[my72lemans]

Looking to do rear gears this fall and would like to know which brand of gears are easiest to set-up,strength,noise.What is being used out on the road with good success.
Heard motive is easy for set-up over richmond.Any info would be great.
thanks andy

[2002Z4CSS]

I always went with a Motive Gear since it was like an OEM gear and was very quiet.

['ol Pinion head]

what differential? you will be limited with the Pontiac 8.2, Richmond or nice used is about it.

Personally, I do not like the noise issues of Richmond gears, & refuse to use them in 8.5 rear builds. In 8.5 builds, I prefer US Gear/Strange

[Rob B]

I've had good luck with Richmond Gears in 12 bolts and if they made any noise, (mine don't) you couldn't hear it anyway.

[my72lemans]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

what differential? you will be limited with the Pontiac 8.2, Richmond or nice used is about it.

Personally, I do not like the noise issues of Richmond gears, & refuse to use them in 8.5 rear builds. In 8.5 builds, I prefer US Gear/Strange

stock 10bolt safe t track in a 72 a-body with 3.90's. not sure if 8.5 or 8.2 until breakdown// looking to get into 3.23 or 3.08. I'm willing to give up the launch to be able to travel down the highway a little better.

thanks for the all the input
andy

['ol Pinion head]

8.5's were not factory installed in '72 Pontiac A-bodys. A few 8.5's were slipped into some very late '72 ElCamino's, but I've never found one in a late '72 Pontiac A-body or GP. A factory installed A-body rear will when combined with the same T400 or T350 yoke as the 8.2 rear's driveshaft, will need the factory driveshaft to be shortened 7/8". Frame cradle sag can effect this measurement, so I usually measure to be 100% sure.

If the rear is an original '70-72 8.2 Pontiac 10 bolt, the ring & pinion is held on by 7/16" lh thread ring gear bolts. The carrier is drilled for these larger diam bolts. The '64-69 8.2 Pontiac gearset AKA as the '64-67 BOP 8.2 gearset used 3/8 rh thread ring gear bolts with accompanying smaller holes in the carrier.

The carrier splits for both the '65-69 & 70-72 Pontiac 8.2 10 bolt carriers are as follows:

high ratio: 2.56 & 2.78
mid ratio: 2.93, 3.08, & 3.23
low ratio: 3.36, 3.55, (3.73 very rare Olds usage.. never used in a Pontiac), 3.90, 4.10, 4.33, 4.56, etc (real low old Zoom gears)

3.36's are the highest gear ratio avail for "low ratio carrier". They are now avail new for around $400 a set. I've done quite a few similar swaps where I went with a mid ratio carrier & nice used 3.23's. Nice used 8.2 Pontiac 3.08's are somewhat harder to find. Might have some nice 3.23's out of a '71, would have to ck it out. Def have a '69 3.23 set, but am hesitant to separate the complete rear,

[my72lemans]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

what differential? you will be limited with the Pontiac 8.2, Richmond or nice used is about it.

Personally, I do not like the noise issues of Richmond gears, & refuse to use them in 8.5 rear builds. In 8.5 builds, I prefer US Gear/Strange

I just read my first reply and realized i omitted something. the 3.90's were put in after so i do not know what carrier is in it i guess the easiest thing to do would be pull the cover and actually take a look. an oil change for the rear end isn't a bad idea anyways. do i need to add limited slip additive? what gear oil are u using?
thanks andy

[my72lemans]

Took off the cover this evening and discovered that i do have 3.90's. richmond brand
p/n 82-0552-1 39 teeth on the ring 10 on the pinion. there seems to be a spacer ring in between the carrier and ring gear why ? see pics

[Rob B]

As mentioned by Ol'pinion head, different ratios had different thickness on the carriers. So if you were swapping gear sets from a higher ratio to a lower ratio, you would use a "spacer" between the gear and the carrier.
On 12 bolts, most manufacturers sell a fatter ring gear so you can use a lower ratio on a higher ratio carrier.
Ex: a series 3 12 bolt carrier is I think good up to a 3.55 ratio so if you want to install a 3.90 or 4.10 on that carrier, you can by a ring set that made specifically for that series of carrier. Hope that makes sense.
If you replace your gears back to a higher ratio, you probably won't need that spacer.

P.S. I've also seen those spacers rip the bolts right out of the ring gear on car with a little hp to them that hook. Always better to buy the conversion gears in my opinion or upgrade your carrier.

['ol Pinion head]

Andy, from the pics, you have a mid series 8.2 Pontiac safe-T-Track carrier, an 8.2 ring gear spacer & the Richmond gearset. A nice pair of used 3.08 or 3.23 Pontiac 8.2 gears would be your easiest solution & will work on your carrier. If you can ck the ring gear bolt head size, can tell you if the safe-t-track carrier is original '70-72 useage, or whether prev owner swapped in an earlier unit.

[my72lemans]

Thanks to all for the info and help. this will aid in the final decision.
Andy