GM 10-bolt Differential

Technical Information

Basic Information
Historic Changes
GM 10-bolt Identification
Carrier Breaks
Casting Numbers

Is It A Posi?

Everyone's heard the tip about checking your vehicle's rear end to check for a "posi-traction" or "limited slip"
unit as opposed to an "open" unit....and that is to jack both wheels off the ground and try to spin one tire. If the
opposite tire spins in the same direction, it's a posi. If it spins in the opposite direction, it's not. However, this is
NOT an entirely accurate way of correctly determining the existence of the posi.
A posi that is set up right will cause both wheels to turn the same direction with the trans in N. When the trans
is in P you should not be able to turn the wheels. The problem is that when the clutches wear, the unit loosens
up and begins to act like a "open" or standard unit. In this case the wheels will turn in opposite directions with
the trans in P. The only way to be sure is to remove the cover and look at it. If it has the preload springs, plates
and clutches, it's a posi. If it is a posi and it is acting like a standard unit, you need to have the clutches replaced
and the preload reset.

The only way to know for sure it to take the cover off the rear end and look at the carrier!

Look for the two plates with four springs between them, or the "s" spring in the later 10-bolts. Even if both
wheels were to spin the same direction in the above scenario, it could mean that the rear end has welded itself
together from too many one-legged burnouts...or it might even have a racing-only spool installed. NOT the
ticket for a street-driven car.
According to the 1970 service manual, for a new posi-traction differential, the torque required to rotate one
wheel while the other wheel remains stationary should be 70 ft. lbs. minimum. For a used posi differential it
should be no less than 40 ft. lbs.

TO CHECK THE RING AND PINION GEAR RATIO:

Remove the inspection cover and check the side of the ring gear for two numbers...for example, 43:13. This
means that there are 43 teeth on the ring, and 13 teeth on the pinion. 43/13 = 3.31 ratio.
Bot***** *****ne: If you're looking to purchase a rear end from a third party, never take the seller's word for
the gear ratio. Take a moment and do the inspection of the gears personally.

Reared Quick ID
An 8.2 Pontiac 10-bolt has 2 scallops (cutouts) on each side of the rear cover, whereas an 8.2 Chevy-style has a
round cover with an indentation running across the cover (like the 12-bolt Chevy) and 2 casting projections on
the top of the rear. The Pontiac 8.2 inch has its axles retained at the brake end of the housing and all the other
rears have C-clips retaining their axles in the housing (in stock form). The 8.5 GM corporate rear has a rounded
cover with two casting projections that face downward. An 8.5 posi uses plate clutches like a 12-bolt, whereas
the 8.2 Chevy and Pontiac both use cone-type clutches in the posi unit.

