[Cutlass403]

Ok i have a 85 cutlass stock 7.5 rearend, want to change to 3.23-3.43 gears and not spend a lot of money, would it be better to find a rear end from a junk yard or buy the gears and switch them out? I dont know how to change the gears never done it, i could change a rear end i know but if i went to pull-a-parts how would i know which rearend to get? with my luck i would get something with gears that sucked more than what i got now

[strummin67]

Hello. You might try calling shops that specialize in rear end repairs and find out whats available for your set up. I don't know what your plans are but the 7.5 may not be able to handle a lot of power.

[Cutlass403]

it should be able to handle a mild 403 i think, i would like to have the 8.5 that came in the GNs but i have heard they are expensive

[strummin67]

Cutlasses are G-bodies aren't they? I think they shared some suspension parts with Grand Prix, Monte Carlos and Regals. You might be able to swap a bigger rear out of one for a reasonable amount of money.

[Cutlass403]

the only G bodies that had 8.5 was the grand nationals

[Chopt 48]

I'd hunt the complete rear end and swap it out.
That would be easier and less expensive than trying to set up a used set of gears in your housing.

Find a local wrecking yard that has an interchange manual that covers your car and tells what rear ends will swap over to it. Then it is the hunt to find the one with the right gears. You are probably looking for a car that came with an overdrive transmission to find the correct rear end. A little snooping might give you a good idea of which cars were most likely to come with the right ratio.

[Cutlass403]

i know i can get one out of a monte, cutlass, regals, grand nationals(if u could actually find one in a junk yard). I have heard that the montes came with 3.73s i dont want something that high though, i have a 350 trans and actually want to drive on the highway

[Chopt 48]

it will take either poking your head under cars and checking the tags on the rear if they are still there, pulling the covers and counting teeth or putting in a request for that specific gear set and having them pull the rear end.
Here's a link to another forum with this same subject
http://gbodyforum.com/viewtopic.php?...er=asc&start=0

[RPM]

Here is a link to an axle code chart that will help in the search of the right gears.

http://www.maliburacing.com/rear_axle_codes.html