calais rear axle $70?

[pimplogic]

there is a wrecked calais at a local yard and im pretty sure it has a 8.5 posi in it. how much do you think they will charge for it and what do i have to do to install the complete rear end on my car.

 

[DrRansom442]

well lets clarify is it JUST a Calais or an H/O? If there is a 8.5 in a non-H/O Calais ... it didn't come from the factory that way. Check housing numbers. See, if they will let you pull the cover off too. count the teeth and see if it's a G80. $70. aint a half bad price even for a 7.5 with Posi.

 

[ponchoman49]

If that is a regular Calais it will only have a 7.5" rear end. Only the 1983-87 Hurst/442 had the 8.5" rears. Not sure about the 1979/80 W-30 cars but I would guess those were 8.5's too. Normal Calais Cutlass models used the same powertrains and axle ratios as base Supreme models which means if it is a V6 then it would have either a 2.41:1 or optional 3.08:1 or 3.23:1 but the odds at that are slim. V8's from 1978-1982 came with 2.29:1 gears and from 1983-84 had either 2.14:1 or 2.56:1 with overdrive paired with the Olds 307. The 79/80 H/O has 2.73:1 gears and the 1983-87 Hurst/442 of course came with 3.73's. Most every regular Calais I have seen has the stock axle ratio so be sure to check what is in the car or you may end up with something either the same or worse than whats in yours now.

 

[Blake442]

'79-'80 H/O's and 442's had 7.5's.
'83 H/O's had 7.5's as well.

Only the '84 H/O, '85-'87 442, and '84-'87 Turbo Buicks had the 8.5" rear.

No exceptions.
Everything else had a 7.5" rear.

 

[DrRansom442]

guess I could have clarified about the H/Os, but I figured if it wasn't a H/O ... there wasn't much sense asking what year. Cuz a "Calais" wouldn't have a 8.5", unless someone put it in there after the fact.

 

[1evilregal]

like previously stated, just because tahat model didn't come fome the factory with that axle, doesn't mean someone hasn't put one into it... look at the stampings (there's some code links in the knowledge threads), and be sure you're not getting the same or worse than what you've got, like another said...

 

[DrRansom442]

GOod luck and don't volunteer info if it IS a 8.5