okay i have been searching on here for weeks and i think i have found all the rear ends that you can use or should use to do the swap....i am just missing one thing.....i have never found any information on how to do the driveshaft? when you change to a 2nd gen camaro rear end, do you have to change the transmission at the same time to make a driveshaft work, or can you keep the original transmission with the 3 on the tree and make a driveshaft to work with the new rear end? if so can you point me in the right direction on what is needed? thanks in advance!!!!
yep believe it or not i found an old thread that answered my question right after posting, sorry....i cant decide what to do no lol....i found a powerglide center section.....or i can do the rear end trans swap.....but i sure like my 3 on the tree, lol...thanks
Generally those of us who change out the rear end do so because we are also changing the transmission (and engine more often than not). I don't think it is worth the trouble of changing the rear if you want to keep the original transmission in there. On the flip side, if you DO change out the motor/trans or even just the trans then bolting in an open rear end is a no-brained. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The transmission, torque tube, and rear axle are one interconnected system. You simply cannot change one part, without changing ALL THREE.
You type faster than I do! If you like your current trans, and if the car runs & drives fine, I think most of us would recommend that you NOT change the rear end. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I learned the hard way!! Now I have a Chevy v8 350, TH350 trans and rear end from an El Camino ready to be installed in my 53. All the torque stuff is all up for sale.
Depending what trans you use, you may be able to find a driveshaft that fits as-is, otherwise get something too long and have it shortened.
Didn't someone make a conversion adaptor for Chevy 3 speed tourque tube trans to go to an open drive? This would let you keep your trans and swap out the diff for an open drive.
The torque tube powerglide rear is your easy solution. The Camaro rear means you need to change trans.
back in the 60s when I was akid we would find a trans from a 54 on up 3speed and change the tailshaft housing and use the driveshaft out of the same car BUTT back then the whole conversion would cost less than 50 bucks tom
I don't think it is worth the trouble of changing the rear if you want to keep the original transmission in there.
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