1950 Olsmobile rear end compatablity

I have a friend with a 1950 Olds who would like to upgrade his rearend to a later model posi unit by just replacing the ham and not replacing the whole rear end. Any info on what years,makes or models, would be appreciated.

 

Ain't gonna happen. The first positraction available in Oldsmobiles came in '58, and your style rear end was discontinued after '56.

 

Thanks that is what he needed to know.

 

I beg to differ i have a 49 and have posi.. Waine it can be done call me i will discuss it with you. 1-978-343-4440

CHEAP NOT!! lol but it can and has been done. I wanted to keep the original build as close as possible as i got the car. SO i figured out how to keep all the original parts that where used and still get what i wanted and needed. We need to remember that no matter what if we put to much power to the 50 rears they will split at the seam unlsess you start fabricating and boxing it. My little 303 doesnt have the torque or HP that will destroy it so i am ok. So depending on what your HP and torque is a ford rear etc would be the way to go for cost and build purpose.

 

You need a different carrier, posi won't fit the 50. The 57-58's are rare now,used 29 spline axles, also won't fit the 50 housing, too long. The later posi units went to 31 spline axles, again too long. It can be done but it won't be cheap at today's prices.

 

I once knew a guy that supposedly had machined a Mopar 8-3/4 posi to fit inside his stock '50 rear... pretty sure I heard him say that. He seemed quite serious about that, so I had no reason to doubt him.

 

you can bank on it!!

 

Have him call Brad at Fabcraft in TX. He knows just about everything related to Olds/Pontiac rear ends.

 

Thanks to everyone for all your help. I'm relaying all this info to my friend and he also appeciates the advise.

 

I had a notion at time time to modify the case to accept a readily available Powertrax posi which replaces the spider and side gears inside a factory open carrier. Than axles would have to be made as well for the spline differance. But figured it wasn't worth the time and money to do so. The axles aren't a very large diameter going into the case, I figured a 28 spline 9" may be a close fit. A 31 spline axle would not go thru.

Just another thought , Hamber monzaz has come up with kits to convert 8.2 and 8.5 gm open rears to posi with a clutch kit in an open carrier. Maybe contact him if there would be enough interest to see if it would be posssible to make up some kind of kit.

 

We'll look into it, thanks Wayne

 

Dave, I smell a future "Tech week" thread in the making...