1974 el camino rear end questions
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pila
The Dude
Marshall.Pixley
abajc3
Limey SE
Sam_snead01
10 posters
G3GM :: G3 :: General Discussion
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1974 el camino rear end questions
Ok when i bought this car, the guy who sold it to me said he put 373 gears in this thing. It is a 10 bolt Gm coorporate rearend per the dog ears on the bottom. The problem is its "howling" when you drive it. I really haven't had any problems with rear ends throughout my time with cars, and I'm a boat mechanic so the rear end usually stay in good shape on those...lol....my questions are:
1. What generally causes this? Gears? Shims? Bearings?
2. What parts are interchangable throughout the years? Can i take the guts out of one? If so what?
3. Would it be a better idea to but a different rearend per this site or craigslist or junkyard and just put it in there instead of messing with the one i have? If so, what reaends from other cars fit?
4. Should I go posi? Can i go posi with what I have? How can i tell if what i hav is posi?
any help would be great....I really love this site..........thanks in advance
1. What generally causes this? Gears? Shims? Bearings?
2. What parts are interchangable throughout the years? Can i take the guts out of one? If so what?
3. Would it be a better idea to but a different rearend per this site or craigslist or junkyard and just put it in there instead of messing with the one i have? If so, what reaends from other cars fit?
4. Should I go posi? Can i go posi with what I have? How can i tell if what i hav is posi?
any help would be great....I really love this site..........thanks in advance
Sam_snead01- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 0
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
I'll try to answer these questions as best as I can.
1. Probably wasn't set in there correctly. Get some gear marker & verify this. Maybe you just have a wheel bearing that needs replaced though?
2. It's the 8.5 rear. All 1973-77 A bodies used this axle & interchange. Some were bolt on & some were C-clip style though so that's the only thing to worry about. Gears can also be found under some 77-96 Caprices, 80's model 442, Monte SS, & Buick GN, most 1/2 ton pickup trucks made from the 70's on up, & I believe that even vans got this rear axle.
3. Complete rear axles from any 73-77 A body or any 77-96 B body will swap in directly. Cop versions sometimes came with 3.42 gears, most others had highway gears. Some early A bodies had 3.31 gears as well & you might get lucky enough to find one with a posi. Whether or not you want to mess with gear swapping or rear axle swapping is your choice, but a rear axle isn't too expensive & is fairly straight forward to swap out. Four bolts, the E brake, & the brake lines.
4. I always recommend posi or some type of limited slip, but that's me. See 2 & 3 for answers to the posi question. Stay away from the Gov-lock posi in trucks as they aren't very reliable. I found this out first hand with a relatively stock truck. You can put limited slip in any 8.5 no matter what it originally had. Best way to tell if you have posi is to pop the cover & look. Not like it harms anything to change the axle grease. An old standby that works most times is to jack the car up & see if both wheels spin the same direction, but sometimes even with posi they will turn opposite from what I'm told.
1. Probably wasn't set in there correctly. Get some gear marker & verify this. Maybe you just have a wheel bearing that needs replaced though?
2. It's the 8.5 rear. All 1973-77 A bodies used this axle & interchange. Some were bolt on & some were C-clip style though so that's the only thing to worry about. Gears can also be found under some 77-96 Caprices, 80's model 442, Monte SS, & Buick GN, most 1/2 ton pickup trucks made from the 70's on up, & I believe that even vans got this rear axle.
3. Complete rear axles from any 73-77 A body or any 77-96 B body will swap in directly. Cop versions sometimes came with 3.42 gears, most others had highway gears. Some early A bodies had 3.31 gears as well & you might get lucky enough to find one with a posi. Whether or not you want to mess with gear swapping or rear axle swapping is your choice, but a rear axle isn't too expensive & is fairly straight forward to swap out. Four bolts, the E brake, & the brake lines.
4. I always recommend posi or some type of limited slip, but that's me. See 2 & 3 for answers to the posi question. Stay away from the Gov-lock posi in trucks as they aren't very reliable. I found this out first hand with a relatively stock truck. You can put limited slip in any 8.5 no matter what it originally had. Best way to tell if you have posi is to pop the cover & look. Not like it harms anything to change the axle grease. An old standby that works most times is to jack the car up & see if both wheels spin the same direction, but sometimes even with posi they will turn opposite from what I'm told.
The Dude- Management
- Street Cred : 48
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
There are two differant size carriers. One is for 2.55 gears and lower ((2 series carrier)) and ((3 series carrier)) is for 2.72 gears and up. JB
JB2wheeler- G3GM Fanatic
- Street Cred : 28
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
Since the 73-77 cars only ranged from 2.56-3.42 does that mean they all used the same carrier then? I never knew that 8.5's even had two different carriers, I thought it was just the 8.2 10 bolts. Thanks JB.
