Unexpected limited slip axle

[joe_padavano]

I've got the newly-acquired 84 Custom Cruiser up in the air to do brakes and rear axle seals. Now, keep in mind that this car is almost a bottom-of-the-line B-body: roll-up windows, manual one piece bench seat, non-tilt steering wheel, manual door locks, cloth upholstery, etc. The only options I can see (besides PS/PDB) are A/C and cruise. Note also that this is the car with the plastic tailgate.

As I remove the rear wheels, the axle is behaving as if it is limited slip (car in park and neither wheel will turn). Naaaah! Can't be. Check the option sticker and sure enough - G80! That axle is probably worth the price of the car alone!

Every so often, you win one.

[J-(Chicago)]

Pretty cool.
8.5? or 7.5?

Hopefully it isn't a 410409 carrier that only accepts 2.41 and 2.56 gears.

[oldscsc]

Well that's a stroke of luck, good find Joe

[Oldsguy]

So, is the engine the 307? I am not as familiar with post seventies cars. What are your plans for the car, or the axle?

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by Oldsguy

So, is the engine the 307? I am not as familiar with post seventies cars. What are your plans for the car, or the axle?

Yup, another pavement ripping VIN Y 307.

I actually bought this car for the front sheet metal. I'm embarrassed to be driving the 86 Chebby wagon (despite the Olds motor). The 80-90 B-Body wagons are all identical aft of the firewall (GM wasn't trying real hard on these cars), so the Olds sheetmetal bolts onto the Chevy (trivia note: since the wagons all use the Chevy doors, the Olds front fenders are unique to the Custom Cruiser and do not interchange with the Eighty Eight and Ninety Eight front fenders). The Chevy is loaded, with every available option EXCEPT the limited slip axle - so that will eventually get swapped as well. I already have a complete Olds dash (the inner cowl is also generic, with bolt-on reinforcements to allow the installation of a Chevy or Olds or Buick or Pontiac dash).

The 80s B-body wagon is actually a nice car for us right now. My wife thinks it's very comfortable and with the seats folded flat our dogs love riding in it. We drove the 86 back and forth from VA to upstate NY several times last year with no problems whatsoever. The car gets somewhat better gas mileage than my big block crewcab dually, and the fact that it will swallow a sheet of plywood is nice. Interestingly, the 80s B-body wagon uses the same 116" wheelbase as the 68-72 A-body wagons and is within a few inches of the A-body in all critical dimensions.

Of course, when I puked the 200-4R in the 86, I figured I MIGHTASWELL (always a dangerous thing...) get the 84 on the road and drive it for the summer while I fix the trans and paint the 86. I've always wanted to try shooting a flame paintjob, so I figured this would be a good car to learn on since I don't really care if the paint is perfect or not. Also, here in VA emissions testing only goes back 25 years, so if I get the 84 tested now, it will be exempt in two years when it would need to be tested again. That means that the 86 Chevy may eventually become an 84 Olds (don't ask, don't tell). That, in turn, accelerates the schedule for swapping the 307 for a 403 (there are two complete 403s in my shop right now) - which is why I want to build a decent 200-4R.

I also have a tow hitch, Air Lift airbags, and the auto-level system from a D-body Caddy to install. I figure this car might also be a good place to practice my upholstery skills as well. Now I just need to find the time...

[Oldsguy]

It sounds like a very good plan you have. I would be interested in following the progress once you start on it. Especially nice to see some before and after photos when the thing changes from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde.

[csstrux]

I'm lovin it B body ground pounder and a wagon to boot