Possibly stupid question about drivetrain / rear end

[Jimflorida]

I am putting my Bugeye back together after a long restoration. I am almost through with just a little wiring to finish up. I noticed as I have the car on jack stands that if I turn the right rear wheel in a forward direction, the left rear wheel turns in a backward direction. Plus, I noticed that when I put it in first gear and turn the right rear wheel in a forward direction, the driveshaft does not automatically turn, as I assumed it would. Can someone explain this to me?
Jim

 

[Rut]

Jim,
that sounds just like mine and is completely normal. Glad to hear your getting that far along!
Rut

 

[Keith_M]

I tried to explain this to my son not too long ago and found that's it's nearly impossible without a diagram or preferably an animation. The animations on this page really helped.
https://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential2.htm

Keith

 

[58Custom]

A great vintage video from GM about the priciples of the automotive differential.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4JhruinbWc

 

[Jimflorida]

Thanks. I thought I might have a lot more work to do that I had not planned on doing. Full speed ahead!
jim

 

[Jimflorida]

By the way, that GM video is absolutely fabulous. I wonder what year that is from?

 

[kellytroxel]

You have a normal rear end for the time period. What you are looking for where both wheels turn as a positrac or limited slip. They came out around that time or a little later

 

[bug_sixty]

To all that reads this site....There isn't EVER

 

[bug_sixty]

EVER, EVER a stupid question written here....

 

[JPSmit]

EVER, EVER a stupid question written here....

OK. Can you explain women please? :grin:

 

[bug_sixty]

If terms of rearends? orrr... What drives them other sex?

 

[Bayless]

Probably still not a stupid question. But a useless question for sure as the simply is no answer.