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Upgraded Rear End for a 54 Bel-Air

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by lrs30, Mar 28, 2007.

  1. lrs30
    Joined: Jan 30, 2007
    Posts: 2,214

    lrs30
    Member
    from Kentucky

    Whats an easy swapn= rear-end for an 54 Bel-Air
     
  2. Chebby belair
    Joined: Apr 17, 2006
    Posts: 855

    Chebby belair
    Member
    from Australia

    Slide over to 50chevy.com - guys a hamber and its an excellent source of knowledge
     
  3. Rich Rogers
    Joined: Apr 8, 2006
    Posts: 2,018

    Rich Rogers
    Member

    70-81 Camaro or firebird and some Nova's but I forget what years fall right on the spring perches but are about 1 inch longer than stock. 67-69 Camaro and firebird are the same length but the perches are off a bit. I think I'm right but after 15hours driving a truck and a beer or two I might be off alittle.
     
  4. DualQuad55
    Joined: Mar 5, 2005
    Posts: 1,385

    DualQuad55
    Member
    from NH

    The Camaro/Nova rears work well. I took one out and put in a '55 Chevy rear. Same width as orig. Either way, you will need to 1) redrill the locating holes on the spring pad of the housing about 1 inch forward, or 2) replace the springs with some that have the 'centering pin' relocated. I bought new springs from Posies a few years back. They have the slider ****ons, and lowered the car a couple of inches, plus they are NEW.
     
  5. swade41
    Joined: Apr 6, 2004
    Posts: 14,465

    swade41
    Member
    from Buffalo,NY

    I read that you can swap springs from side to side and give them a 180 degree spin and they line right up.
     
  6. Big Tony
    Joined: Mar 29, 2006
    Posts: 3,588

    Big Tony
    Member

    If'n ya want to *******ize it like i did mine then a 67 ford 8" works well and Dirty31 seemed to have no trouble getting it in for me
     
  7. old dirt tracker
    Joined: Sep 20, 2006
    Posts: 1,002

    old dirt tracker
    Member
    from phoenix

    i like the 70-81 camaro/firebird rears. ok if you are not running a real wide wheel/tire combo. the 78-84 or so gm monte carlo, malibu,cutl***, aka known as the metric rear is a little narrower also a good choice. if you build you own lowering blocks you can build in the off set needed to center the rear end in the wheel well.normal around 1-1/2 to 2".
     
  8. I used a late 60's Nova 10 bolt. I cut the perches off, and welded new ones on. Don't forget that the "centering pin" on a '54 isn't in the center of the spring (front to rear). It's actually a couple inches forward of center. So, if you mount a newer style rear in a 54 without changing anything, the diff. sits forward in the wheel well and looks like ***.
     
  9. spoons
    Joined: Jan 1, 2004
    Posts: 1,738

    spoons
    Member
    from ohio

    I used the 70-81 setup on my hardtop and it worked well. Did the same thing with the lowering blocks so it would center in the rear fender....

    S****s
     
  10. KutThrtKustms
    Joined: Mar 18, 2006
    Posts: 680

    KutThrtKustms
    BANNED
    from SO.CAL.

  11. fifty4twodoor
    Joined: Jun 12, 2006
    Posts: 48

    fifty4twodoor
    Member

    i used a 74 nova rearend, had to cut off the spring perches but welded new ones on and made off set lowering blocks 4 inch worked great.
     
  12. gerrald meacham
    Joined: Oct 23, 2006
    Posts: 134

    gerrald meacham
    Member

    S 10 4 Wheel Drive Good Fit
     
  13. cwatson1953
    Joined: Nov 7, 2006
    Posts: 972

    cwatson1953
    Member

    The tri-5 chevy('55, '56, '57) rears will work good too.
     

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