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1968 O-Type HD 31 spline axles 3.42 open carrier TL code
1970 O-Type standard 28 spline axles 2.56 open carrier R2 code
And just because we're on the topic, 1971 8.5" 10 bolt 2.56 open carrier R2 code. This pic is after wire brushing the rust and crud off and painting the rearend.
My corral of O-Type rearends. I have one of each version made.
Last edited by Fun71; September 23rd, 2022 at 08:29 PM.
Chris, F70x14 would have been the original tire size (26.20" dia.) which with 3.42's would put you at about 3300-3400 rpms at 70 mph. With your taller tires, I would think that you would be at 2800-3000 rpms at 70mph. What rpms are you showing at 70mph?
Chris, F70x14 would have been the original tire size (26.20" dia.) which with 3.42's would put you at about 3300-3400 rpms at 70 mph. With your taller tires, I would think that you would be at 2800-3000 rpms at 70mph. What rpms are you showing at 70mph?
Dan - Honestly, I've never driven it that fast. I usually drive secondary roads to events, usually keeping it at 60 or below. At 60 it's turning about 2550 rpms. Obviously, I baby it! Although I have cut it loose a few times from standing stops, just to see how it feels from 0-60.
My 71 CS convertible has 122K miles. I know the intake manifold was never removed until I replaced the intake manifold gasket (turkey tray) winter 2019. Compression on all cylinders (wet & dry) = 135 psi. I know several rocker arms have been replaced (when I performed an R&R of valve cover gaskets). I didn't bother to dive deeper into seals, etc. I know the timing chain & water pump were replaced. The timing chain has some modest slack but it's a double roller so I know it was replaced since I could view it when I replaced the oil pump & screen. The engine & transmission are matching numbers original to the car. I know the torque converter was replaced because directly after purchase (2018) I put it on jack stands and whoever did the R&R on the TC cut out a corner of the plastic TC bell housing cover near the starter (I've since replaced with a new cover).
I don't know the size of the TC, but whomever installed it and set up the trans. linkage did a fantastic job (which I would never touch). The TC is blue - I have no idea of manufacturer or stall rating. The rear end is a 2.56:1 (R2). I seldom beat on the car. I have on several occasions opened it up a bit because I'm amazed at the power, torque & speed of this thing. I have no tach. on the car. I'll say this though. The TH350 will downshift into 2nd at 65mph and snap your head back. It upshifts to 3rd ~85 mph. I find that amazing. Maybe I'll time it one day. I've had it to 110 mph on only a couple occasions and power remained. I find the front end of the car too light to be noodling about for any length/distance at 110+ mph.
My baby 2.56:1 (R2)...I'll probably change the diff. fluid this winter, clean, sand & re-paint the cover.
Just another pretty picture of my rear end after a complete R&R of the suspension & installation of the sway bar...
What color should I paint the diff. cover - stock black or red?
Chris, it won't melt if you take it up to 70mph. i drove my '71 Supreme to Homecoming with 3.42's a couple of times running 70 mph, and turning 3200-3300 rpms. I took it to 100 couple of times, no big deal. With those rpms that you are at 60mph, and the fact that it is an O type, then I'm sure that it has 3.42's. Years ago a good friend had a '68 442 with a four speed and 3.42's, went to G.R. on I96 many times. The worse that you could do is use more gas. I had a '71 Supreme convert. about 35 years ago. It was so rusty that the rust had rust. It had Sears all season radilas on it. i put Monroe gas shocks on it, and rebuilt the carb, purred like a kitten, and drove very well. It was an unmodified car that i bought from a local, older, police officer, so ii assumed that it had the stock 2.56's in it. I topped it out at 122mph.
I drove my Cutlass to the Olds Show in Tucson many times. I-10 from Phoenix to Tucson at 70-75 MPH and 3400-ish RPM with no issues. When it was 110 out and I had the AC on the coolant temp would creep up to 210+ but if I slowed down to under 3000 RPM it would drop below 200.
I think every time I drive the Cutlass there’s at least one WOT 5000 RPM run. Gotta blow the carbon out, right?
Last edited by Fun71; September 24th, 2022 at 10:21 AM.
I drove my Cutlass to the Olds Show in Tucson many times. I-10 from Phoenix to Tucson at 70-75 MPH and 3400-ish RPM with no issues. When it was 110 out and I had the AC on the coolant temp would creep up to 210+ but if I slowed down to under 3000 RPM it would drop below 200.
Went to a big car show today. Probably a thousand cars. Oddly enough, nothing to write home about. This one car I've seen there every year, a 70 442 Pace Car. It has every conceivable option. It would be interesting to know how many were added during the "full restoration." It is a pretty car.
I drove a peg legger in high school, a 70 Cutlass 350 two barrel automatic. Plenty of times I'd light up the one back wheel. Who cares, with the 10 year old tires that were hard as rocks, it was a smoke machine.
Battery in the truck I think is toast. I charged it over two hours and then clicks when I went to start it. It's maybe 5 years old, not a bad life for a battery. Tried to mow, took an hour to get it to start then it stalled and wouldn't start as soon as I got it out in the street. Figured out how to tow it and now it's on the driveway anyway. I think there's water in the fuel. That gets messed with tomorrow.
