I have pulled the original 235 engine with powerglide transmission. I am starting to consider what engine and transmission I will be using to power the car, but the question about what rear end to us keeps haunting me. Let's say I am going to have about 300hp. Which is close to what a SBC350 would put out. I need to decide on the transmission. My good buddy was suggesting I run the liquid cooled powerglide transmission to a 327 or 350 engine. I am planning to drive the car as much as possible, so I may stick to a TH350 to have 3 speeds. What rear end setup can I run that would fit the 54 2dr. 210? I know anything will fit with enough work, but I guess the question is: What rear end will fit for the easiest setup? Would I be able to use a driveshaft from that setup to hook up to my transmission? That currie enterprise's rear end is pretty darn expensive.
Second Gen Camaro 10-bolt is damn near a bolt-in, just drill new holes for the offset spring perch locator pin on the stock springs, or use lowering blocks that compensate for the difference. Next easiest is an S10 4x4 rearend, you'll need to cut the perches off and put new ones on.
I was going to install airbags to the rear with either a four link setup from Gambino or a trailing arm type setup. Is the camaro rear end the same width as my 54's rear end? Is this considered an upgrade? What type of rear axle is this?
I heard that a firebird/trans-am (70's style) will bolt up in a 55-57 Chevy. A good one to find would be a factory rear disc brake one from like say a 77 Trans Am. If it'll work in a 55-57 It should work in your 54. Just anouther option...
I've a got a 57 Chevy rear in mine. 80's S-10 4x4 rear will work and yes a camaro rear end will work. I think on the camaro it's mid 70's to early 80's on those. I wish I was closer to you cause I'd take that Six off your hands. You just pulled the soul out of your car, haha. Good luck on the rear.
I'm interested in this as well. I hate the look of GM ten bolts (not that you can see it much) and I really wanted to use a tri five chevy rear. I wonder how strong they can be though since I plan on putting around 300-350 hp in my '54.
55/56 are a bit better than 57. 57's take a different bearing, axles are smaller diameter? But a 59 thru 64 drop out will fit in the housing and they have better ratios and positrac. This is all from memory so might be off the money a bit. Alright you GM interchange Guru's?
You can also give the rear springs a 180 and switch them side to side to bolt in the 57 rear without redrilling the pin location.
yes, width is close enough. no, it is not an upgrade. but it works. If you think you'll really do a complete redesign of the rear suspension you'll want something easier to work with. Parts are not as easy to find as they once were, and those axles aren't the strongest available. If you are going to all this trouble, why on earth would you limit yourself to a th350? overdrive is the way to go. I'm using a 350/700r4 from a 2wd suburban, s10 4x4 rear with 3.42 gears. I should be able to light em up at will. and cruise at low rpm. I picked it up cheap, s****ped the rest and got it almost free.
Compaired to the others the S-10 4X4 is cheap and easy to find.The newer ones have disc brakes also. The Tri-5s would need a re-build because of the age and all like the Novas have almost been wiped out because of the price of steel. IMHO. Good luck.Tom (Tired Old Man)
Hey what's up WCriot. I read a lot of threads here on the HAMB and decided to go with a chevy 4x4 s-10 Blazer with discs. Check out my build thread. Good luck man!
I put a 1991 Trans Am posi 342 in my 54. Fit with no prob. I had a 76 350 with Turbo 350 ******. Loved that car!
we used the 10 bolt camaro and it fit right in perfect. we installed it in a 54 bel air "cover car rod &custom june 2010". it should handle 300 hp no prob. jimenez bros customs
WOW dude thats a great find. Too bad it doesnt have the 4x4 S10 rear end like so many people have mentioned. Ya, i was having my doubts about the tri 5 rear ends. Im sure that's an expensive piece
i've got a S-10 4x4 rearend in my 50'.. perfect fit, just need to remove the original spring perches and weld on new ones a little wider.. here's a picture b4 shocks. i used a ch***isengineering rear mount kit
i have a 92 S10 4x4 posi rear in my 54. same width 60". cut the stock perches off and weld in new ones.
S10 4x4 is within 1/2" of being the same width. 55-57 Chevy is basically the same width. 70-81 Camaro/Trans Am is a tad wider but the perches are in the right place. Third gen Camaro/Trans Am is really too wide, I don't know how you made a '91 work unless you have stock rims and no skirts on. But as long as you're going 4-link you may as well look at the mid-80s G-body Monte Carlo and the like, maybe you can use the existing mounts on the housing. They will fit under - even the 80s fullsize will fit, although not a ton of clearance with the later rims on.
There is a member on these boards that has a 57 rear end that he was willing to trade with me. Where would you rate the 57 rear end compared to some of the other rear ends that have been mentioned in this thread? I was kind of liking the idea of one of these more modern rear ends. I thought there would be more aftermarket gear ratio options, more parts availability and any ***ociated parts would cost less. I want a rear end that can be practically used because I plan to drive this car alot! Also, keep in mind that I am replacing the factory rear suspension with either a 4 link or rear trailing arms.
other way around. '55-56 have the smaller axle bearings... 55-57 are leaf spring cars. 58-64 are coil spring, but you just cut off three brackets and weld on some $15 spring perches and you're in business... 55-64 dropouts interchange. Factory posi units have a giant "P" cast into the housing. 55-64 gear ratios are 3.08 3.36 3.56 3.70 4.11 4.56
nobody ever said ALL. pre-1995 would be drum for sure. do yourself a favor. try sourcing wheel bearings and seals for a 55-57 chevy rear. that should make the decision for you.
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