8.5" in '84 Cutlass Supreme?

[tdvick]

I'm pretty new to this 78+ A/G body stuff. I'm trying to find a better rear for my '80 Lemans. I was talking to a guy who says that he has an 8.5" rear out of an '84 Cutlass Supreme. My question is, did a plain Cutlass come with an 8.5"? If so, what would a drum to drum, non-posi, non-performance geared 8.5" rear be worth? I would plan on converting to a posi and adding 3.73-4.10 gears.

Thanks for your advice,
Troy

 

[stomis]

The simple answer is no.

Nearly if not all 8.5s came with 3.73s. Posi was always an option. In stock form I've seen just housings and a carrier go for $500 here but theres a huge GN following around here. For a stock 8.5 expect to pay $500-$800. Posi shouldnt really affect the price unless the guy is well aware of it and usually that will only up the price to the upper range of the typical price range.

The 8.5 came in Grand Nationals, Buick T-Types (its just a grand national w/o the blackout package), and Olds 442s (who the hell knows why but it makes me happy lol). Someone will chime in as to whether the hurst/olds cars came with the 8.5, I'm not sure.

 

[tdvick]

I thought that I saw somewhere that some Supremes could have come with an 8.5". This wasn't the case?

I may still have to go check it out. Who knows what could have been put into the car over the last 20+ years.

 

[MrHernandez]

the easy way to tell is 8.5'' rears have 2 squared corners at the bottom of the carriers, 7.5'' rears have 2 little tabs :wink:

 

[cdg1984]

Stock cutlass supremes didnt come with 8.5's. Yes, the hurst olds did. 442 and h/o's have 3.73...grand national and t-types ( only some t-types ) have 3.42's. They typically go from 500-1000 dollars.

 

[Mudweizer]

I thought that I saw somewhere that some Supremes could have come with an 8.5". This wasn't the case?

I may still have to go check it out. Who knows what could have been put into the car over the last 20+ years.

Maybe you are thinking a cutlass wagon, I think I saw that somewhere myself.

 

[supercrackerbox]

Stock cutlass supremes didnt come with 8.5's. Yes, the hurst olds did. 442 and h/o's have 3.73...grand national and t-types ( only some t-types ) have 3.42's. They typically go from 500-1000 dollars.

The '84 H/O did, but the '83 got the 7.5".

 

[tdvick]

Do 2 door vs 4 door make any difference? Apparently the rear that he has was in an '84 4 door Cutlass. Would that still be considered a G body? I don't know what is considered a B body vs G body.

Thanks,
Troy

 

[supercrackerbox]

Nope, that's still a G-body and still had the 7.5" from the factory. Of course that's not to say that it was never swapped out at some point, so it never hurts to look.

 

[1badbu]

I don't think the standard Cutlass could even be ordered with an 8.5.

But I also thought 8.5's came out in G-Bodies starting in 1985.

You could order an 8.5 in Monte Carlo SS's I know.

I think about all 85 up turbo regal's had 8.5's,not all as mentioned had posi's.The 85' T-Type I got my 8.5 from had a 3:42 open rearend :?: And the 86-87 442's,Hurst cars all had 8.5's that I've seen.

3:73's were optional in turbo's.Everyone I ever saw had 3:42's.

You know some S-10 pickup's had 8.5 rearends (good for parts).My Dad had a complete listing of the 8.5 rearends offered in the GM lineup from 85 up.If I can find it down in his garage I'll try and post it.