I'm trying to determine which housing I have in my '41 Willys, and I can't seem to find any info on identifying a '57-64 Olds/Pontiac rearend other than the '57-earlier will have leaf springs. Mine is either an Olds or Pontiac with leaf spring hangers, but it has no third member, and mismatched axles (both axles have left hand thread lug studs, and two different spline counts, and are Oldsmobile axles judging by the ends). There are backing plates on it, which may help identify it....but what I'm really looking for is some kind of measurement to compare to mine so I'll know if I have the '57-64 Olds type rear, or if I've got the '54-56 Olds type. Maybe a measurement across two of the stud holes where the third member mounts? <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/basskustom/7397391390" title="Img_3975b by Brian Bass, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8013/7397391390_47baed0748_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Img_3975b"></a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/basskustom/13519762493" title="Img_3945b by Brian Bass, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2860/13519762493_8470c61225_c.jpg" width="800" height="637" alt="Img_3945b"></a>
Bass, I forwarded your request for info to Ted Radoumis in Santa Fe Springs, CAL. He has more Olds/Pontiac rearend stuff than anyone else I know. We will try to help. Glad to see you still have the Willys. Just a note - It has been 20 years since The World Gasser Championships in Denver. Thanks to everyone who participated.
Looks like the smaller early housing in the car, big Olds/Pontiac ('57-'64), would measure just a hair over 10" inside the opening top to bottom.
Mine looks shorter...right around 9". So I guess that means mine isn't a '54-56 Olds? I just went and crawled under it to take these photos. You can see the mismatched axles in the photo without the scale.
Streetrodder mag had a great article on these rears not too long ago. They reference Fabcraft Metal works 817-421 0242 as a info/parts source. Pm me ur address and I can send u a photocopy of the article.
Thanks aojo. I think I have that issue, and I think that this is the same article: http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/1303sr_1957_1964_pontiac_and_oldsmobile_rearends/ Fabcraft is not far from me, and I'm sure I'll be buying parts from them once I figure out if I can use the housing I have or if I need to find a complete '57 Olds/Pontiac rear.
FWIW I have an olds posi rear that came out of a 58 drag vette on the floor of my garage. It was just totally rebuilt. End to End.
Bass, if this isn't enough, let me know. I have 2 57-58 Olds Housings and axles in the garage. I can take measurements and pics. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Pontiac had a 10 spline axle but the smaller measurements you're showing and coarse spline axles kinda looks like a 55-57 chevy housing to me. Just my $.02 worth. I've got a couple of '59 olds housings (leaf spring) plus several others available if all these other suppliers run out. The 57-64 olds/Pontiac rears have a 9.3 inch ring gear so like someone else said just the opening is gonna be around 10 inches.
I'm wondering if this isn't an earlier rear...Like a '49- '53 Oldsmobile? It's definitely smaller than the measurements on the diagram above, so it's not the "good" '57-64 style rear. This car was raced in the late '50s to the best of my knowledge, so it wouldn't be too far fetched for it to have been built with an even earlier Olds rear. Looks like I'm going to be on the hunt for a complete '57-64 rear...preferably one of the narrower '57 Pontiac variety.
Do you have a pic of a backing plate Brian, are the tubes tapered at the ends going in to backing plates
Here's a good thread to read: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129676 The book that Fabcraft has is pretty much a MUST also.... Very good info Dustin
Probably easiest thing to do instead of banging your head and getting everyone's opinion is to contact Brad at Fab Craft and spill your guts out to him, being you're not too far from him. He's very knowledgable and nice person to talk to - he won't make you feel stupid...
Nice. Looks like my pocncho rears backing plates. Finally I.D.'d as Pontiac backing plates. Thanks for posting that pick. Now i can get it buttoned up and get drums for it.
57Olds is 1 inch narrower than a 57 Pontiac. If the car was B/G a 53-56 Olds axle would have held up with the rock hard slicks.
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