I am keeping my eyes open for the major parts to piece together my coupe and needed to tear my rear end apart to determine gearing so I can select an appropriate trans. Long story short I have a 55p rear differential with 3:36 gears and posi . Since I had to blow things apart to determine this I figured I might as well clean everything up and assemble good so I dont have to double back when I actually get started on the car. Now to the question, I ordered all the goods based off a 58 corvette cause This axle came to me stripped of all mounts and I was just guessing based on what I could figure out. Everything came in and so far everything looks correct(wheel cyl. adjusters, seals etc) short of the shoes are 11x1.75" instead of my old ones are 11x2". What vehicle would have the 55p rear end and use the 11x2" shoes in the rear? Looks like the BelAire used 11x2" up front but with the same drums? Can I use the 11x1.75 in the rear with these drums, or what can use to source the 2" ones?
Unclear as to what the rear is from. That said, Tri Five Chevy has always had a wider shoe up front as compared to the rear. Some pictures of your rear end and backing plates would help out.
You should be able to use the narrower shoes if everything else is proper. The BelAir 2" shoes should also work if the brake drum friction surface width is wide enough to accommodate them. The drums may be interchangeable, too. You might know someone who has access to a Hollanders Interchange book. Mine is too old. Try an internet search to see if the Hollanders Interchange Manual is available on line.
^^^^^ More research. 63 64 backing plates are differant than Tri-Fives. Important when trying to install retaining hardware and alignment of shoes to wheel cly.
Pictures would be a real big help here.... 2" rear shoes were used starting in 59 on cars and pickups, 63 on corvettes. I wonder what you mean by "55p"? and how you determined that's what you have?
Ok. thanks for everything so far. I was unsure of this rear end and based on my research I found that its an "early" 10 bolt. With the drop out center section. Bearing plate axle retainers not c-clip. 17 spline axles. And I believe 8.4" ring gear.
The basic rear design was used in full size cars 55-64, Corvettes 55(?)-62, and Chevy II the first couple years. There were changes in the design of the center section, wheel bearings, and brakes. They Chevy II unit was a light weight design, that looked like the big ones, but didn't have much interchange, and also had 4 lug wheels. The Posi didn't come along till mid 57. The wheel bearings were different the first couple years, then they settled down to one design (which you can't find good ones of any more). If you want to know what center section is out of, look on the front for the casting date, and the hard to see stamped letter/number codes. Examples from my 62 corvette: But since the center is easy to swap, don't expect it to match the rest of the rear! Since you have self adjusting brakes, it's likely from a 1963 or 64 full size car.
January 1964. What about the stamping on the other side of the front of the housing? That will tell what gears it came with, etc.
Oh man I appreciate that. Do you mind explaining how you deciphered that? Also, cannot see any stamped numbers
Chevy casting dates have one letter followed by two to four numbers. A is the first letter of the alphabet, which is the first month of the year in the code. So January 13 is the day of the month 4 is the last digit of the year. We know that that part was only made from 1957-1964, so it must be 1964. Also they sometimes used two digits for the year, so you have to kind of get a feel for how the numbers work. I wonder if it's an over the counter (from the parts department) housing? to account for no stamping on it.
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