I have a 1971 cutlass ragtop, with a 2.56 "rear gear" in it. Also I Have a 1973 8.5 camaro 3.08 "ring and pinion". can the 3.08 be just swapped in, or do I have to change the Carrier ??? Thanks

 

The 2.56 gears use a different series carrier than the 3.08 gears, but you can mount the 3.08 ring gear on the 2.56 carrier using a ring gear spacer. The spacers are made just for this type of gear swap.

 

The Camaro carrier will fit in your Olds housing, though I don't know how the axle splines match up. Yeah, I know the Camaro uses C-clips and the Olds uses bolt-in axles.

 

THATS WHAT I FIGURED. WAS LOOKING AT your "COMBO", that is a 355 OLDS, correct ? not 355 chevy? if so, what did you do about the LOW compression of the Olds engine ??

 

camaro carrier can be used in the 71 72 BIA cutlass 8.5 rear. The cutlass non c-clip carrier CAN NOT be used in the camaro as it will not have the recessed pocket for the c-clip to seat in.
PLUS the fact that the 2.56 is a different series than the 3.08
Carrier break 8.5 GM corp. 1971 -1987
2.41 - 2.56 = 2 series carrier
2.73 - 4.56 and all the way to 5.57 are all on the 3 series carrier
All are 28 spline carrier at 45 degree spline pitch.
Jim
JD Race

 

so Both a 71 cutlass carrier and a 1973 camaro Carier Both have "28 tooth count " axles? thanks. I Have a 73 camaro 2.73 carrier.

 

I didn't mention anything about the 3.08 carrier fitting into your 2.56 rear because you said you had 3.08 gears with no mention of having the carrier, and by putting quotes around the 3.08 "ring and pinion" made it sound like all you had were the gears.

Yes, a 355 Olds engine. In order to get it to 355 cubic inches, the block was bored .030" and new pistons were installed. With new pistons I had a choice of dish sizes beyond the 1971-1972 factory 24cc soup bowls. Long story short, the rebuild included 6cc dished pistons which raised the compression.

 

Remember one can fit into one but not the other because of c-clip axles. and bolt in axle side gear pockets being present or not.