Projects Rear end for a 49 Chevy 3100

I need some advice, we're putting together a 49 3100 Chevy and need to replace the rest end. I'm looking for something that will swap in with little modification. Most important to the project is maintaining the track width in the rear, we can replace the spring perches etc. Any help with this is greatly appreciated.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Tri-5 Chevy works

 

Thanks for the reply. This is the project truck

Sent from my XT1710-02 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Nice looking AD. I am doing a 50 GMC myself but building a 9" for it. We are narrowing it to fit a set of steel wheels I am making. I started with a 55 rear but found it had issues.

 

Staying with the 6 lug?

 

Trying to get to 5 by 4 1/2

Sent from my XT1710-02 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

does anyone know if a s10 would fit??

 

Dude, you're starting to scare me; 5 by 4-1/2 is small pattern Ford and Dodge. (5 by 4-3/4 is small pattern Chevy).
FYI, S-10 four-wheel drive is 58" wide, second series Camero/Trans Am/Nova roughly 60" wide.
While you're at it, change the rear springs and hangers, you can buy a kit or use S-10 pickup parts. Best of luck with your project.

 

If you really want 5x4-1/2 use a 55-57 Chevy,and use a redrill template kit to drill the new pattern yourself.

 

I used a early 60s ford 9 inch from a galaxie.
60inches wide. 4.5 bolt pattern

 

We are using a 67-69 Camaro rear on my sons pu. It is the correct width as well, but 5 on 4-3/4 bolt pattern like pretty much anything GM that will be the correct width.

 

64 impala worked on a friend of mines. 5 x 4 3/4 bolt pattern though. might look at ford explorer 5 x 4.5

 

http://www.carnut.com/specs/rear.html

 

Ok, TIME OUT! 5 on 4-1/2 is Ford pattern. Are you running a Ford pattern on the front?
5 on 4-3/4 matches the rally wheels that are on the truck now if that is the truck. Unless they are osme sort of aftermarket wheel.
You need 61 to 62 inchs WMS to WMS on the axle width to have most factory style rims clear the bed sides. 60 calls for reverse wheels to clear. That from my personal experience with different wheels and axles on my 48.
S-10 4x4 is 59 inches and that is pushing it on being wide enough to clear the bed with a lot of tires.
For 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern 1991-2003 Ford Explorer 8.8-Inch Axle - 59.625 inches Those are real popular with AD truck guys.
When I first put my 48 together in 1973 I had a 61 Chev car rear axle under it and it fit great with the Rally wheels. For some reason I swapped that out to a 68 Camaro rear a couple of years later. I ran that until 1980 and put a 66 Caprice 12 Bolt posi under it that actually fit great but has more brackets and scabs on it than you ever want to torch off. It's got a mid 70's Nova rear under it now and that is going away for a 9 inch Ford during this and the last redo.

Big problem now is that a lot of just right width with the right bolt pattern axles are under what are now collector cars and command far too big of a price to make them viable for buying a used rear axle to stick under one of these trucks.

 

Sorry about all our confusion, we started out with a truck the rear axel was already changed. It has Chevy rally's on all four corners. When measuring the bolt patterns for new wheels we ran into this issue. Front had 4 1/2 pattern and rear was 4 3/4. We ordered and installed a disc brake kit for the front thinking we received Chevy pattern rotors, 4 1/2. Sorry about this but I'm a Ford guy and I know those are different depending on application. Just trying to get this sorted so we can move ahead with wheels. The Explorer rear end is interesting. Thanks for the feedback

Sent from my XT1710-02 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Oh the horror! A Chevrolet with a Ford bolt pattern.

 

to old. ask me how I know