Differential Identification Codes

The various numbers that will allow you to identify your differential are highlighted in the photo below.

 

Differential Codes

  Gear Ratio Tag
  Gear Ratio Code
  Assembly Date
  Casting Date
  Casting Number

 

Gear Ratio

The identification code will tell you the gear ratio, if it is a posi, and in some cases what engine and transmission the car is equipped with. It is located on the right hand side of the case and is composed of two letters. This code is marked with RED in the location photo above.

Code Ratio   Note
AA 3.55   348 Powerglide – L6 3 Speed
AB 3.36   V8 3 Speed – L6 Powerglide
AD 3.36   283 3 Speed Taxi – L6 Powerglide Taxi
AG 3.55   L6 3 Speed Taxi
AK 3.55 Posi 3 Speed
AM 3.36 Posi  
AW 3.08   348 Turboglide – 283 Powerglide
AX 3.08 Posi 348
BA 3.55   348 Powerglide – L6 3 Speed
BB 3.36   V8 3 Speed – L6 Powerglide
BD 3.36   283 3 Speed Taxi – L6 Powerglide Taxi
BE 3.70   348 4 Speed
BG 3.55   L6 3 spd Taxi
BH 3.70 Posi  
BK 3.55 Posi 3 Speed
BM 3.36 Posi  
BW 3.08   348 Turboglide – 283 Powerglide
BX 3.08 Posi 348
BZ 3.08   V8 Powerglide Taxi
FE 3.70   348 4 spd
FH 3.70 Posi  

The ratio may also be determined if the ratio tag is still in place. This tag location is marked with PURPLE in the location photo above. Each ratio has a different shaped tag associated with it. They are as follows:

3.08 3.55 3.36 3.70 4.11 4.56
3.08
3.36
3.55
3.70
4.11
4.56

Please note that the 3.36 and 3.55 tags sold by Late Great Chevy are mis-identified, being swapped one for the other. The guide above is correct.

 

Assembly Date

The Assembly date is found on the right hand side of the case and consists of four digits. This code is marked with GREEN in the location photo above. It indicates the month and day in the format of “MM DD“… for example, 10 03 would indicate October 3rd. The year is not indicated in this this location.

 

Casting Date

The casting date is located on the left hand side of the case between what looks like two screws. This code is marked with BLUE in the location photo above. It will consist of a letter followed by two or three numbers. The Letter identifies the month, starting with A to represent January, progressing through L which represents December. The following one or two numbers indicate the day of the month, and the last number indicates the year… for example, 0=1960 and 4=1964. See these examples of complete date codes:

D40 = April 4, 1960

L129 = December 12, 1959

Remember, your 1960 Chevrolet or many of its components may have been made late in 1959. However, if your date code is from late in 1960, you may not have the original part that it came with from the factory

 

Casting Number

The casting number is located on the left hand side of the case and consists of seven numbers. This code is marked with YELLOW in the location photo above. For 1960, there should only be one of two numbers to choose from. If you have a different number, your case is not originally from a 1960 Chevrolet. For a non-posi-traction unit, this number should be 3725899. For a posi-traction it should be 3743833. These casting numbers were used from 1957-1961, so you can not rely on them alone to know if your differential is from a 1960 Chevrolet. You will need to combine this with the Casting Date code mentioned above. Corvettes also shared this same differential.


Posi-Traction

If your case has a giant letter P on the left side (as seen in the location photo above), then it may very well contain a posi! Another indicator may be a metal ring around the filler plug on the back of the axle housing. This metal tag is shown in the photo below. It is often missing.

Posi-Traction tag