[rbutler]

Is posi really worth the work and money?

[LATECH]

If your car has any power, and will just burn rubber all day long with one tire ... then ...YES.
60 foot time will suffer without posi.

[getset]

What kind of vehicle are you talking about putting it in? I think it's good to have on a hot rod car. I have an older truck I was thinking of swaping the rear end on to change the gearing. Most of my friends are telling me the posi traction isn't worth it. It is significantly more expensive, so it is a good question. I was thinking it would be good to have for driving in Winter. Again, for my truck, my buds are saying no, posi won't make enough difference to justify the added expense?

[big gear head]

I add it to everything that I get. I put a Power Trax locker in my old 4X4 S10 truck, a Yukon Dura Grip in my 427 Camaro, a Ford Trac Lock in my V6 Mustang, a GM Auburn in my El Camino, Eaton Posi in my old '67 and '72 Chevelles...

[prostreet6t9]

Very much worth it!

[LATECH]

My 64 poncho awaits the 389/400 I am building, but runs OK with the puny 350 that is in it now, It roasts the back tire , and will for a block or so. It is going to get a posi of some sort , be it a carrier for the 8.2 thats in it, or an 8.5 setup from a newer G body. But either way putting in the warmed over 400 being built will be pointless without traction.
Posi is a must.

[big gear head]

Latech, you need a '71 or '72 Cutlass or Skylark 8.5 for that car. The G body 8.5 rear ends are very rare and will not bolt in that car. They were only used in the Buick GN, T Type and a few 442s, and if you find one it's going to be expensive.

[LATECH]

Well I trust what you say BGH. Glad that you said so. I was under the impression that the G bodys could be installed with a little tweaking and the correct upper control arms. I was thinking of keeping it simple and just getting the carrier, like the Eaton for the 8.2. It needs something, the one wheel wonder wont cut it.
Any suggestions? Do you think the 8.2 would hold up under normal use with 350-400 horses?
I am sure spinning one in the sand and one on the pavement cant be good for it.
Also wont an 8.5 from a 73-77 lemans,cutlass, etc fit? I thought they would work also. Thanks big gear Head.

[lmsport]

The 8.2 would do fine unless you use slicks or have wheel hop.
I would think that any early A-body 8.5 would work. The corporate 8.5 didnt show up until 71 or 72.
I have now seen a couple of the Duragrips blown to pieces so I'm going back to nothing but Eatons. Price is about the same now anyway.

[LATECH]

I would be OK with the eaton. I could change wheel bearings and seals too as they are original. The speedo says 76,000 on it. I am inclined to think it is original. The car sat for many years, in not running condition.
I bought it 5 years ago, and it didnt run then, and had tags on it from 2003...so. I have driven a total of 12 miles.
Besides the eaton would be a pretty fast swap.No mods to do, and I can keep the all new brakes and w/cyl etc.

[prostreet6t9]

I'd be interested in seeing the pics of the blown up DuraGrips.. I install quite a few of those every week and have never seen one blow yet. Even with some pretty good HP cars.

[big gear head]

I agree with what Imsport said about the 8.2.

The 8.5 was first produced in '71 and was used in the Cutlass and Skylark in '71 and '72. These are the only corporate 8.5 rear ends that didn't have c clip axles. They had press on axle bearings that retained the axles like the 9 inch Ford. They are kind of rare, but I have built several of them. All of the other internal parts are the same as the other 8.5 rear ends. The '73 and later rear ends were wider and the mounts are different. The shocks are also mounted on the other sdie of the axle tubes.

[LATECH]

Thank you Big gear and Imsport. I could have spent hours searching the in the salvage yards to come up with that info. And Where I live now I am junk yard challenged.
My original 64 had a wheel bearing go bad, and i swapped the rear for a 3.55 out of a buick that I bought from a salvage yard for 25 bucks... (back in 1976) LOL, just checking to see if you are awake.
Being 16 at the time I didnt have the patience to chase down a shop to press a bearing for me. And to upgrade to a Limited slip for 25 bucks just seemed too attractive.
The 8.2 in my poncho has pressed on axle bearings, and If I understand correctly, buick and olds does to , but chevy does not.

[big gear head]

Correct, the 8.2 BOP rear end has press on axle bearings and no c clips. The Chevy 8.2 uses c clips and the axle bearings are driven in the ends of the housing. The '64 Chevy 8.2 has slightly different splines on the axles than the '65 and later rear ends, so swapping differentials in that rear end is a little more difficult.

[SSedan64]

Some swap Info >> 8.5" rear axle