8.2 BOP Axle, has anyone broke one?
 

I am interested in hearing your experiences with the 8.2 BOP axle. Has anyone broke one, if so what let go? Also what's the best 1/4 mile time/60 foot that you have done with a stock 8.2? I'll start it off with my experience with the 8.2. About 10 years ago I broke teeth on the ring and pinion (3.55 factory gears). At the time the car was running high 12's. Best et and 60 foot with stock axle are in my signature. I am considering putting in Yukon axles and the TA1808 rear cover girdle with cap load bolts but not sure it's worth it.

I broke two when I was a teenager in the early 90's, but unless you are doing 6000 RPM clutch drops with a Marlboro red in one hand and AC/DC cranking at full volume through your Panasonic cassette player and sweet-ass Jensen 6x9's, I am not sure my experience is relevant for your situation.

When I raced in NMCA Top Stock John McWhorter(one of the original Comp Cam's owners) was in my class with his 66 or 67 442 4 speed car. It had been a drag car since new and he was in the 11s when most of us were low 12s. But he would often break that rear launching. Usually the gears themselves until he started re heat treating them.

Don’t waste your money doing anything with the 8.2 10-bolt, the soft gray iron housing lacks pinion support. Stronger nodular housing 8.2s are rare and still lack proper pinion support.

Bite the bullet and buy a complete new aftermarket 12-bolt with Ford bearing housing ends.

If you want to stay 10-bolt then there’s no other choice but to upgrade to the GM Corporate 8.5 from a ‘71-‘72 Buick/Olds with bolt-in axles. Nodular housing (like every 8.5 has) and tapered roller axle bearings, upgraded to a 30-spline Eaton posi and Moser axles and then you’ll be set. That’s what I have in my Tempest, the strength rivals that of the 12-bolt just a little lighter weight.

Honestly if I had to do it again I’d just do the 12-bolt and never worry about it.

It seems like everyone spends a fortune on their engine and trans then balks at finishing up with the proper rear axle assembly. :noidea:

I have broke a few but the best one I saw was a 69 GTO the housing split in half from top cover bolt to the bottom cover only thing holding it together was the cover. I was at the purestock race in 17 and a 70 magnum 400 started to do a burn out in the box next to me I just happen to look over and bang every drop of gear oil dumped out on the track in 30 seconds or so. I’m pretty sure it did the same thing.

I broke mine in the city. 455 with 4x heads with a comp 280 cam. Heard a bang. Pulled over and look under the car. I see the driveshaft on the ground with oil coming out the front of the diff. I could see the pinion bearing on the end of the driveshaft. If that tells you anything.

Was I drinking? Probably.

In 1976 i broke my spiders shifting into second gear stock 4bbl 1966 GTO stick

Early 80's 1968 GTO TH400 keept losing axle bearings by the time i could hear them the inner race ruined the axle.

A friend ..circa 1976.. had a 1966 GTO 389 4bbl RAIV cam stick car it had a 12bolt 4.11 i broke the drivers tube loose from center section hitting second gear in that, quickly swapped lanes on me

Good Times

I broke one on the drag strip launching a 4 speed. Broke the front of the housing and the driveshaft came out with the pinion still attached. Everyone loved that I dumped 2quarts of gear oil on the track.

I ran a Ford 9” in my ‘64 GTO bracket car with a mild 455 running in the low-12/high 11s. It wasn’t a fancy higher strength one, just a cast iron carrier with a Detroit Locker and 31-spline resplined stock axles, built off of a stock Ford axle housing by Currie back in 1987. I later had a back brace welded to the housing to prevent it from bending while launching off the transbrake with 10x28’’ slicks, never an issue with it.

It was fun watching my competitors breaking spiders and axles with their stock 12-bolts or twisting the center section loose from the axles due to weak factory rosette welds on 2nd-gen F-bodies equipped with Corporate 8.5s.

The new aftermarket 12-bolts are far superior to the stock ones. A nice aftermarket Ford 9” with the proper upgrades is a great way to go as well.

Forget about the 8.2 for anything other than a proper restoration.

Now cue all the guys who have run 10s with their 8.2 rear. :rolleyes:

You guys are ensuring that my next big purchase for my car is an 8.5 Moser setup. I’ve been keeping an eye on the 4 pinion 8.2 in my car and I don’t have confidence in its longevity.

The title of the thread should have been, "8.2 BOP axle, anyone not broken one?" ...........:D.........LOL

Put a 9 inch in, and have the luxury of easy ratio changes, (swap punkins) while having enough strength for almost anything that is streetable. There are many more 9 inch rear axles, and parts available than 12 bolt parts, and pieces. The 9 inch is like the SBC of rear axles, everyone has them, and they're relatively cheap, while being reliable. My next project will have a full floater 9 inch under it, even if an axle should break, the wheel will stay with the car.

If you're going to swap to an 8.5, make sure the axle tubes are welded more than the plug welds GM used. I've seen multiple 8.5 axles snap the factory welded tubes off the center section, even with street tires.

Believe it or not my 70 GTO came with a 12 bolt rear, its and original 455 HO car.
I’m like ? Until I ran into my buddy with his all original 1970 Ram IV GTO who bought it brand new. He had no clue it had a 12 bolt rear. Until I mentioned it.

I broke my original 8.2 going 25mph. Loud bang which was the ring and pinion. Car was going 13.1 on street tires at the time. I went 9" with no regrets

The weakest link in all the Pontiacs where in the Firebird or GTO has always been 10 bolt rears weather its a 8.2 or 8.5 rear. Here’s what you have to think about. The factory fire birds in GTO‘s made at most 350-360 hp. Those rear ends could barely handle that. You hear all the stories.

Yes, it made quite a noise and mess!

Dennis

8.5 definitely better of the 2. When you get into the 650 + hp range and something you drag race is one they become weak link. Don’t mean occasional trips to track.

8.2" survive just fine with the 350 motor.
I dunno a out 400 motors, probsbly okay with either stick or Auto.

428 and 455 motors require a 12-bolt, or smartly set-up 8.5, or go Dana60 to remove all doubt. The 9" is all aftermarket stuff to play so the 9" cost ought be compared to Dana S60 or 12-Bolt.

I was first run of the night.
Broke the stock pinion gear in half right at the tree
Car wouldnt move forward but would move backwards
so it was pushed off to the side,next to waterbox and I crawled under it to remove
the guts so it could be flat towed home.
I spent the entire night under the car watching them launch from an ants prospective.
No way would the safety karens let that happen today.
Next step was aftermarket 456 gears and it did fine.

I've broke every one I've ever had behind a 400 or larger engine!