Are the axles the same for 8.2 type O and 8.5 corporate differentials? My '72 442 convertible has the 8.5 corporate rear, but I have a '71 Supreme parts car with an 8.2 rear, just thinking about parts that I might harvest from the parts car to create a spare parts cache. But maybe replacement axles aren't all that hard to come by? Thanks!

Rodney

 

The O-Type is an 8.5" rear, not an 8.2" rear, and both the O-Type and 8.2" 10 bolt are different than the 8.5" corporate 10 bolt rear.

Anyway, the axle shafts are different between the O-Type and the 8.5" 10 bolt. While they both have 28 splines, the angle of the spline cuts are different so you can't insert the axle shaft of one into the carrier of the other.

 

Your parts cache is the whole differential. It will swap right into the 72. Really the only thing that can interchange is the rear brake hardware including the parking brake cables.

 

I didn't realize the splines were different. Thanks for the info guys.

 

Yes different pitch on the angles of the splines. 30 degree to 45 degree on the 71 72 and the rest of the 8.5 c-clip axles too.
pontiac 8.2 and 12 bolt olds share the same axle shafts in the same years... the same yoke. As stated brakes and hardware are the same.
Ring pinion posi etc are all different and none interchangleable from one to the other.
Buck 1964-1967 axles standard NONE GS axles will interchnage with the 12 bolt O axle shafts 1968-1970 will also swap

REMEMBER you have to keep the axle shaft years the same from one to the other...Lengths and axle bearings are different from year to year ...
example :
1970 began the oiled bearing era. some late 69 date coded also keep the 1970 with 1970 pontiac buick and olds your good.
keep 1964 with 1964 era your good with length and bearing also.


Jim
JD Race