baggin a 54 chevy

im about to bag my car and i was wondering about the rearend..i have a 78 camaro rearend BUT if i use that i cant run skirts with out the tires rubbing..ive heard talk about using a s10 rearend ..and also 4x4 s10 which is a better rearend...heres a run down of what im using...
sbc 350
350 trans
air bags all 4 corners
standard chrome steelies
TCI four link

my buddy has the same rearend (78 camaro) and his tires rub and he has the standard steelies..

i would like to get the same width rearend as what came factory in the 54

thanks Eddie

 

the s-10 non 4x4 is narrower and probably the one you want to run if you are going to bag and have clearance issues. best of luck, i want to see pics of the final product.

 

Why not just have the stock rear narrowed?

 

i've never read about anyone using it on here but, i am going to use a dana 44 out of a late 80's grand wagoneer, its about 58", although i don't have any disks on it yet it will be a bit wider when i do, all in all still narrower than the camero or s-10. the only draw back is its a 6 lug so i am going to redrill or get custom axles. oh i am 4-linking mine so i'm not sure if the spring perch width is the same either as a 50's chevy but perches are cheap and easy to weld on

 

I used a 67 camaro rear the dimensions are exactly the same as stock, I think I could bolt the damn thing right in if I wasnt putting in a 4-link bag setup

 

Keep hearing 57 chevy rearends are great for 53-54 swaps, but havent laid a tape to it myself.

I've got a versaille disc rearend for mine(if and when i ever get to it!!)

 

I used a S-10 4X4 rear end in my 54 Chevy, no problems at all. She's down about 6" in the back and I'm gonna go 2" more.
I can't remember exactly but I think they are 1/2" wider or narrower than the stock ones, and they are 3:73 posi.
The 2 wheel drive S-10's work but they are about 4" narrower and non posi.

 

what year 4x4?..and does anyone know if the s10 4x4 and the blazer and jimmy 4x4 are the same?..do you run skirts on your car?...the camaro i have will work without skirts..i want to be able to use the skirts when i want and run with out them whenever..if someone could get me a measurement on the 4x4 that would be cool..thanks

 

Because you can't use it with a 350 swap. It is a torque tube.

I am using a 55 rear, exact same fit as the stocker.
http://www.teufert.net/other/rear end dimensions.htm
bookmark this page it could save your life. or a trip to the junkyard.

 

You have many options 55,56,57 tri5 chevy, novas, s10
There is more info at www.50chevy.com

 

I have a '78 Camaro rear in my car too...I was able to get the skirts on, but they do rub a little. Cut 1/4" off the inside skirt lip and you should be good to go.

Bryan

 

USE THE S-10 REAR. Parts are everywhere. I have a 90 or 91 4x4 rear in my 54, i beleive it was 1/4" shorter on both sides....no biggie, not noticable. They are not all posi, but if you want it, you might be able to find one, or again, the parts/kits are easy to find.

if you really need the measurements i can throw a tape on both, but i'm feeling lazy right now

 

cool thanks..all i really needed was year...BUT when you get time to measure i would like to know..i know i can trim the skirts ...but when i drive the car with the skirts on the car im only gonna rasie the car a inch or so ..so the skirts would rub the tire....i want plenty of clearance without hacking up my skirts..plus 55,56,57's are kinda hard to find..plus i like the walk into any parts store to fix the problem(s10)..thanks man

 

S-10 rears are 60", outside drum to drum....we just put one in a '50 Fleetline.

Bryan

 

so if a 78 camaro rear is 58'' wide and a stock 54 is 60" according to 50chevy .com why would the skirts rub?

 

4x4 or 2x4?

 

the 78 camaro is 61'' from outside to outside..its 58'' from inside to inside..if the s10 is 60 from out to out..then the skirts want rub

 

I think the tianglated 4 bars work beter in air bag set ups,one less bar to worry about and you dont get side to side movment that SOME times 4 bars get from the panhard bar.And you get beter side to side movement out of the trianglated 4 bar.If you do use the 4 bar make sure the botom bar front rod end is above the botom of the frame rail.

 

4X4. I think some of the measurements you hear are rounded. The '50 torque tube I measured the other day for Roothawg was around 61.5". My Camaro rear is 62" IIIRC, but I might have rounded when I measured too. Here's another reference for rear-end widths: http://carnut.com/specs/frear.html.

Bryan

 

I got a '47 Chevy Fleetline Aerosedan and I will be using a '72 Chevelle posi rear end...4-link is off suicidedoors.com