1965 Buick full-size (Wildcat/Electra/LaSabre/etc) posi

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vaholtorf
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1965 Buick full-size (Wildcat/Electra/LaSabre/etc) posi

Post by vaholtorf »

I have a 1965 Wildcat with a non-posi diff. This a year when the differential was in a 'pumpkin' or 'third member' separate casting that bolted to the axle, kind of like a Ford 9" rear end. In 1966 Buick used a different rear end with a cover on the rear, and with the differential bolted inside that one-piece casting. I think that is the so-called 10 bolt rear end from 1966 on. But mine is a '65. I found a 1965 Electra in a junkyard with a posi unit, and bought it. After I got it home, both the ring and pinion has a couple chunks broken out, but the ratio was the same as my Wildcat, so I told my mechanic to disassemble the Electra third member, and remove the pinion gear from it. Them remove the third member from my Wildcat, and take the good pinion off of that third member and put it on the posi unit, then put the posi unit into the Wildcat third member, then put it back on the car. That seemed like a straight forward swap of parts that should have worked to give my Wildcat a period-correct posi.

But my mechanic called a specialist he knew who told him that you can't disassemble those third members, and they were basically 'throw aways' when worn out or broken. I find that hard to believe, and was wondering who knows how to disassemble these Buick diffs so I could use my junk yard posi unit on my Wildcat. Please help!, since it is almost impossible to find 1965 posi rear ends for full size Buicks. I know the '65 Riviera GS all came with posi rear ends, but that is a smaller car with a different rear end, so that doesn't help. Thanks for the help.
Wildcat_65
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Re: 1965 Buick full-size (Wildcat/Electra/LaSabre/etc) posi

Post by Wildcat_65 »

Wow, hope Jim chimes in here, but not true about being throw away- there is a detailed description of how to work on these rears in the chassis manual, and I have had a couple 65 Wildcat center sections rebuilt, bearings changed, etc...
You will have to use the ring and the pinion from your current non posi though. do not mix

Ted Nagel
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monzaz
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Re: 1965 Buick full-size (Wildcat/Electra/LaSabre/etc) posi

Post by monzaz »

WOW...throw away HUH? What a laugher. Did he try to sell a pot of GOLD at the end of the rainbow and give you the map after you paid? LOL

Well they ARE difficult and expensive to get parts...Also they are tricky to get the carrier preload as the pinch bolts and the system is NOT the normal for set-up.

I have only done a couple because they are a headache. The bearings are on shafts and jammed into the posi/open carrier where the races are pressed into. Still as long as you keep both RING AND PINION as a matched set you should be able to get it done.

Where are you ? We can do it but shipping can be a KILLER for this. Jim
J D Race
vaholtorf
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Re: 1965 Buick full-size (Wildcat/Electra/LaSabre/etc) posi

Post by vaholtorf »

monzaz wrote:WOW...throw away HUH? What a laugher. Did he try to sell a pot of GOLD at the end of the rainbow and give you the map after you paid? LOL

Well they ARE difficult and expensive to get parts...Also they are tricky to get the carrier preload as the pinch bolts and the system is NOT the normal for set-up.

I have only done a couple because they are a headache. The bearings are on shafts and jammed into the posi/open carrier where the races are pressed into. Still as long as you keep both RING AND PINION as a matched set you should be able to get it done.

Where are you ? We can do it but shipping can be a KILLER for this. Jim


I am in Fort Collins, Colorado 80521. So let me know what you think it might cost me to have you do it, ok? Thanks, Victor
vaholtorf
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Re: 1965 Buick full-size (Wildcat/Electra/LaSabre/etc) posi

Post by vaholtorf »

monzaz wrote:WOW...throw away HUH? What a laugher. Did he try to sell a pot of GOLD at the end of the rainbow and give you the map after you paid? LOL

Well they ARE difficult and expensive to get parts...Also they are tricky to get the carrier preload as the pinch bolts and the system is NOT the normal for set-up.

I have only done a couple because they are a headache. The bearings are on shafts and jammed into the posi/open carrier where the races are pressed into. Still as long as you keep both RING AND PINION as a matched set you should be able to get it done.

Where are you ? We can do it but shipping can be a KILLER for this. Jim


Also, I told my mechanic what you said above, and he did some more research and told me that he was told that a special puller tool is required, and that he doesn't know where to get the special shims for reassembly. Do you guys have the special puller tool and the shims? Thanks, Victor
Wildcat_65
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Re: 1965 Buick full-size (Wildcat/Electra/LaSabre/etc) posi

Post by Wildcat_65 »

I sure would like to see your Wildcat- I've got a collection of them.
You could look for a posi from a Riviera 63-65, they are the same center section and gears,
(65 they were standard with 3.23:1 )
Riv has a flange arrangement to bolt the driveshaft to it and the Wildcats have the u-joint
- just have to change them out (Jim can tell how to maybe)
I'm working on a 65 Coupe -Super Wildcat 4-speed restoration w/3.42:1 posi

Ted
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vaholtorf
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Re: 1965 Buick full-size (Wildcat/Electra/LaSabre/etc) posi

Post by vaholtorf »

Wildcat_65 wrote:I sure would like to see your Wildcat- I've got a collection of them.
You could look for a posi from a Riviera 63-65, they are the same center section and gears,
(65 they were standard with 3.23:1 )
Riv has a flange arrangement to bolt the driveshaft to it and the Wildcats have the u-joint
- just have to change them out (Jim can tell how to maybe)
I'm working on a 65 Coupe -Super Wildcat 4-speed restoration w/3.42:1 posi

Ted

Hi Ted,
I love Wildcat's also. In addition to the '65 convertible mentioned above, I have 3 real '66 Wildcat GS's; two couples, and a convertible with the superwildcat engine. But all the GS wildcats have a different rear end from the 65, and I want my 65 to have a posi like the 66s! I've never seen one with a 4 speed, so your 65 couple will be awesome to see!
Wildcat_65
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Re: 1965 Buick full-size (Wildcat/Electra/LaSabre/etc) posi

Post by Wildcat_65 »

Very nice!

Have you been invited to the Wildcat Nationals?
its going to be part of the BPG race/show in Columbus, july 31.

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=199148
Wildcat.
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