I appologize if this has been covered before. Does anyone know of a source for a ring and pinion set, specifically 3.08 ratio? The axle on our Cutlass was making a growl on decel, so I took it apart Sunday. Apparently it had water in it at some time, because the bearings and gears are rusted. One place I checked only has 3.36's, and they want $256.00 for the set! I'd rather stick with the original ratio.

Thanks,

dieselmann

 

If you don't get any hits from someone that has them available, contact Brian Trick - he is the best source for Olds rear axle parts and info that I know of.

thetrickfamily@yahoo.com

 

The O axle didn't appear untill 1967. Has you're been replaced at some point?

 

I'm going by what Motors is calling it. It is a non C-clip type axle, which they call a "C" axle. It is also not the drop-out carrier--it has a cover and the diff comes out the back.

Thanks,

dieselmann

 

Hello, this is John up in Medford. If you strike out I have a 1965 and a 1964 parts cars with rear ends. Not sure of the gear ratio's, they both have 2 speeds but suspect that we can find a good one between them. If your not focused on keeping it all original there are several years of rear ends that would fit. This may be the time to install a posi if you wanted one. Just some thoughts. John

 

Well, I'm hgaving problems with the parts people. They keep saying someone must have swaped out the rear end or modified it. I think they are expecting it to be a 8.5" "C" axle. They keep asking for spline count (it's 27) and if there have been spacers installed for seals and such. And they say it can't be a 3.08 ratio. I climbed underneath tonight and scraped off the crud on the axle tubes and found "P 3.08". So, I guess it would be a "P" axle and not an "O". I suppose we can live with a non-original gear ratio at this point. The main thing is whether the gears are serviceable or not. And if the diff fits the housing.

 

John,

Did you get a chance to check out your parts cars for a servicable ring and pinion?

dieselmann

 

64's came with 8.2 rearends.
There are a few different housings.

Buick rear has 1 rib with bolt in axles
Pontiac has 2 ribs with bolt in axles
Chevy has c clip axles.

If you need parts or have any questions email Jim. He knows all about that stuff

mitschke454@windstream.net

 

If your other leads don't work out, I've got a complete 3.08 open from a 1965 Cutlass I parted. Spun over good, but I haven't opened it up to look inside. It is an 8.2 10-bolt cover and 10-bolt carrier non-c-clip rear end. If the gears are nice, I would break the rear end up and sell them for $100 plus the shipping. I'm in Wisconsin. I've also got a complete 2.78 (I think) posi from a 1964 F-85 I'd like $350 for, but the shipping would probably be a killer.

 

Is that his (Jim's) e-mail or yours?

dieselmann

 

jhoppeolds,

If you could let me know the condition of thbe gears, I swould appreciate it.

 

I don't have experience installing the ring and pinion so I'm in the habit of swapping complete rear ends. For a non-posi automatic gears from a 1964 or 1965 Cutlass I would take $125 if I pulled it, $75 if you pulled it. You would be welcome to remove the inspection cover to see what it looked like before making a commitment. John

 

That's jim's email. He is a member here.
www.jdrace.com is his site.

 

We don't plan on heading up to Oregon until the end of October. I don't know if we want to keep it apart that long. We have to coordinate our trip still.

Thanks,
dieselmann

 

OK, let me know if you want to stop by when your up here to look at a rear end or any other items you may be needing. John

 

OK, this is getting screwy, and it's obvious why there is so much confusion on these axles. My Motors shows three available axles for the 64--removable carrier (drop-out), "C" type, and "O" type. I do not have a drop-out. I do not have c-clips holding the axles in (and before asking if I'm sure--I have the axles out). The back of the right axle tube is stamped "P 3.08", but the housing has the single gussets of a Buick type. I suppose it could ba a poorly stamped "B" and not a "P". Ratech is showing this as a 8.125" Olds axle, and the bearing numbers they list match what is on this axle. Everyone else is calling it a BOP or GM 8.2" 10-bolt. This is as bad as getting axle parts for a Ford (is it a Ford/Sterling, a Ford/Visteon or a Dana--or a Ford axle with a Dana carrier? Dana 50, 60, or 70?)

