John, thanks for your input and I stayed up all night digging and researching and. . .frustrating me. I found an EBAY auction for a "NOS Positraction axle with bearing" for our era corvettes. The aucton stated that it measured 27 7/8 inches to inside flange--my long axle measures the same. I think the 889 case must have been used on passenger cars through 1964 too. That might explain the Feb 4, 1964 date and no stamping on the other side on mine? Suspect 37 teeth would make it 411 geared. Then I measured the frame centerlines of my leaf mountings on the frame and got 47 1/2 or 5/8 inches while my housing perch alignment holes measured about 47 7/8 inches. If I measured very well, this would put leaf alignment off about 1/8 to 3/16 per side--would think that would be critical but maybe not? For me at this point, I am concluding:
1--Housing is a passenger housing with very close measurements. The housing looks to have had "factory" installed bumper saddle retaining clips even though the the saddles where incorrectly welded and one on 180 degrees out
2--My axles are the originals or corvette and passenger long axles are interchangeable if the auction is correct so short axle must be good too
3--The nonposi case and gears I will use until I find a posi unit
4--Will try and salvage housing even if perch width is a little wide--maybe move them in the 1/8 inch each side
My real concern now is wondering about geometry of the perches to driveshaft angle if I move. Guess I will just have to make it work and will find out as I reassemble chassis? thanks
1--Housing is a passenger housing with very close measurements. The housing looks to have had "factory" installed bumper saddle retaining clips even though the the saddles where incorrectly welded and one on 180 degrees out
2--My axles are the originals or corvette and passenger long axles are interchangeable if the auction is correct so short axle must be good too
3--The nonposi case and gears I will use until I find a posi unit
4--Will try and salvage housing even if perch width is a little wide--maybe move them in the 1/8 inch each side
My real concern now is wondering about geometry of the perches to driveshaft angle if I move. Guess I will just have to make it work and will find out as I reassemble chassis? thanks