NOTES
All 8.5" 10-bolt carriers and ring/pinions will interchange, with the exception of the 30-spline truck units.
From 1964-67, the housing dimensions measure 56.5 inches, from flange to flange. Total measurements with
the drums in place is 60.5 inches. 1968-72 rear end housings measure 58.5 inches from flange to flange, and
with the brake drums in place, the total dimensions measure 62.5 inches.
Internal components have a characteristic that is common to the housing used: 10-bolt pieces fit other 8.125"
10-bolt housings (the rear end used in Chevrolets), and 12-bolt pieces interchange with other 12-bolt housings
(not the one from the Chevrolet pickup or Oldsmobile, which has a 12-bolt cover and a 10-bolt gear, which
measures 8.3"). This means that a posi carrier will retrofit in place of a standard differential.
Axle shafts are common to the housing used, and due to the usual characteristics like overall length and spline
count, the shafts only interchange with the housing that is used. (e.g. 12-bolt shafts fit other 12-bolts, and 10-
bolt shafts fit other 10-bolts.)
Rear spring mounting pads: 1964-66 rear ends used a flat pad with a hole drilled in the center. 1968-72 rear
ends have circular spring mounting pads, which are 3/4" higher that the early flat pad. 1967 was a transition
year, in which A-cars might have a 1964-66 style rear end, a 1968-72 rear end (which is wider, and commonly
available), or a "hybrid" rear end, which will have the 58.5" width, but with the early spring mounting pad and
trailing arm brackets.
Rear upper control bushing eyes differ, and the positioning of the bushing eyes will differ. 1968-72 rear end
housings will have a 3/8" forward positioning, which is farther than 1964-67 rear ends.
1964 was the only year that the rear end bushings are small, and any upper trailing arm (from any GM division)
will fit 1964 rear end housings.
If bolting a Chevy 12-bolt rear end into your Cutlass, you will notice the U-joint at the input yoke is a different
diameter. There is a U-joint that will adapt a BOP driveshaft to the 12-bolt Chevy rear.
10-bolt and 12-bolt drum brake assemblies will interchange.
REAR TRAILING ARMS
The rear trailing arms (or control arms) consist of four arms that connect the rear end to the frame, and the setup
consists of two long and two short arms. The lower trailing arms for use with a sway bar is unique, and the
usual characteristics is that the arm is boxed and gusseted. The upper arms vary, and there are two part numbers
in the Chevrolet Parts Interchange Manual that separate 1964-67 and 1968-72 Chevelles and BOP A-Bodies.
The lower arms are interchangeable (all years), and a car that did not have a sway bar can be modified to fit.
Upper trailing arms of 1964-67 vintage interchange, and they are 1" shorter, which will not fit into 1968-72 A-
cars. 1968-72 A-cars have longer upper arms, and when switching upper arms, be careful here, in which the
pinion nose angle might be affected. According to Inside '64-'72 A-Bodies, there are 10 different rear upper
control arms offered. Other characteristics include clearance bulges, common with 12-bolt differentials in A-
cars, and adjustable upper arms, optioned on Oldsmobile A-bodies (F-85, Cutlass). 442s had boxed upper arms,
and this is a sought-after item in a restoration.
On many high-performance and 4-speed-equipped 1968-72 A-cars, there is a triangulation brace bracket that is
standard. This stiffens the chassis, and tubular versions are available from Edelbrock and Hotchkis
Performance.
The left and right trailing arms are interchangeable.
 HISTORIC CHANGES
Pinion Factory
Ring Positraction
Evolutionary Gear Ratios
Years / Models Used In Gear No. of Case Casting
Time Period Dia. (Separated by
Dia. Splines No.
Case Sizing)
First Style '55-'64 - All GM cars; drop-out style 8.20" - 17 - -
ED-32267 or
- '64-'72 Chevelle/GTO/F-85 2.56, 2.73
Early Style ED-32118
- '64-'72 Nova/Chevy II 8.20" 1.438" 25
Standard 3.08, 3.36, ED-30116
- '67-'70 Camaro
3.55, 3.70 PM2
Early Style - '64-'71Buick/Pontiac/Oldsmobile
8.25" 1.438" 27 - -
Other "B or P axles"
- '70-'76 Chevelle/GTO/F-85/LeMans 2.41, 2.56 410409N
- '70-'76 Camaro
Late Style 8.50" 1.625" 30 2.73, 3.08,
- '70-'75 Nova/Chevy II 410408N
3.42, 3.73, 4.10
- '77-'81 Z-28/Trans Am
- '71-'77 Vega
H Car Style
- '75-'77 4-cyl. Monza, Sunbird, and 6.50" - - - -
(light duty)
Astre
H Car Style - '75-'77 6- & 8-cyl. Monza, Sunbird,
7.50" - - - -
(med. duty) Starfire and Skyhawk
2.29, 2.41,
- '77-'84 All GM models except
2.56, 2.73, -
Present Style Monza, Vega and '77-'81 Trans Am's 7.50" 1.438" 27
2.93, 3.08
and Z-28's
3.23, 3.42, 3.73 -
Source: Car Craft Magazine - August 1984
Not included in the chart above is the heavy-duty 10-bolt towing package offered by Oldsmobile, which actually
has a 10-bolt gear assembly installed in a 12-bolt housing. The ring gear on this setup measures 8.3".

