Seems like the rear end of choice in the 50s and 60s in everything from Hot Rods to Dragsters was the Olds rear end. Obviously it must have been a superior choice over others but I'm just wondering what made them so much better and desireable?

 

I believe you're referring to the Pontiac dropout rearend. It was stuffed under Oldsmobiles as well.
It was desireable because it's huge. 9.3" Ring gear.

 

Wow, that IS huge. I always just hear it referred to as an "Olds rear". I didn't realize it was Pontiac also.

 

You could also change rear end ratios for racing and driving much like the ford 9".

 

In the 50's the engine of choice was also Olds.

 

Yeah, my Dad's first car in High School was a '51 Henry J with an Olds 'Rocket' motor and tri-power sticking out of the hood! It also had the Olds rear.

 

The Stone Woods & Cook *****'s originally ran an blown Olds 394. Impressive stuff!

Wasn't the Henry J the car you could order from a Sears catalog?

 

Before there was a "Bandit" there was the Beatnic Bandit. With (I believe) an Olds 394

 

The whole frame and engine is from a '53 Olds.

Gene

 

Sears actually had a car called the Allstate which was identical to the Henry J. Only a handful were made and one would be quite rare.

If I remember correctly, the famous 57 Chevy, Project X originally had a 57 Olds rear in it. It could have been a Pontiac. I did not realize those things had such a large ring gear.

 

Hey! That Beatnik Bandit was a Barris creation right? What was it used for? was it just a show car?

Ahh, thanks for clarifying redoldsman! I knew they were somehow connected

 

"Dropout" sounds strange when applied to the conventional setup of the day.

Olds rear ends were manufactured by Pontiac from the thirties up to '64.

"Stuffed" sounds strange when applied to a part that came off the line on every Olds and Pontiac.


Along with a Hydra-Matic and a Pontiac/Olds rear end with Anti-Spin (or, if you prefer, Safe T Track) differential.

Henry J and Allstate came off the same assembly line. Only difference was the nameplate and registration. During the '80s there was an Antique Drags competitor with a license plate that read "NOT A J".


'57 Pontiac/Olds rear in '55-'57 Chevs were common at that time, as it was a direct bolt in.

Norm