What's the best rear end swap for a 54 Chevy truck?

Trying to figure out what rear end is best suited for my 54 Chevy truck project. I currently has a 6 lug,12 bolt, open drive in it. I want to change to a 5 lug, 5x3/4 pattern, because I am upgrading the front brakes to disc. also want to be able to switch wheels with my car if I decide to change them. I don't need any thing to heavy duty, plan to run the stock 235 and 3 speed but not sure what to use. Stovebolt's site gives me 58-62'' as a width. What is everyone using on their trucks? Any suggestions would help. thanks Dennis

 

is it a live axle or torque tube?

 

best axle for that setup is the cheapest one the junk yard has that will fit, imho.... not like youre gonna be killin it with power or anything, get something cheap and easy to replace if ever needed... should be about 2023780956823456 axles taht would work

 

i think s-10 axels work great on these vehicals
we are doing a 48 and going to use a cheap s-10 10 bolt

 

yup, depends what's available. Consider the gear ratio too, though, you 'll want something in the low to mid 3s to give you the pulling power you need with the 6 cyl.

The 70s Nova/Camaro (and other GM clones) rear is a good choice, and if you can find a 55-57 Chevy car rearend in good shape that a hot rodder removed it would also be a good fit.

 

Camaro or 70's Nova, cheap and they fit easily...

 

If you go the S-10 route MAKE SURE it's a 4x4 axle NOT a 2wd. The 2wd are too narrow .

 

71-81 Camaro/Firebird use the big 8.5 ring gear 10-bolt, are about 61.5 inches wide, and have leaf springs. The leaf pads will most likely need to be moved. They have every gear ratio from 2.56-4.11, the Z-28 or T/A had a good chance at posi.

Those 10-bolts have the 5 on 4.75 pattern and are dirt cheap in the junkyards here in CA, those Camaros are everywhere. The 74-79 Novas and GM clones can also be found in the junkyards, but they have the smaller 10-bolt and could also be a choice. Leaf springs as well on those cars.

 

Mine came out of a 67 impala and fits fine.

 

I'm using a disc rear outof a 87 Firebird.
Used the rear sway bar too.
If you're planning on using the 235, please upgrade to a T-5 tranny and go with a lower rear gear. You will like it better.
r

 

Just a Note on the S-10 Rears.

2wd Rears are around 47 + 1/2" Inside of backing plate to backing plate.

4wd Rears are around 53" inside of backing plate to backing plate. (You might get lucky and get a Posi)

2wd Ford Ranger's are about 50" plate to plate - i'm not sure about 4wd's though

I would measure your stock rear end - however you feel comfortable doing it and then go from there.

70's Camaro/Nova Would probably be close to the right width for the truck.

I've had both Ranger's and S-10's behind Hoped-Up 350's with no problems

 

'78-'88 G-Body rears are about 58" from flange to flange, which fits real nice. Only problem is that they aren't set up for leaf springs... but that's easily fixed with a pair of inexpensive leaf spring pads from the speedway catalog though!


Ed

PS- Most G-Body rears have the weak 7.5" ring gear, but that's probably of no consequence with your screamin' inliner.

 

I used a 73 camero with an 8 inch wheel with 4 inch back space fit great

 

They're a bit too narrow with stock negative offset wheels, though. And most of them have really low number gear ratios....2.29, 2.41, etc, so shop carefully.

 

I used an S-10 frame on my '50 Chevy pu the 2wd rearend is 55'' from flange to flange.I changed the rear end and used an '84 Monte Carlo rearend I bought the leaf pads at truckers supply.The Monte Carlo rearend is 58" from flange to flange.

 

I have one of those rears and my tape measure says I'll need offset wheels to keep the tires from rubbing the bed.

I have a '73 Chevelle wagon rear under my '55 1st and at about 62" it seems to fit perfect. 11" drum brakes, which with disks on the front from the same '73 Chevelle wagon seems to work real well. Based on the fit I'm seeing, I'd look for a rear at least 60" wide, but probably not more than 64" or so.

I had to cut coil stuff off and weld on pads to make the Chevelle rear work, but with 3.08 gears, a GMC 270 and stock SM420 4-speed its very driveable. It isn't great pulling a loaded trailer though.

I may put my g-body rear under another truck. It's a posi with 2.29 gears but with a 454 in front I think its going to be a nice driver. As long as I don't break it...

 

Thanks for all the response. At least I know what to look for and what others are using under their rides. The engine, tranny are from a 56, I don't know what the rear is out of, It has 6 lugs and is definitly GM 12 bolt but must be newer than 56. spring pads have been modified to work on the stock leafs. Plan to remove a couple leafs from the rear and use 3" lowering blocks, soften the ride and drop it some. Thinking of doing the same for the front except no blocks.????? Keeping the stock axle, what do you think? mono's ????maybe. Got to make a decision soon, if I expect to have it on the road this summer.

 

That rearend is from either a 63-70 2wd pickup, or a 4x4. The 60s rearends were about the same width as the original 54 rear, the 70s rears were a bit wider.

I think blocks up front will raise the truck...not lower it.....so monos or a dropped axle might be the way to go. Look thru the old posts or start a new thread asking for info on dropping 47-55 chevy pickups with the I beam axle.

 

Drop axle is way to expensive,$475 there abouts, mono's are around $300-400,Stovebolt has a tech article about removing #3 and #5 spring in the front spring pac and getting the same effect, about a 3-4 inch drop and a softer ride. Not sure, 2 springs=3" drop??? any one do this one???


Made a phone call and found a 69 Chevelle rear end, 10 bolt 4 3/4 bolt pattern for real cheap. not sure of the ratio. He is going to check.

 

" but that's easily fixed with a pair of inexpensive leaf spring pads from the speedway catalog though!"

I'll do you one better.
Go to Croft trailer supply and buy the spring pads for less than a buck apiece. You can also get the plates and u-bolts/nuts all for less than $30.
That's what I did.
r

 

Pull and look at the axles before you buy....or plan on buying new ones....these rearends (same with the Camaros and even the truck rear you have now) have a tendency to wear out the axles at the bearing surface, since they use a roller bearing that uses the axle shaft as the inner race.

 

I agree. I am using the camaro rear in my 50 chevy pickup. The width is perfect.

 

My brother did this deal with his old truck and he's as happy as a pig in the mud. Readily available and cheap parts and plenty strong enough for even a modified stovebolt engine. Luck!

 

Ive put a 10 bolt from a late 70's camero in my 51 and it works fine

 

I've been using rear-ends from full-size Gm cars for years.mid 70's to mid 80's...fit great runnin 8 inch rims on rear...reasonably priced too. Course you have to trim all the coil spring mounts off, but no big deal.

 

Thanks Raven, never thought of a trailer shop for parts, I have a place just down the road called Leonard Trailer Sales, good size place, they fab alot of their own stuff. They should have them.

 

I see a few mixed results, but if using a 1970-1981 Camaro/Firebird rear axle, do you need to modify the leaf spring perches??

Working on a '52 Chevy 3100, and happen to have an F-body axle laying around. Planning for a V8 swap later this year.

 

Hi, I am in kind of the same situation UPSRodder is in. I have a 53 1/2t Chevy PU with a 228 GMC , and I have the Mustang II IFS on the front, will a 1990 Camaro rear axle work for the back?

 

3rd Gen Camaro will work fine also, just cut off the coil spring stuff.

Rich

 

Yes, I put a 91 Camaro rear under a 49 GMC, worked great.

Rich