GM 8.2 B or P Axle
11 1/2" Irregular Cover - 10 Holes
8.20" Diameter Ring Gear
1.438" Diameter Pinion - 27 Splines "B" or "P" Axle Only
Non C-clip type
64-70 Olds F-85
 GM 8.2
64-71 Tempest/GTO 8.20" Diameter Ring Gear
67-71Firebird 1.438" Diameter Pinion - 25 Splines
These units were used for a number of years and are strong, but there is a certain lack
of parts availability from the factory
65-70 Chevrolet
Top
64-72 Chevelle
11" Oval Cover - 10 Holes
64-70 Chevy II
Bottom
67-70 Camaro
10 5/8" Irregular Cover - 10
70-72 Nova
Holes
Most Chevy-style 8.2" 10-bolts use the 11" cover with an inverted "V" groove (for
internal lubrication) across its face, just like the 12-bolt version. Some have a 10
5/8" irregular cover. All have slip-in axles retained by C-clips. The pinion nut will
be 1 1/8".

GM 8.5
8.50" Diameter Ring Gear
1.626" Diameter Pinion - 30 Splines
Plate clutches
70-76 Chevrolet
70-76 Chevelle
70-75 Chevy II
70-81 Camaro
70-81 GTO/Firebird
70-76 Olds F-85
Top: 72-81 Z-28
11" Oval Cover - 10 Holes Most 8.5" 10-bolts have a bulged-out 11" cover (for ring gear clearance) with big
Bottom: square lugs on the housing below the cover (red arrows). A few use the 10 5/8"
10 5/8" Irregular Cover - 10 irregular cover. The pinion nut will be 1 1/4". All corporate 8.5" 10-bolts have a
Holes 30-spline pinion, but various years & styles had C-clips or bolt-in axles.

GM 8.5 "O" Axle

10 3/8" x 11" Irregular Cover -12 Holes
10-Bolt 8.5" Diameter Ring Gear - 27 Splines
1.626" Diameter Pinion
"O" Axle Only 12 Bolt Cover - 10 Bolt Gear
Plate clutches
68-70 Cutlass and 442
This is the Olds version of the the Chevy 12-bolt rear end. The bearings in this rear
end are smaller than the Chevy version as is the ring gear diameter, which is 8½
vs. 8 1/8 for the Chevrolet unit. It is identified by its almost round rear cover. It
comes with bolt-in axles.
 GM 7.5 & 7.625
8 5/16" x 10 9/16" Oval Cover 10 Holes
10 Bolt 7.5" & 7.625" Diameter Ring Gear
1.438" Diameter Pinion - 27 Splines
77-98 All GM Models
82-98 Camaro, Firebird Trans-Am Z28
83-98 S10, S15 Trucks (Rear)
85-98 Safari, Astrovan
77-87 El Camino
Will not fit Monza, etc.
Second-design 7.5"/7.625" 10-bolt housings are similar in appearance to the 8.5"
10-bolt housing. The 7.5"/7.625" uses an 8 5/16 x 10 9/16 oval cover with small
pointed lugs on the housing below the cover (red arrows).

9" Ford bolt-in housing made to fit 1964-1972 GM A-body cars - $359 from Moser Engineering

10 Bolt 8.5" & 8.2" Performance Cover - $160 from Moser Engineering
GM rear end carrier breaks
7.5" - 3.08 & down / 3.23 & up
7.75" - 2.77 & down / 3.27 & up
8.2" - Chevy 2.76 & down / 3.07 & up
8.2" BOP - 2.76 & down / 2.94 to 3.23 / 3.31 & up
8.5" - 2.56 & down / 2.76 & up
12-Bolt Passenger - 2.76 & down / 3.07 to 3.90 / 4.10 & up
GM Carrier Casting Numbers
Axle Type Casting No. Series Gearing
10 bolt 8.2" ED32118 2 2.73:1 & down
10 bolt 8.2" EDB30116 3 3.08:1 & up
10 bolt 8.5" 410409N 2 2.56:1 & down
10 bolt 8.5" 410408N 3 2.73:1 & up
12 bolt ED32088 2 2.73:1 & down
12 bolt 30140PM1 3 3.08:1 to 3.73:1
12 bolt EDB30174 4 3.90:1 & up

Sources
Axle Casting Date Interpretation mddy
where:
m = month (A-L month format, see below)
dd = 1- or 2-digit numeric day of month (1-31)
y = last digit of calendar year

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

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