Most 88 and older B-body(Caprice,LeSabre,Park Ave,Olds 88/98,Bonneville,Parisienne) are your best choices. 1989 and newer wont work. Those are 30 splines and you want the 88 and older 28 spline. Stay away from the trucks. They use the weak gov-lock unit. 81 and older F-X body will also work but those are imposssible to find.
And it has to be an 8.5" correct? Appreciate any expertise I can get on this.
It has to be an 8.5" series 3 carrier. My memory is fading but if I remember correctly the older series 3 carriers had an "8" cast into the side of the carrier. If it is a series "2" it will have a "9" cast into the side of it which you can't use with 3.42 gears unless you use a spacer on the ring gear. I think any ratio 2.73 and above is a series 3 but it's been a while so I could be wrong.
Correct. The "3 series" is a 2.73 and up carrier. Not sure about the numbers "8" and "9" as I really should have paid attention when I had some handy. :smile: