Will a 2wd s-10 work????

so i have read all the threads of people building 49-54 chevys.... i have a 1952 chevy deluxe that iam working on, iam gonna be droping in a 305 with a 2004r in it. now everyone is using 4wd s-10 rear ends to get rid of the torque tube setup...... but will a 2wd rear end from a s-10 work too??? i know that the issue is the length. i called a junk yard and they told me that it was only a 1 inch diff betweeen a 2wd and a 4wd!! i guess my question is has anyone used a 2wd rear end???? thanks

 

It's more like 3-4 inch difference.

Rich

 

i talked to a gentelman on here that said if you use a 2wd s-10 rear you can use a 8.5 wheel and it will look good. Dont know if this is the case, but I am going to try it soon. From what I understand, if you try to use a 2wd rear with the stock wheels, they look like they are too far in the well. The 2wd ones are easy as heck to find. A rear with the rpo gt4 is a 4:11 open carrier.

 

The 2wd drive rear I got in my donor truck was only 54.5" wide, you need something closer to 58 - 60

 

yeah i found a 2wd rear end for 50 bucks thats why i was asking if i can use that... it seems like its more of a pain to find a 4wd rear end!!! does any one have a pic of a chevy with a s-10 2wd rear end???

 

This site will answer a lot of questions:

http://www.ad-engineering.com/HOMEPAGE.html

It's from this thread:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=274702&highlight=frame+swap

 

I thought 4wd S10 rear ends were plentiful? I have about half a dozen 4x4 s10 blazers and a 4x4 long box S10. I only have one 2x4 S10.

 

crashfarmer that would be great if you lived by me!!! hahahaaha but i guess iam gonna have to find a 4wd rear end!!

 

try this web site to find one.
http://car-part.com

 

just for s#*&s and giggles, how wide is the 49-54 chevy rear end from drum to drum.

 

Carlos - I would be interested in that $50 2wd if you are going to p*** on it and it isnt too far away! I need the narrow for an early chevy.

I am just north of you....

 

where are you located???

 

I used a 2WD S10 rear on my International. They measure 48" backing plate to backing plate. We used Chevy Blazer spring mounts, mounted inboard on the frame.

 

I'm working on a 54. The rear end is 60" wide. I am using a 66 nova rear end, because it is 58" and allow for a wider rear tire. I think the a ford granada and lincoln versilles(Excuse the spelling) also had rear ends that were around 58".

 

Here's a link to suspension measurements for our cars and donor parts.

http://www.teufert.net/other/rear end dimensions.htm

If the S10 is to narrow why not use a spacer or reverse the centers in your wheels for more offset. Just a thought.

Hope this helps.

 

I put one in a 49 ford and it works out great.Plenty of room.I even used adapters from a cevy pattern to a ford pattern and I still have some room

 

you all make a good point.... but my main concern is will it fit to the point where the wheels wont rub on the inner fenders???

 

Arent the 4x4 rear ends 6 lug? What are you doing for that change?

 

Arent the 4x4 rear ends 6 lug? What are you doing for that change?

 

My '50 Sedan has a 2wd S10 rear. It will work but you will just have to measure for the right width and offset wheel.

 

No, S10 4x4 rearends are 5-lug 4 3/4.

Doesn't like every single thread on here about 49-54 Chevy car rearend swaps specifically say that no, a 2WD won't work, it's too narrow?

You can use second-gen Camaro without moving the spring perches; 75-79 Nova and clones fit, 80s G-body if you put perches on it, 55-57 Chevy you can make work without moving the perches... I got a '75 Camaro rear here at a junkyard for $50 with all new brake lines on it, it can't be that hard to find something that will work.

 

S10s are all 5 on 4-3/4.

The yard I frequent has about 20 to 1, 4wd vs. 2wd.
We chose a Olds Bravada rear for my buddy's 34. The higher end clones usually didn't get used so hard.

S10 rear codes up to at least the early 90s:

Look in the glove box for one of these RPO codes.

GU4 = 3.08
GU5 = 3.23
GU6 = 3.42
GT4 = 3.73
GT5 = 4.10
HC4 = 4.56

G80 = Posi



Outside
Width Year Model
54.25 1983-2004 Chevy S10 2WD, GMC S15 2WD

I think the 4WD ones are 57" or more outside width (drum surface to drum surface).

 

4wd rearends are the same pattern and 4" wider backing plate to backing plate (2" wider on each side), but have the same measurement as 2wd center of spring plate to center of spring plate, look for option G80 on the sticker in the glove box and it's posi.

 

i put one under my 35 master the drums just cleared the inner fenders had wheel vintiques make chrome rally wheels for it every one thought it had huge rear tires they were 205/14