West Coast Differential says I can't have 3.08s, even though I have a 40/13 stamp on the ring gear and 3.08 on the axle tube. They have 3.36s, but I'll have to change carriers. They didn't tell me this, I found out looking at Richmond Gear's site, and this was confirmed at JDRace.

Sorry for the rant--this should have been a simple repair. It's taking time away from the engine rebuild.

dieselmann

 

I hear ya. I had the same problem with a 64 last week.

 

I checked the gears in my rear end and they are 3.08s and in nice condition. My axle is also the single rib center, non-dropout. Are you still interested? I removed it from a '65 Cutlass and it sure seems to be exactly the same rear as you have. Do your rear springs bolt on to the axle tubes? Mine do. PM me if still interested.

 

Since I couldn't find any new gears, and it's going to be a while before I can get somewhere to check out replacements (and it sounds like jhoppeolds' axle has a different diff--37-12 instead of 40-12), I just installed new bearings and reassembled. Thanks anyway guys.

dieselmann

 

so your gears are 13 pinion and 40 ring??? YES? Not 12 -41 correct?

CAn you do all of use a big favor and email a picture so we can ID this rear for you or send it to my email address as posted already. mitschke454@windstream.net.

How many bolts does the rear cover have? O type rears have 12 cover bolts and 10 ring gear bolts.

Also do not be afraid of a different ring to pinion tooth count to hit the same ratio 12 -37 is still 3.08 and 13-40 is 3.076 which rounds to 3.08... very close BUT you need to be sure the ring and pinion match the physical size of your housing requires.

I have 3.08 gears for both here but we just need to ID the rear under your car and we can via email with simple pictures of the rear cover area and casting characteristics. Bring them on....

Jim
J D Race.com

 

The ring and pinion are marked 40 13. My concern with the 37 12 ring and pinion is the ring gear would not fit my carrier. It does have a 10 bolt cover. I can't remember the ring gear bolt count, but they were not marked LH. The bearings that came off the carrier and pinion match the numbers that Ratech Manufacturing lists for a 64-67 8.125" Olds, and the physical diameter of the ring gear was 8 1/8". The pinion has 27 splines and uses a crush sleeve and not shims for preload. The axles bolt in and have no C clips.

I installed new bearings from NAPA and put it all back together. Preload and backlash is good and tooth pattern acceptable, although towards the toe on the drive side. It's not making any noise, and we don't plan on racing it. I'll just have to keep an eye on the fluid to see if it starts throwing metal off the teeth. Sorry, but I am not going to take it back apart just to take pics. Right now I'm going to focus on getting the 330 back togrether to swap out the later V6 someone installed (the VIN says it is a V8 car).

dieselmann

 

I do not need pictures of the guts just the outside rear cover area...Yes I can ID it correctly from that.

This is ALL I do. Send that picture and will help ID it for you so you can at least go to the meets and try to find what your liooking for with some confidence. Jim

J D Race.com

 

That's a BOP 8.2" 10-bolt.All of those had the 27-spline pinion,with 28s-line bolt-in axles.The 8.2" Chevy rears have a 25-spline pinion,& 28-spline c-clip axles. Yes,new gears will be in the $250.00 range for the BOP,but there are plenty of nice used sets out there.I think we traded e-mails already.I'll see what I have.

 

If so I am in need of axles for a 65 cutlass 8.2 10 bolt axle. If you do and are willing to part with them. Please text me or call me at 253-820-5571

Thanks

 

Well good luck with that as this thread is 12 years old.

 

Normally you'd be right Kenneth. But I've picked up a few more 1964-67 rear ends since I replied to this thread. So if nobody else can help him I probably can. Phone prefix 253 are you in Eastern Washington state? If your in the Pacific Northwest I can probably help. If your not then it would be best to create a new parts wanted thread saying where your at. Or at least a nearby big city, the state/province or country that your located in. Then see if someone responds nearby to save on shipping costs. John

 

It's also amazing that 12 years later the same people are still on this forum. So many people jump from brand to brand, but apparently most Olds owners are lifers.

 

"True Oldsmobile owners" are pretty steadfast in their choices. I have an age range of cars and types. I don't see any other brand I could get excited about.......except Pontiac, and they stopped making those too.

 

Text message sent to Donald this morning.