Fellers, newly acquired 69 bird. Manually determined that my gear ratio is 2.78:1, but I was really hoping to find the code to confirm. 54 years of grime was scraped away and degreased, but I couldn't find any 2-character code anywhere. Not on the axle (front or back, passenger or driver), not on the rear wheel hubs (not that i could see anyway).

Am I smoking crack? Should the code be pretty obvious? Can somebody help pinpoint where it ought to be?

The Pontiac manual indicates driver's side, rear, 3" from the pumpkin, but nothing there. It just happens to also be where they welded on the mounting clip for the brake lines, so I wonder if the code is tiny that some surly line worker in 69 welded right over the top of it.

It's becoming personal now, but I should just let it go...but I can't. Appreciate the help.

It is not easy to see. It is faint stamp on my '68 which is a the "ZB" in the photo. Might even be under the brake line.

Jim! This is exactly what I needed. I was cleaning way to close to the pumpkin and my jack stands are probably right in the way of where the code actually is. And dang, is it ever faint (from your photo).

I'll go back out tomorrow with renewed zeal and find that dang code. I'm expecting to find "YC" to confirm it's the original rear end. Supposedly this is an unmolested car. We'll see.

I'll update with my success. Thanks very much.

Sneaky little bugger...just where Jim said it would be.