10 Bolt Chevy Rear.....8.2 0r 8.5

[John Kelley]

I'm trying ti identify a rear end in a '72 Chevelle.
It has GCC 061 1 stamped on the axle tube, is this a 8.2 or 8.5
The Chevy dealer doesn't have any info on anything this old.
Thanks for any info......JLK

[Lyn Smith]

a 8.5 has 2 little cast ears hanging down under the cover in the back.

[Freddie Cain]

8.5 has 1.25 pinion nut.

[Mike Semeniuk]

Unless it has been changed out - it should be an 8.5. The 8.2 has an oiling detail on the top half of the cover ( like the 12 bolt) , and the 8.5 has a pronounced bulge in the cover to accomodate the crown gear, it also has 2 pointed ears on either side of the diff protruding on the bottom.

[John Kelley]

Sadly what I have is a 8.2.....
I found a 12 bolt housing out of a '67 Chevelle REAL CHEAP......a bit narrower but apparently will bolt in !!

[Tom keedle]

i've never seen a 8.5 in a 72....seems to me it was the 73 model year for the 1st 8.5 (in a chevelle)

anyway, good deal on the 67 12 bolt find, they're getting scarce BUT is it "legal" for stock?

width issue,ya know...

[Mike Taylor 3601]

just in case someone needs to know 8.2 has 9/16 head 3/8 right hand thread ring gear bolts 8.5 has 11/16 or 3/4 (can't remember exactly) 7/16 left hand thread ring gear bolts
Mike Taylor 3601

[Fred Lee]

What is the intended purpose for the 72 Chevelle? Will you be putting in a spool with aftermarket axles? If so you could have 9 inch Ford style housing ends welded on and make
the 67 Chevelle 12 bolt the correct width for your car. I have a bare housing that was set up that way by Moser. I am a Moser dealer also so let me know what you need. Fred Lee

231-740-5534 cell phone

[Greg Reimer 7376]

Originally Posted by Tom keedle

i've never seen a 8.5 in a 72....seems to me it was the 73 model year for the 1st 8.5 (in a chevelle)

anyway, good deal on the 67 12 bolt find, they're getting scarce BUT is it "legal" for stock?

width issue,ya know...

There were a handful of 8.5" 10 bolts made in later '72 model run Chevelles. It seems that they were intended to be used as a phase out of 12 bolts for the ghastly '73 model year cars. I'm not sure which cars they were most often found in, but they wanted to standardize the model line of A bodys to one rear end assembly-not 10 bolts for light duty use, and 12 bolts for heavy duty use. To a bean counter, one rear end for all makes sense. The 67 12 bolt deal sounds sweet. I don't think it would be a problem especially after a C clip eliminator kit housing end had been properly installed. I say,"Good picking!!"