Well it's getting to the stage in my T build where i need to buy brake goods for it but i have an olds rear from probably the early 60's but not sure quite when. Anybody know how to tell olds rears apart??
If you are looking for replacement shoes/ wcyls, springs etc., you can probably get away with the diameter of the drum. That should narrow it down for a good parts guy that can read a parts book. If you are looking for drums and backing plate interchagability info, I can't help.
does it have a removable pumpkin or a rear cover plate? that should get you to either side of the mid 60s when they changed.
I have a book with cutl***, F85 axle codes from 1964 up that will identify axle ratios and positrac but not necessarily the year model. If there are numbers the book says they will be one of two places for 1964, the right rear side of the differential carrier (sounds like they are referring to the punkin) or the right rear inboard side of the axle tube. If it is on the carrier it would be like XA123 with X being anti spin, A being a 3.08, and 123 being the 123rd day of the year. If it is on the axle tube it would be O 3.08 L with O being oldsmobile, the ratio and L for locking. From 1965 on it refers to all codes being on the back p***enger side of the axle tube with the code format like the XA123 format. If yoy find numbers on the carrier it is probably pre '65. If on the axle tube maybe later. If you get the numbers I can look in the book and see if there is a way to tell the year as some ratios were not available in all years. Most of these will be what they refer to as a type B or P axle with a rear cover not a removable third member. I believe these were used in buick and pontiac also. In 1967 they also started using a type O axle that was unique to olds and is more common in the later model (69 and 70) cutl***es. Hope this helps. Steve
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