Okay time to relax. Hope everyone has a good evening.
Ian is & has been more closely following the European models which places landfall much further North. Landfall on this track is a near dead ringer for Apalachicola which means the brunt of the wind, storm surge & rainfall will likely inundate St. Vincent Island, St. George Island & Dog Island. Today's 5PM (EDT) update...
I reviewed the tide schedule for Apalachicola which basically covers all of Apalachee Bay. If it makes landfall as predicted, it will be very near high tide. St. Vincent Island, Dog Island & basically all of Apalachicola reside ~2' - 3' above MSL. The highest point on St. Vincent Island is 7' above MSL. I suspect a storm surge approaching 4' - 8' (minimum) will cover the islands w/ ~8' - 10' of water (minimum). There will be just tons & tons of water backing up (storm surge) into Apalachee Bay if it hits at high tide.
Dan - I know, I drive it like a wus. Honestly, part of why I drive it easy is a fear of stressing something and having to have it fixed. No better mechanic than I am, there isn't a whole lot.I would take on myself. There is a 2nd reason also though. I have learned that when going to a show, if I keep it under 50mph, I get very little bug splatter to clean off when I get to where I'm going. Much less touch-up cleaning before judging.
Car Show today was great! Weather was beautiful, sunny and 85°. Good food and beverages too. I ended up winning Best in Class in the 1964 - 1972 Muscle Car Class. All Oldsmobile Fun Show in the morning. Weather is supposed to be even nicer tomorrow with a high of only 75°
Dan and Norm, thanks for the congrats! Norm, this pic is from last summer, no torque brake, just WOT from dead stop. After it shifted into 2nd and the tire spinning increased, it started to get sideways on me and I shut it down to retain control.
Jim - My next installment of the world's largest & best tasting olives arrives Monday. Like biting into a plum - delicious.
Norm, chop sum up and make a muffuletta
Chris, I have a few axles with rear ends laying around. The last one I gave to a friend, [out of the car[ took oil and a wire bush to finally determine WTF it was. don't bother trying
Well guys, going to Orlando tomorrow morning with the Red Cross. It will be my first time and I am overwhelmed already. It is a 2 week assignment. I prolly wont be back on CO until I get back. I am excited about doing it and dreading it at the same time. I will let you know how it went in a couple weeks.
I decided to quit being a tight wad for a moment and made the purchase. Just over 1/2 lb. I used your recipe, then used the juices along with metled butter and seasoned salt in my 8" cast iron pan. Drizzled it over the filet when I pulled it out of the oven.
After much work, the Blue Demon bombs the Midwestern cornfields once again.
I flooded the thing Thursday evening, so it delayed my plans to drive and wash it. It took me to work Friday morning with 2 years of garage dust still on it. Leaving early, I got to Decatur that evening to my friends' house through enough rain to wash most of the dust off. Cruising 55 to 60 will net 19 mpg with a happily cooled Chevy 350 and 2.73 rears. Spent the night there, then went to the Rt 66 show in nearby Springfield next AM, see thread on that in this section. Spent about 45 min detailing and it responded well. We used up the whole day there, then drove home. Came home today with a nice drive. I gambled I had enough gas, and I did, but I think I have 0.5 gallons in the tank as it is close enough to E that turning ignition back on does not move it off the peg. I blame that on chasing my friend as she did 75 to and from Springfield. Car will do 75 with this new radiator and the temperature does not care at all (I think it may vary from 180 to 185) but I was NOT getting 19 mpg at that time.
I have a little remaining gasket compound seeping out after shutdown from under the thermostat housing, but it seems to be decreasing. I may need to tighten down a valve cover, or that may be from a spill filling it, but I have a small amount of oil on the intake. Lastly, the radiator works great, but does not pull coolant back in.
I need to start it tomorrow to make sure the 1 day starting ritual is still the right thing to do, but I need to go get gas for it first.
Twas a beautiful weekend and a beautiful morning this morning. I believe the hurricane will have other ideas but for now I'll take it.
I'm gonna have to look up a muffuletta.
Greg be careful. Good on you for going down there.
John that looked like a nice show. I haven't been to Springfield in decades. Funny the "new" Capitol was finished in 1898.
Work is moving right along today. The bad person who left on Friday, went up to the foreman and told him that everyone was a scammer. Nothing like burning bridges on your way out. Apparently he was the only one in the shop who wasn't a scammer. Hm.
Okay well the pressure is off. It' Monday and we're here so we don't have to worry about coming in any longer. Until next week.
Greg - Know you probably won't see this until you're back, but good on you for volunteering!
John - You had the Monte looking sharp! Glad you had a nice time and safe trip! I haven't checked out the show pics yet but I will.
We had our StL Old's Club Show yesterday. Beautiful Fall weather, a great turnout, and all in all a great event! I believe we had 42 Old's there. The pics can be viewed under the General Discussion sub-forum.
Got to drop my truck off today so they can start in on the front end work 1st thing in the morning, and hopefully they'll have it done by end of the day tomorrow.
September 23rd, 2022, 08:01 PM
