Axle Code Help??

I finally got the rear end out of my '71. Man...that thing is a lot heavier than the 7 5/8 10-bolt I put in my V8-Sonoma!:eek: I may be paying the price when I get up in the morning.:(

When I cleaned the gunk and crud off the code, I found one that I'm having trouble decoding. I have attached a pic, but its a little blurry. Looks like it starts with 2 letters that are hard to read, maybe PI, then a space and W343, then another space and maybe a one. So something like this, but the only thing clear is the W343.

(PI) W343 (1)

The rest of it is still thick with goop. Is there another place for these codes? It is definitely a 10-bolt. The car is a 1971 350/350 with the L65, so it should be an open 2.56 ratio. I have not popped the cover yet. Why? 'Cause I'm POOPED and its :beer: time!!

I can't find anything like that on any of the sites I know of, and would really appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks for your help.

Dave

Did you try this site:
http:novaresource.org/axle.htm

It says it's a 2.56 open 10-bolt

That should be a corporate in 71. Those are tough pieces. IMHO set up right they're as good as a 12 bolt

I thought the corporate 10 bolts (8.5") started showing up in '72? The '71 should be an 8.2".

I'm pretty sure it is an 8.2, altough as I said I haven't popped it open yet. It does not have the ears an 8.5 has, and that engine in '71 would have come with an 8.2 rear. ...but what is a "corporate"? Sorry for being dumb.:confused:

Dave

I also thought the 'corporate' rears started in '72 with the 8.5" ring gear :o I hope so, since getting the correct 'BT' rear for Benjamin's '69 SS, I've been hanging onto the rear that came with it.

It's coded: JB G 165 2, the ring gear is stamped 13-40 dated 6-74. Anybody know if this is an 8.5" corp. rear?
M

I was thinking the later built 71s had 8.5s. Maybe I was wrong.:eek: I'll have to check Colvin.

Colvin's book does show 71s as 8.2s although it is a transition year. Passenger cars, and camaros got the 8.5s with the novas getting them in 72.I do think I pulled an 8.5 out of a 71, but it may not have been original to the car. My bad.:beer: