The hunt continues for the elusive 8.5" for my '68 wagon. Will one from a '71-'72 Cutlass, Lemans, Skylark, Grand Prix be the same as a Chevelle/Monte Carlo/El Camino 8.5?
Thanks,
Kentt

No. BOP rears are the same dimension but the internals are different. IE; Some BOP's with 12 bolt covers only have 10 bolt ring gears. Plus, Some gear combo's and other internal parts are hard to find.

!2 bolts are easier to find than 8.5 10 bolts for chevelles. Tom

Yes, the 8.5 in the Buick Olds and Pontiac are the same as the Chevelle. The 8.2 is different, and the "O" rear end is all by it's self, but the 8.5s are all the same. The early A body 8.5 didn't have c clip axles, but everything else is the same. You will find the 8.5 in Buicks and Oldsmobiles much more often that in Chevelles. The early A body 8.5 has a slightly different cover on it because of the axles. Because these axles had sealed ball bearings on the axles they didn't need the oil flowing down the axle tubes to lube the axle bearings. The cover on these rear ends has a ) and ( cut out on the sides of the cover where the oil holes would have been in the c clip rear ends.

Would all of the '71-'72 Skylarks/Cutlass'/Grand Prix's have the modern (same as 70's-80's Nova/Camaro) 8.5" ring gear (internal components)? Or did some of the '71-'72 Skylarks/Cutlass use the earlier BOP 8.2 rear end? THanks again for the help--it is appreciated.

If it's an 8.5 then it uses 8.5 parts. The only difference in the early A body 8.5 and the later 8.5 is the way that the axles are retained.

Does anyone make 30-spline axles for the early "bolt-in axle" 71/72 a-body 8.5 rears?

Yes, Moser.

The hunt continues for the elusive 8.5" for my '68 wagon. Will one from a '71-'72 Cutlass, Lemans, Skylark, Grand Prix be the same as a Chevelle/Monte Carlo/El Camino 8.5?
Thanks,
Kentt

Are you on a single mission to locate/own a Chevy A-body 8.5" rear-end and will accept no other? :confused:

Look on www.car-part.com

Here are a few in MN I found

1971
Rear Axle
Oldsmobile F85 exc. Skyroof SW- 713189 $200 Chesney Auto Salvage USA-MN(Duluth) Request_Quote 1-800-826-2941

1971
Rear Axle
Buick Skylark 2.73 OPEN,CHECKD,DRAIND 08658 $175 French Lake Auto Parts USA-MN(Annandale) Request_Quote 1-320-274-8497 Request_Insurance_Quote
997
1972
Rear Axle
Buick Skylark 2.56 OPEN,CHKD,DRND. 01270 $175 French Lake Auto Parts USA-MN(Annandale) Request_Quote 1-320-274-8497 Request_Insurance_Quote
997
1971
Rear Axle
Oldsmobile F85 Cutlass 2.56 OPEN,CHKD,DRND, 65204 $175 French Lake Auto Parts USA-MN(Annandale) Request_Quote 1-320-274-8497 Request_Insurance_Quote


1975
Rear Axle
Oldsmobile Cutlass/Supreme 2.56 RATIO,LOCKING NOF $200 Clearwater Auto Parts USA-MN(Clearwater) E-mail 1-877-558-2462 998

1973
Rear Axle
Buick Regal 2.73 106,614 A 060074 $150 Huntington Auto Center USA-MN(Sauk-Rapids) E-mail 800-554-1532 1001

1974
Rear Axle
Chevy Chevelle exc SW-? ON RATIO,ORIGINAL 152,000 A 081004 $175 Ralph's Car & Tractor Service USA-MN(St.-Cloud) Request_Quote 800-200-6492 / 320-252-6492

'73 and later will not work. Must be '71 or '72.

Kentt - If you absolutely need an 8.5" for your 68 I think I can get one. I dealt on a 1972 8.5" Monte axle about 4 or 5 years ago but gave up. If it's life or death I can check........PM if you're interested.

Thanks for the tips on the 10 bolts. It is not a life and death matter, only a very good route to get a durable rear end with out spending a boat load of cash...I am also looking at some 12 bolts, just don't want to spend the extra $$.

Sorry to keep bringing up this 8.5" rear end deal....Does the Buick and Olds casting look the same as the Chevy version? Like this?

http://www.novaresource.org/axle.htm

Thanks for the help!

I answered my own question: went to v8buick.com and looked it up.