, in Forums, or with any Clubs you participate in. For a comprehensive guide on this entire subject you can visit this link: This Tech Tip is From the Full Book, CHEVY DIFFERENTIALS: HOW TO REBUILD THE 10- AND 12-BOLT. Please expect I'll be commenting after many of you replies and Re-ask questions above, I find that in the majority of multi layered questions, only the first question is either read or answered (perhaps It's better to ask one at a time). We all know by now Dana 60 diffs are strong and preferred and Lots of used Dana 60 diffs with axles, usually from the front of a Ford truck are found for sale, are these modified for rear use by refitting axles and tubes? Is there such a thing as a rear too big or too heavy to use in a muscle car build? Those old GM 9.3" rears are supposed to be really strong, Ford 9" rears too, is it worth altering for a custom application or is it better just buying a new rear made to order from the factory? All these questions are assuming fair welding experience but no heavy equipment is owned or have access to, such as a mill or a lathe. I have an idea that welded brackets can be cut off and new ones added but how far does that go? Where do you begin? Ads are full of rears for sale, when can they work for your application? details and questions may need to be reworded to be understood. I see all these posts on picking ratios and which is the strongest but what about making old rears fit new builds? Note: These questions and answers could vary depending on application.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |