Back in the day, early sixties, what rear end was being used in the 61 through 64 Chevys with the 409 engines? I'm in the thinking process. Thanks. Later, ****
Same thing as in all the rest of the Chevrolets. My dad had a 58, 348, a 62, 409, a 65 409. I know the 58 and the 62 had the same housing and third member ***embly. Even to the same gears and Dana posi unit. The 65...don't recall, but it did have the later 10 or 12 bolt ***embly, just don't recall which. Mike
The newer rears were 12 bolt with an Eaton steel carrier. The earlier rears with the drop out chuck were plenty strong enough. Some of the fellas that raced them used Olds innards and bigger axles. Note: I had a 409 Biscuit once with the stock rear and never had a problem with the rear, I did break a 4 speed once with it but that was my own fault chock it up to operator error. Granted I did have problems getting it to hook with the tires that I could afford so instead of the rear breaking the tires were the weak link.
On my 64 I would paint a line down the axle when there was a 1/4 turn twist I would replace the axle.
The 55-64 drop out third member rear ends are all the same, with the exception of the 55-56 having smaller bearings and thinner castings; the same with the 62-64 Chevy II/Nova rear ends, with smaller bearings and thinner castings (but different than the 55-56). So, use a 57-64 full size car third member, a NEW Eaton Positraction unit that's stronger than the original Dana's, get some billet bearing caps or support straps from Aubrey Bruneau (BruneauPerformance.Ca-it's a Canadian site), and some aftermarket Yukon axles. You can also update to Mopar housing, bearing ends, bearings, and side/spider gears for a stronger set up; all also available from Bruneau. Basically, that's how the rear end in my Sedan Delivery is set up, but I already had the Dana Positraction unit so it was used. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
It's interesting how the 409 cars managed with the rear axle. As a young man in 1966 I had no problem tearing up several rear ends in my 64 Impala 300/327 four speed on the street. I believable it was spider gears. The Posi rear lasted longer maybe because both spiders shared the load?
I had a 61 Bubble top, Broke everything with my 409. Pulled the rear cross member out several times blew spiders, blew the t-10 [replaced with a muncie], Twisted both axles at the same time, Broke the carrier bearing drive shaft in half. Blew holes in the chunk and at the end, broke the frame in half after putting lift bars on the rear end. Sold the car.
In 64 the Olds rear was king. Most all the g***ers of the day ran 57 up Olds rears. The Ford 9" rears were available but not yet popular. The 9" rear was not king back then.
Tommy You are correct on all points. I have hear that the olds chuck could be shoved into the Chebby housing. Never tried it. But I do own a '57 Chevy housing (if I ever puck it up) if someone wants to donate an olds chuck (posi of course). I do know that olds spiders would fit with a little finesse and that allowed you to use the heavier olds axles.
The Jalopy Journal
