Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

SShink · 3K+ Club

12 Bolt HOUSING ONLY $500... ?

bowtie · Secretary

translation: I bought this, but found one from a '70 that was in better shape, so I want to recover as much as I can because I had to buy 2 of them.

SShink · 3K+ Club

You're probably right Bryan. Or... I didn't charge you enough for that complete 2.73 geared 12 bolt I sold you a few years ago. At least it had axles in it!

Chris R · 2K+ Club

They are still out there for 300-400 range. No way I would pay 500 for a 68-72 rear thats just a housing.

Lost in the 60s · President

Would it really make a difference if he left the 2 series open carrier and worn out axles in it ? If it were complete and you got it home to discover the bearing surface on the axles was bad and you intended to install a 3 series posi with all new bearings and seals, it would be the same thing. In the end, you would have a $500 housing. Most of these assemblies are worn to the point of needing everything anyway.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

I prefer them to be bare... way easier to handle when you're kicking it around the garage for a few years, and I wouldn't reuse any of the stuff inside it anyway.

bowtie · Secretary

I like having the spare parts. I was going to use my old axles for table supports, but went with a recliner and used a mounted wheel as a side table instead. Sold BOTH at a swap meet last summer to separate people. Still confused on that one.

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Would it really make a difference if he left the 2 series open carrier and worn out axles in it ? If it were complete and you got it home to discover the bearing surface on the axles was bad and you intended to install a 3 series posi with all new bearings and seals, it would be the same thing. In the end, you would have a $500 housing. Most of these assemblies are worn to the point of needing everything anyway.

Yes it matters to me for the very reason Bryan just mentions. I like having extra parts laying around whether they are re-usable or not, regardless on if I plan to use them.

If that price is fair to you, nothing wrong with that. Grab all the 500 dollar bare units you can find. For me personally, no thanks. I am however, willing to pay that price if its a pre 67 unit though.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

$500 is still too much, regardless of whether it's bare or complete, unless you need the date or axle code.

The only part besides the housing that really matters is the brake backing plates. The rest is most likely just scrap metal. I have bought and sold about 8-10 12-bolt rears, and about 75% of the axles are junk with deep grooves worn in them. 2-series open diffs aren't worth anything. If I can't see the axles, I assume they're junk and would not pay a dime extra to get them. A "bare" housing is worth no less than a complete 2.73 open unless you pull the C-clips to prove the axles are good.

When I ran a 12-bolt in my car, I took axles out of 3 different rears to find 2 that were useable.

I still buy any I stumble upon for $300 or less, but I'm not as actively looking anymore.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

One more thing... 68-69 date codes are WAY harder to find than 70-72.

Almost all of the 12-bolts I've had were out of Monte Carlos. It's not a big deal to most people, but to the guys looking for year-correct housings, they should be willing to spend an extra $100 or so due to the scarcity of the 68-69 date compared to the common 70-72 date.

If he's patient, he'll have no problem getting $400-450 for it... $500 is a stretch, but he can always come down...