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1979 -80 differential difference ?

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Old Oct 4, 2017 | 02:21 PM
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Default 1979 -80 differential difference ?

Anyone know the difference and will they interchange ?
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Old Oct 4, 2017 | 03:13 PM
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I thought the bat wing style came out in 80 then i was told late 80 then i was told 81, both my 81s had it,

But i believe the cut off is 79, and the 80? up ( with bat wing ) isnt plug and play with eariler vettes that run the same rear dating back to 63,
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Old Oct 4, 2017 | 03:29 PM
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The 79 rear used a cast iron case, and a separate crossmember. The posi unit in the 65-79 rear is made by Eaton.

The 80-82 rear has an aluminum case, and the case and crossmember are cast in one piece. The 80-82 rear uses a Dana posi unit.
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Old Oct 4, 2017 | 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by gbvette62
The 79 rear used a cast iron case, and a separate crossmember. The posi unit in the 65-79 rear is made by Eaton.

The 80-82 rear has an aluminum case, and the case and crossmember are cast in one piece. The 80-82 rear uses a Dana posi unit.
I thought it started in 80, but i had a guy pitch a tantrum his 80 had the old iron style
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Old Oct 4, 2017 | 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted by The13Bats
I thought it started in 80, but i had a guy pitch a tantrum his 80 had the old iron style
Could be true. His car may have had iron, but it came from St. Louis with aluminum.
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Old Oct 4, 2017 | 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Easy Mike
Could be true. His car may have had iron, but it came from St. Louis with aluminum.
Hope, he insisted his came factory that way,

You know being into vettes as you are there are people who believe their own opinions as indisputable facts and nothing will ever prove them wrong or mistaken.
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Old Oct 4, 2017 | 11:44 PM
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Originally Posted by acorvetkid
Anyone know the difference and will they interchange ?
It is possible to swap the older iron diffs into the 80-82 cars. There are quite a few other parts that need to be changed as well. (half shafts spindle flanges, strut rods, strut rod bracket, drive shaft, Not sure if I've missed anything)
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Old Dec 6, 2017 | 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Easy Mike
Could be true. His car may have had iron, but it came from St. Louis with aluminum.


Although there were quite a number of parts designed for the 1980 Corvette that found their way into the last several thousand '79 cars, I've never read any suggestion that the aluminum Dana differential was one of those items.
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