The Dude- Management
- Street Cred : 48
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
The 2.56 was a smaller carrier than ther other ratios. Hey, I only missed it by one number,lol. JB
JB2wheeler- G3GM Fanatic
- Street Cred : 28
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
Rago wrote:Since the 73-77 cars only ranged from 2.56-3.42 does that mean they all used the same carrier then? I never knew that 8.5's even had two different carriers, I thought it was just the 8.2 10 bolts. Thanks JB.
I actually added that Rago and yes there are two diff carriers
___________________________________________
1977 Chevelle SE x2
One Mild original
one Wild NON original
Anthony
Limey SE- Management
- Street Cred : 97
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
You missed the other number by one too JB, it's a 2.73. I have one of those laying around here if anyone needs one.
pila- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 43
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
Posi and what gears ??
___________________________________________
1977 Chevelle SE x2
One Mild original
one Wild NON original
Anthony
Limey SE- Management
- Street Cred : 97
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
what are the prices on those things over there? I checked ebay once and they were around 1000 bucks which seems a lot to me...
abajc3- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 3
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
The one I have is an open 2.73, removed from my '75 . Code on the axle housing is
ACC 141 1
ACC 141 1
pila- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 43
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
I've actually got three complete rears that would work. Still debating on which one to use.
2.73 open
3.08 posi
3.42 open
2.73 open
3.08 posi
3.42 open
The Dude- Management
- Street Cred : 48
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
I wish I had that 3.08 Posi to use as a spare in case I tear out my 3.47 posi. JB
JB2wheeler- G3GM Fanatic
- Street Cred : 28
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
Those 8.5 rears will take a lot of punishment though. Some guys run big blocks with those. Only thing I noticed is that the axle housing wears quite a bit where the OD of the outer axle bearings run, after beating on it for a few years. Then the housing needs the aftermarket C-clip eliminators with the ball bearings, to save the housing.
pila- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 43
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
I have Moser 31 spline axles twisting 3.42 posi gears (or is it 3.47, always forget that last number) behind a 540 Dart Big M. I have not abused the rear TOO much, but so far it has held up just fine. Maybe this summer I might get a chance to put on my slicks and give it a real test on the strip. Anyone wanna drive it for me? I'm not a good driver. JB
JB2wheeler- G3GM Fanatic
- Street Cred : 28
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
Those slicks may do a number on that rear!
pila- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 43
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
how is an early 90s buick a direct swap? isnt it a leaf spring car?
Marshall.Pixley- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 0
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
Nope. All 77-96 B Bodies were built on a frame design that's nearly identical to the 73-77 A Body. In fact, we share more in common with them than the 64-72 or 78+ A body. I got a 90 Caprice sitting in my driveway & the similarities that I've seen between these cars is downright crazy.
The Dude- Management
- Street Cred : 48
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
That just goes to show how good the chassis was in the 73/77 A bodies. JB
JB2wheeler- G3GM Fanatic
- Street Cred : 28
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
The '73 thru '77 A body frames, especially in El Caminos, seem to hold up better than the G body Elcos. Those folks seem to have a lot of frame rust issues to deal with. A couple suppliers have rear frame replacement sections. Kinda tells ya something I believe. Replacing a rear frame section sounds like a project for a professional, and not a back-yard job.
pila- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 43
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
I have that common problem on my 78 Elky. It is supposedly sold to a friend of my daughter. she will take possion Monday, if she does not change her mind. She is giving me $500 now and another $1,000 when I can catch her. I will then have enough to pay my property taxes, which has been due since last November. JB
JB2wheeler- G3GM Fanatic
- Street Cred : 28
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
Anyone have a listing of all the available ratios?
Mine is unbelievably high,but the carrier is correct and in good condition.
I would think they'd put a decent gearing for a 2 barrel:(
I have a spare 308 posi...but the spring perches were welded and I'm not sure if they are correct.
I guess removing my carrier and taking correct measurements would solve this problem.
I really need to learn welding.
Mine is unbelievably high,but the carrier is correct and in good condition.
I would think they'd put a decent gearing for a 2 barrel:(
I have a spare 308 posi...but the spring perches were welded and I'm not sure if they are correct.
I guess removing my carrier and taking correct measurements would solve this problem.
I really need to learn welding.
Sinister- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 0
77mali- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 62
Re: 1974 el camino rear end questions
Sounds like a bad pinion bearing or worn gears.
70-81 camaro and firebird use the same ring, pinion, and carrier as or chevelles.
70-81 camaro and firebird use the same ring, pinion, and carrier as or chevelles.
G3NUT- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 11
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