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Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

AG, as far as "heavy duty" goes, would bet you have also noted that when Pontiac billed out a HD Safe-T-Track on an invoice it did so at at a higher price than regular Safe-T-Track. Only instances I've ever read with this higher charge is when a 3.90 or 4.33 HD Safe-T-Track rearend was optioned. Those instances were the only cases in an A Body or F- body that the rearend was built with the HD forged axles. The combination of forged axles, nodular iron 8.2 center housing, 4 pinion HD Safe-T-Track carrier, and either 3.90 or 4.33 gearing wiill be the only time one will see the designation HD Safe-T-Track in a vehicle with a Pontiac 8.2 rearend. Lacking all the attributes, the 8.2 Pontiac rear just isn't HD, one can call it standard duty, medium duty, or even light duty.

Your GP rear should have a 4 pinion carrier. the flat spots on the 69 GP housing tubes, am sure you have also seen them on '69 Firebird axle tubes as well.

of note to Mark's last post, I've yet to run a across a tapered bearing end housing in a factory assembled '69 A body housing built before July of '69. The extremely late (08A) Arlington '69 gold LeMans I parted many years ago, had its original sealed axle bearing rearend. From dealings with '69 Firebird guys, it seems to be Firebird housings got the tapered bearing hsgs a little earlier, and may be a good reason why master parts books use the confusing terminology early '69 and late '69 production when denoting the Pontiac 8.2 axles and ring & pinions.

Roger -

All good info. One point -- I had two 69 Judges with a 3.55 HD STT (both RAIII M20), unless my memory is failing. Never had the axles out on either, so not sure if they were forged or not.

For those following along - the nodular housing has an "N" cast into the top of the "nose" of the housing. Right above the pinion seal. You can't see it from under the car, but you can feel it.

Cast axles are constant diameter and smooth surface. Forged axles are tapered and rough surface.

Took apart one 8.2 that had one cast and one forged axle; not sure how that happened, but would be interesting if it came like that from the factory.

Scott