hey guys I found a O type posi for sale for $850 and im not sure if I should buy it or not?

"FOR SALE AND ORIGINAL 1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 W-30 3:23 OS CODED REAR. THE CASTING NUMBER IS 402227 WHICH IS 1970 ONLY CASTING DATE IS FEB 4TH SO IT WORKS FOR MOST OF THE YEAR . THE CODE IS SO . THE REAR CAME OUT OF A RUNNING DRIVING CAR IT HAS BEE REFINISHED AND IS READY TO ADD BRAKES AND INSTALL. NEW UPPER BUSHINGS .
IT ALSO WILL FIT A 68 69 70 71 72 BUICK GS, PONTIAC GTO , ANY CUTLASS 442, RALLEY, W-31, HURST OLDS , AND MORE. THIS IS A VERY HARD TO FIND REAR"

 

I assume you are familiar with the differences of a Type O vs. a Chevy 12 bolt. Obviously this one is worth more for someone who has a 1970 and is looking for the correct code. I don't know how an axle that was installed under every single Olds A-body built in 1970 is "hard to find", but that is an indication of the seller's pricing strategy. Find out if "refinished" means a Rustoleum spray bomb finish or something of higher quality. There's no indication that it has been rebuild internally, just painted, apparently. Your call if it's worth that much to you.

 

I've never heard of an OS coded rear for 1970? Maybe its me? I was under the impression a 1970 3:23 limited slip was code SF. I used to have one in my Pace car, not w-30. The rear end ratios offered for a w-30 in 1970 were TM and TO for 3:42 and 3:91 respectively. SV was a 3:23 but in the w-27 carrier only along with SX (3.42) SZ (3.91) That is what I have learned? maybe I'm wrong and someone else can chime in?

 

This is straight out of the 1970 service manual.

 

And since the stamp is usually upside down, I'm assuming the "OS" is really "SO", which is a 3.23:1 axle.

 

Good stuff, I learn more info about oldsmobiles all the time from this site. Thanks for posting.

 

http://allentown.craigslist.org/pts/5181062499.html

i ran across this ad today. It may be worth looking into??

 

It could be anything. If you are close by it couldn't hurt to take a look, but you won't know what it is until you get there.

I had a 2.56 posi in a 1970 Cutlass S that I had. I even ran a 13.89 with it . You just never know.

Oh, and my 442 ↓↓↓ came with an open 3.23.