I just bought a rear end from a junkyard (posi 9-blot with what I was told was 3.45 gears but after pulling the cover they are 3.27) and after pulling off the piece of torque arm, I found the holes were oblong. I took some measurements and the are roughly 15.6mm front to back and 14.4mm side to side top. Now is that normal? I was told the tolerances might be like that from the factory to make assembly easier, and I was also told the previous owner was probably doing a lot of whole shots and ended bending the bolt holes on the rear end housing... but wouldn't the metal crack before it deformed? Anyway, here is a picture of what I'm talking about...



Is this rear safe to use in my car?

Mike

 

I'd be really leery about that. On both of my rear's the holes are not oblong.

 

Either way it's not going to make much of a difference as long as the surfaces are nice and flat should work fine.

 

Does anyone else have an opinion?

 

looks to me like the PO, before the junkyard got the car, did some trans work or something where the torque arm was required to be removed and when it was reinstalled the bolts loosened up for whatever reason, and the car was drivin with them loose for a while and the bolts caused the housing to de-form... from the axle "trying to wind", it may be ok but once you get the car back together CHECK THE PINION ANGLE and make sure its correct, and also, torque the two torque arm bolts to 100FT-LBS......... no less, and dont use a impact gun.....
good luck
LUKE