I just picked up a 1955 Olds. Rear end from a friend, drum to drum. I need to know how hard and how costly this will be to install in my '55 Chevy Gasser. I need to know who is close to me that can rebuild it and modify it as neccessary to fit my '55. Who has a posi unit, who has gears?
I cant answer your questions but there is some good info in this thread http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129676&highlight=olds
See if you can trade the '55 Olds rear to someone with a lighter car. Try to find yourself one of these: 1957 Pontiac Rear end, 1st choice (bolts in) 1957 or 1958 Olds rear end. 2nd choice
The 55 olds rear is not a weak rear, but not as strong as a 57-64 Olds rear. The rear should be a bolt in for the 55 Chevy I think. I think the spring perches are the same distance apart. Unfortunately no one made a posi for them that I know of. They did offer Spider-locs for them.Gears were plentiful from the factory, but not much from the aftermarket. No one I know of offers them new. The axles are something like 16 or 18 spline, but not the same as Chevy. They were used in many front engine diggers with fairly healthy motors. By the time guys went to fuel Hemis, the 57 up rear was the choice. Most rebuild parts are available through NAPA such as bearings and seals. The install kit should still be available from Randy's Ring N Pinions or other sources. Haven't built one in a little over 10 years now.
Hey, I just looked at the rear end again. Someone wrote in chalk 55 Pontiac on the axle tube. How do I tell the difference between the earlier rear end and the later? Is there a part number somewhere? I'll post pics tomorrow.
Will bolt in, has a 5x5" lug pattern so you'll need two pair of different wheels on the car. Seems to me the best way to tell apart is the case for the carrier is visibly different from one to the other.
The earlier carrier housings/meatballs/pigs 48-54 are very round and roughly the same size as your 55 Chevy. The 55-56 Olds housings are just slightly more oval (sideways) extremely close to the Chevy. The later 57-64 setup is again round, but most obviously larger than the Chevy. I ran a 55-56 rear in my Buick for a while, eventually I split the housing on the welded seems due to poor planning on the trailing arms-too much stress on the housing. However, the gears and stock 18 spline axles lived to ride again. The brakes were swapped on to the 57 housing I replaced it with. Early rear about a 8.5" ring (just a guess) the later has a 9.375" ring gear. Not much available for new gears on the early ones. THe later ones have quite a few choices. Ratech has the install kits for them, bearings and brakes should be readily available through your local parts store. Some 9" Ford (big bearing) backing plates can be modified for use. They also have the same axle bearings 88128r.
what about the buick rears? say like a 61 big body? what are the 57 64 olds rears worth? I know where some are but the dude is kinda weird about pricing stuff. he sold me 53 poncho trim in mint cond for $50 but wanted $150 for a beat to shit 50 ford truck grill?
You want huge? Try lifting my '61 Pontiac posi rearend by yourself...I used to be able to do it until I got the brakes and brackets on it...it's a fucking monster...but I'll need all the strength she's got in her to pull the wheels on my 2400 pound car...
Yeah, that is essentially the same rear I run in my Buick. They are not really that much heavier than a 9" Ford I don't think. I am thinking that this is what R.Seghi has right now-the pics will tell for sure. ----Hotdamn, the Buick rears are really strong as well. They just are a bunch harder to find performance parts like gear sets and posi's for. The gear sets would have had to been factory offered ratios-not much in the 4.10 and steeper though. They did offer 3.90 and posi's though. They are big strong and heavier than even the Big Olds/Pont rears. The Olds/pont rears can bring anywhere from 150-??? depending on the year/size housing, what spline axle, what gearing, posi or not, and how complete-such as brakes.
Ok, I posted this on the ither thread too. I took mine apart. It has 29 spline axles and measures 55" flange to flange. Now from what I understand from the other thread is that this is a 1957 Pontiac Diff. Non-posi. What do I need to do to this to use it in my '55 Gasser and does anybody have a posi unit for this? Where can I get parts? Drums? Brake parts? If I use this Diff. it will need to ge rebuilt. Is there a shop close to me that knows these still?
Napa will have the brake shoes, wheel cyls, spring kits etc... Not sure if they have the drums-but should be able to get them. Richmond makes some gears for them. The posi's for the 29 spline are a little hard to comeby. I use Gevos rears and gears out of NY for the posi stuff.
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