Is this a Nova rear?

[BonzoHansen]

Ok, i picked up an 8.5 housing a while back under the assumption it is a Nova rear. It is destined for my 67 Camaro. I have a factory 2nd gen 8.5 posi unit on the bench for it. I need all the other parts so i need to ID this. I believe its a 79 Nova rear.

Axle Code: 2 TB G80251
Casting # 1254338 (i think its 338). That came up in google searches
Casting date A218

I found some info here: https://www.novaresource.org/axle.htm
that also says 42 3/4" perches ctr to ctr. Yes

but it also says 53 1/4" Backing Plate to Backing Plate. I'm at 54 3/8: from outer flange to outer flange. I guess that is right.

Back to that Axle Code: 2 TB G80251
2 TB = 2.73 open (1979)
If I guess G8 is plant, or the 8 is something else, then 025 is Jan 25th, 1=night shift. I guess that jives with the center cast date.

Casting date A218
A=Jan
21=the 21st
8=1978
https://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Rearend_identification#Casting_numbers

Seems early for a 79 rear.

WTF how did they break 5 out of 8 backing plate bolts?

And WTF is this hole? lol. I guess I'll have to mig that up.

 

[Zspoiler]

Those year of Novas are a little strange .They have a Second gen subframe and a 1973-74 rear end in them.

 

[big gear head]

Never use backing plate measurements. They are not accurate. Brake options can cause the backing plate measurements to be off by an inch. You don't have axles in it, so measure from the outside of the brake flanges and add 5 1/2 inches for the axles. It should be very close to 60 inches.

 

[BonzoHansen]

54.375+5.5=59.875. So that's about there too. That is good news.

Ever see a hole in an axle tube like that? I can't imagine why someone drilled a hole in it.

 

[John Wright]

54.375+5.5=59.875. So that's about there too. That is good news.

Ever see a hole in an axle tube like that? I can't imagine why someone drilled a hole in it.

Scott, I don't think that is a drilled hole. Maybe the brake line clip fell off that might have been there?...the welding was awful on those rear axle tubes. The plug welds on mine were leaking because they had burned through when they made the welds from the factory.

 

[BonzoHansen]

I dunno, it's an odd, clean hole. Maybe i guess.

 

[big gear head]

Looks like it was made by a torch. It shouldn't be there. The axle tubes are about 3/16 thick, so it takes a little effort to make a hole all the way through. My guess would be that someone tried to remove the U bolt and couldn't get the nuts off, so they used a torch to cut the U bolt and they cut that hole in the tube while doing it. I wold use a die grinder and bevel the hole so that you can get 110% penetration when you weld it.

 

[BonzoHansen]

Will do, thanks.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

Don't judge, it it wanted to get drilled in the rear end that's it's business.

 

[Fbird]

not sure on your 42 3/4 measurement up there.... cause you are not in the center of that spring perch...visually. I would have to ASSUME that the other end of the tape is against the INSIDE wall of the OUTSIDE perch wall.... ie measuring from outside edge to inside edge of "invisible" leaf spring?