In a '49 Chevy? I've heard that the 4x4 s-10 rears fit but are on the weak side. A friend of mine has a fleetline and loves to beat on his cars, so I really don't want to suggest a weak link. Camaro stuff drops in right? Stronger? I don't care about modifying stuff to fit, but as little as possible is always a bonus. Do these rears have the same bolt pattern? Which did you/ would you use and abuse? thanks, -r
I got a 56 Olds rear in my 49 Chev...it's pretty much a bolt-in, you just gotta drill one new hole in each spring pad on the rear axle to account for the offset locating pin on the stock rear springs. (If you use custom made rear springs, you can have the pin set where you need it.) The Olds rear is pretty hefty, but it uses a 5 on 5" lug pattern...so you end with different wheel patterns front and rear. I didn't care, but your buddy might. The 4x4 S10 rear fits...but isn't your best choice. They're only wide enough because 4x4 S10s used kinda fugly FWD style offset wheels...and the lug studs will be Metric, although on the same bolt pattern (5 on 4.75") as other common Chevy rears. 1967-81 Camaro, Nova, Firebird, etc rears fit, and will need the same new holes drilled to mount on your stock springs, but they'll handle abuse and will have the same lug pattern as the front wheels. Some Ford and Mopar axles fit, but will come with a 5 on 4.5" lug pattern. Just some info I gathered while shopping for a rear axle to go into my ride...hope it helps!
I have a 76 camaro rear in my 50 fleetline. FYI, IT is a little wider than the ideal width of 60", so I have trouble with getting the skirts on. (they rub the rear wheels)
S10 track is only like 54 inches - narrower than a Model A. Probably any of the 55-57 Chevy, Pontiac or Olds rears will work (the 57 Pontiac and Olds are really stout) if you can come by them, if not go with a later leaf spring car -
81 TransAm NASCAR edition rear in mine.....disc/posi....I dig it. I ended up reversing the backing plate on the driver's side to match the stock p***enger side...so both calipers are on the rear of the rotor. Also gotta rework the original spring/shock plates to work with the original 49-54 Chevy shock mounting positions. Easy sleazy, though.
LeftCoastErik .... how do you even find a post that old? You just answered a post from 2005. Not complaining, couldn't care, I just find it amusing that a conversation gets continued 6 years later. Anywho, for those interested ... the 67-69 Camaro rear is a bit shorter than the 79-81 making it a better fit. (68-74 Nova rear is the same as a 67-69 Camaro).
It's not much... like 1 1/4" back and 1/4" over or something like that. (sorry, I didn't write it down when I did it in mine)
Why not just take the springs out and turn them around and swap them side to side, no redrilling needed.
Does that work? looking into the same swap in my 54. Gotta run leafs till I can afford the gambino treatment.
I am putting a ford 8.8 in my 36. around 59.5 inches I think. 94 and earlier have drums, The 95-01 Explorer has 31 spline, disc brakes, 3.25 axle tubes and you can find them with 4.10 limited slip. Found mine for 200 clams but you would have to redrill for the cheby bolt pattern. Pinion is off set so I am putting two of the short axles in and hacking of part of the long tube which makes the rear around 56+ inches.
You say he is one to really flog it so I'd dismiss using ANY GM rear. The older Olds rears were tough but getting scarce. The Dana 60 is a tough ****er but the 9 inch Ford is the sbc of rear ends; everything available everywhere and cheaper than others. Lug pattern is almost a non-factor since it's so easy to redrill ones to match the front. The 55-64 Chevy rears are just barely adequate for p***enger cars and the 12" and 10" can be beefed up with after market parts (and money) to where they're about equal to a stock nodular 9".
Uhh.. Considering that the second-gen F-body diff is one of the choices, I think he'd be fine. The 8.5" 10-bolt is plenty strong for a fleetline. Considering the F-body cars weigh about 3800 lbs and came with Pontiac 455s and BBC engines and they aren't know for having rear axle problems even with every hilbilly in the country beating on one.
Yup, search was my friend. I ended up with the 4x4 s-10 for my car and some springs from Walton. I figured since I am keeping the 235, the s-10 rear would be fine, along with the 5-speed.
about 1 1/2" center to center. use a 1/2" drill bit. or make an offset lowering block from s**** steel, and a allen head 3/8 grade 8 bolt for a pin. it is real easy to visualize once you have it all removed and sitting in the driveway.
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