Hi all, I just got a 1976 olds 442, and was wondering if anyone knows of any 12 bolt rearends that will swap into this car, or am I going to have to go with a custom build from like Currie or Moser?
Thanks.

 

Depending on what you want to do with the car. The corporate 8.5 inch used in 1976 is a strong rear end. There are no stronger factory rear ends that you can just bolt in, so anything more would have to be custom built. Tell us about your car and details on what your plans are for it. Oh yeah, we like to see pictures too if you'd post some when you have time.


John

 

yes I was afraid of that. I bought this car from a guy that needed money, he had put( and this is where the purists will beat me down)....a WAY overbuilt 454 in it. This thing is ridiculous for the street. But anyway, he had the rear end gone through but his engine builder told him a stronger rear end would eventually be needed, this one wouldn't be able to handle the torque for a lot of hard launches....his words. Ill get some pictures of it up as soon as I can, the body is rough, lots of rust to fix, but hey, a project is a project right??

 

You can build that 8.5 to withstand that power, a quality center section,axles,gears etc and it will take some abuse..

 

Don't put super sticky tires on it and let the tires spin! The rear will last forever that way.

 

he said he had a shop go through the rearend, put 3:73 gears in it, and a new limited slip, don't know about the axels, may have to change those.
Here is a couple of pictures I have, will have more later.