To change the gear ratio, do you just change the ring and pinion? I am having trouble finding a set for this car, I am looking to change it to 3:73. This is what I found and I thought some of these might be the same but they just didn't bother mentioning it would fit a Delta 88. http://www.jegs.com/p/Richmond-Gear/...50832/10002/-1

 

Those gears will not fit the rear in your car.If your car was originally equipped with a 455,then it has what some people refer to as the "large 12-bolt".Those internals are larger than the 12-bolt Chevy car or 12-bolt Chevy truck internals.There are no aftermarket gearsets available for those rears.The highest numerical gear that I have seen for those rears,is a 3:23,and they pop up for sale every once in awhile.

 

Can I swap out the entire rear for the smaller one?

 

on second though, I really don't want to get into that. Where might a find a set of the 3:23 gears?

 

LUCK... PRAY... and search the internet junk yard swap meets etc. BUT if yo u do not even know what it is you are looking at be prepared to be ripped off A LOT. Jim

Everyone else is also looking. WAGONS are a good place to look - BUT again the demo derby guys have KILLED a lot of those cars over the years.

You are better off going with a 10 bolt 8.5 rear if you can find one.

 

I did some 8.5" A-body rears for a few different guys with the big cars.One of them was a 65 Delta.I know he had to make some control arms & such,but I have no idea what else or how much work was involved in making it work.I did not see the car.He just called & ordered the rear,and said he could make it work.I also had to change the bolt pattern on the A-body axle shafts to the 5x5 that the big car had.

 

I have a Pontiac rear from a Bonneville...you might be intereseted in It will have new 3.55 gears and posi housing blasted etc. Not terribly cheap as it will be a complete rebuild. Let me know. Jim

 

Someone is making new 3:55's for the 65-66 BOP 10 bolt cover full size Olds rear. This is actually a Pontiac rear with the hourglass cover. You could swap your rear for one of these and put the 3:55's in it.

 

Yes Fabcraft Metal works in Texas makes the 3.55 gears. That is all your gonna get unless your lucky to find a NEEDLE in a haystack 3.73 gear set they had in a Pontiac 2+2 catalina

 

I think for now I will just keep the stock rear. But maybe in the future I will swap it out. thanks for the help guys.

 

Rebel, where are you located?
I have a 3.23 posi rearend from a '65 Starfire near Bufffalo, NY. The housing is heavily rust-pitted but it's complete including brakes. This rear is a bolt-in for 88/98's from '65-70.

 

how much would you want for it? I am in southern Pa. about 45 min. below Harrisburg.

 

Any chance these gears would fit in my rear, so I wouldn't have to swap out the whole thing?

 

I'd like to get $325 for it, drum-to-drum.
And no, the guts won't fit in your original housing. Your car should have a 9-3/8" Olds 12-bolt. This rear is a P-type (Pontiac built) 8-7/8" with 10-bolt cover/12-bolt ring gear.

 

I'm afraid I'm not interested in that right now.