Heres a real head scratcher...need some help

Discussion in 'Got gears?' started by 70skylarkcusto, Jul 26, 2014.

  1. 70skylarkcusto

    70skylarkcusto God, Country, Cars

    here we go....
    Went to replace the pinion seal today and wow what a day it turned into. by the time I had finally gotten the pinion seal out and was ready to put the new one in, it did not fit. Thinking summit racing had screwed up my order I called and was assured I not only got the right part but that this seal did indeed fit a stock 70 skylark. Not only did they not look exactly the same ( the one I pulled out had a flared end) but the old seal is 4mm smaller than the one I was trying to install. After talking to someone from tech there he came to the conclusion I must have had a rear axle swap at some point in the life of the car which is entirely possible since I am the third owner.

    heres where it gets interesting.
    from all the searching on the internet I can find the bolt pattern and diff cover are that of a 8.2 or 8.5 Buick rear axle which both take the seal which I had tried to install.

    So I guess here is my question..... What could I possibly have in my skylark that looks like a buick rear end, but has a pinion seal which is 4mm smaller than stock (overall diameter 2.36 inches)

    Not sure where to go from here. any suggestions?
     
  2. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    Post a pic of the cover and we can ID it for you
     
  3. JESUPERCAT

    JESUPERCAT No Slow Boat

    Clean what is left of the seal and see what numbers are visible if any.
     
  4. 70skylarkcusto

    70skylarkcusto God, Country, Cars

    This is the best picture I can get of it at the current moment. If this isnt good enough let me know photo.jpg
     
  5. BrunoD

    BrunoD Looking for Fast Eddie

    I can't see it clearly,but it looks like the 8.2,not the 8.5.Bruno.
     
  6. 70skylarkcusto

    70skylarkcusto God, Country, Cars

    either way, from what I can find online it is the same seal for both 8.2 and 8.5
     
  7. 70skylarkcusto

    70skylarkcusto God, Country, Cars


    Just cleaned it off more and found a number on the back, 1387449, after doing a quick search it looks like its out of a lesabre or a lemans, which, if its out of a lesabre would make sense as to why it has the buick style differential cover. So having said that I think the mystery is solved.
    thanks for your help guys
     

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