A decent score?

I’ve been looking to update the rearend in my 66 special and kept looking at $3k+ prices for anything I came across. Decided to hit the swap meet in Moultrie Saturday to look some more. A buddy of mine saw a post about us going and what I was looking for and it turns out that another friend had a built 10-bolt from a 65 cutlass that had an Auburn posi and a 3.90 gear in it with just a few miles on it since he installed it. He decided it was too much gear for him and went to another complete rearend with a 3.31. I’m using a 4L60e so the 3.90 is perfect for me! Best part about it…………..$350 for the whole thing. Another puzzle piece put together!

 

Nice! Did you see anything “Buick” at Moultrie? I stopped going because as much fun as it was to look at everything, I never could find anything for a Buick.

 

Not really much for the Buick purist’s there. I’m in a little different spot because pretty much the only thing Buick on mine is the body and frame. Everything else has been changed from the motor/trans to the suspension and on to brakes. Restomod is fun but pretty challenging at times! We had wanted to go to Daytona this coming weekend for the Turkey Run but it appears that our grandsons first thanksgiving put that on hold for at least a year!

 

Where are you looking at $3k+ rearends? Jim it myself can fill the bill for almost half.
Take that $350.00 rearend and inspect and go through. It’s much easier when it’s out of the car. Check the pattern on the gears. Check to see if the bearings & seals have been replaced recently. Stuff like that.

 

It’s all fairly new internally Brian. I’ve been in the car it came out of also and it’s quiet and no vibration, put together with quality parts. I’ve been looking at 12-bolts and 9” rears which we’re going to be in the $3k range by the time I got it all done. I felt this was a pretty smoking’ deal for $350.

 

350 is a great deal for even just the housing, posi, and gears.......if you had to have all new bearing in its still a good deal

 

I went last yr for all 3 days. It takes that if you really dig through all the vendors. What helps me... I have a wagon to drag around on the search and a sign sticking up on a stick that reads "Got Buick" then in smaller writing the cars Im working on. Have had guys approach me and tell me they got what I want.

 

If you got to ride in the car to see/hear it work,that is good. Otherwise you are buying a chance as with any used mechanical part. How much power do you plan on throwing at it?

 

Initially it’ll just be the N/A 5.3/4L60e with around 350-375rwhp. Once the bugs are worked out of the car I’ll put the turbo on it and this motor made mid-500’s on 8psi with the small 66mm. I’m putting my billet wheeled 76mm on it at 13-14 at some point but hope to have a 9” with around a 3.00 gear in it then. This will be a few years and I might really enjoy the car with the N/A motor but it’s built for artificial air so why not! lol

 

The rear should hold up fine unless you really hit it hard. It’s not so much the HP that kills them. It the blunt force that is thrown at it initially,like torque,Tran-brake,clutch,slicks,etc.

 

I have a 5.7 True LS motor in a Extreme and it still has the 7.6 stock rear and a Yukon posi 3.73 gears. I run it with slicks at the track only 305 HP and 295 torque it is only a 212 duration comp cam but MAn it is FUN to drive! that 295 ft lbs is across the full range of RPM 2000 -6000
12.80 in auto no manual shifting.
A/C also
700R4
2000 stall B&M torque master cheapo converter
JUST great for JD Race delivery truck....lol.

 

My buy just got better today! Turns out it’s a 65 Cutlass housing and I gained a full inch overall on my tire clearance. Now I can do my rear disc conversion and not worry with tire clearance issues! This could be the best three-fifty I’ve spent on the car in a while!!

 

Yep - 1964 and `65 are narrower. Now did you get the Buick or the Pontiac housing?

 

I’m not sure which it is Jim and honestly don’t know what to look for. It was originally under a cutlass f-85 and he put the posi and gears in it.

 

always pictures. ARE the casting numbers on the BOTTOM of the housing center section facing the ground? If so it is a PONTIAC 8.2

 

Being an F85 likely has a BUICK weaker 8.2 in it. Performance ones were the Pontiac rears Thicker caps Bigger cross shafts for the spider gear system.