okay, I've gone through 3 differentials now, and I'm starting to freak out about this. I did a gsl rear end swap ('83) Which should have small axles. The diff was bad in that so I bought another '83 differential to put in there, and they're telling me the splines don't fit. What's going on?

 

You got the later 83 axles, they swapped over mid-year.

 

Well crap! I thought it might have been something like that.

edit: so does this mean an 84-85 diff will fit or is it some oddball size

 

I really need to know

 

There are only two sizes, so first of all you need to measure to find out what you have or need. If you measure the splined end of the axle (measuring the thickness of the axle at the splined end):

<1 inch = small axle
>1 inch = large axle

It helps if you have a micrometer or calipers, but you can do it with a ruler in a pinch.





.

 

And isnt it that if it has the little flanges on the back of the disc shield it's big axle and if it's just straight with no flange it's small?

 

Only way to know 100% for sure is to measure as Kentetsu mentioned.


-billy