rear end codes/questions

Pontiacpower

Pontiacpower

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hello all,
I just changed my diff fluid and I figured I would take a gander and find out something about my ten bolt rear end. I found the code on the front passenger side of the axle about 3" from the diff case.....
p043 wc..................could anyone tell me more about this rear end? I don't know much about these yet. as far as I know this one is an open rear end and I'm wanting both wheels to spin eventually.


oh, and on the drivers side rear of the case the number "8" is cast on the case
any help is greatly appreciated.
 
The WC code should be a 2:78:1 rear ratio. This again is assuming you have a 1971 and nobody has ever changed the gears.
 
is this rear end a chevy or bop one? I would really like to go posi with it at one point. would it be worth it to use the 2.78 gears? or should I wait for a 3.33 or 3.42 or something in the ballpark?
 
Something numerically higher wound be better. 3.55 would be ideal.
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3.55 would be awesome. I agree but finding a posi unit for a decent price is tough. I found a bunch of 90s chevy truck rear ends on craigslist. would those bolt right up? I think my rear end is chevy if I'm not mistaken.
 
i read that article and it sais that the codes for a Pontiac rear are on the drivers side rear of the axle. my code was on the front passenger side? when I looked up the code I found WC under a chevy rear end
 
is this rear end worth sinking money into or should I find another one? I don't think this car will ever see a drag strip but going fast is always cool
 
depends on the cost of a new carrier unit to fit into the current one or buying a complete used rear which may need work
 
if I found a chevy rear end would it bolt right in? I see a bunch of truck rear ends on craigslist. I'm sure that theres a good 3.55 one out there. doubt a Pontiac rear end will turn up soon
 
It depends on what Chassis the Chevy rear axle came out of, if it came out of a 1968 to 1972 Malibu or Chevelle then it should fit. If it came out of anything else it will require modifications due to different chassis types (leaf springs verses the 4-link Coil Springs your car has)
Also something to consider is your Pontiac 8.2 has Bolt in rear axles, a Chevy 8.2 is a "C" clip axle, that means if you do break an axle if will walk out of the housing and damage the rear 1/4 severly when it does. The Bolt in axle will stay inside the housing and just stop working but do no further damage to your car.

Remember Buyer beware when using used parts, I know everyone wants to make mods for as cheap as possible (myself included) but some times it just isn't possible. GM 8.2 axles are very expensive to work on, and are not the strongest units made.
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I see. so there is a benefit to a Pontiac rear end. ill look up what it would cost to make this thing a posi 3.42 and go from there I guess. I'm putting disc brakes on soon so I have some time.
 
You would at least need the Carrier, ring and Pinion, crush sleeve (quite a few of those if you plan on doing the work yourself as it can be some trial and error setting the shim thickness for a good gear mesh) gasket kit, and if I had the axles removed to do that work I would at least replace the axle bearing seals while they were out.
I have not done the work myself in about 10 years, but the last BOP 8.2 axle I did cost me over $600 in parts alone. I would stay away from Cone type Posi units such as Auburn's and stye with the clutch style like Eaton's.
If you pay someone to do the work a ring and pinion swap on a GM 8.2" can cost $1500 about double what it costs to do the stronger GM 8.5" axles. And can fast aprouch what it costs to have a new axle made to your spec's not counting new brake parts.
Unfortunatly they are about the most expensive of the common axles to rebuild, and part suppliers are very limited, ad they can charge higher prices.
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wow I figured 500- 600 bucks would get the job done. rear ends are a lot more expensive than I thought. well I'm still stuck at square one. I figure a 1000 is my self set limit on a rear end now. I guess if this was your very first rear end what way would you go. at least from your perspective from doing them over the years. I haven't done anything other than changing fluid on them so this is my learning experience.
 
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