I just recently picked up a 1990 Camaro 305 with 700R4 for my 53 Chevy 210. I was thinking about picking up this this rear end out of a 4 door 57 chevy belair. Would that be a good match up? Pro/Cons?
The '57 rear end will fit OK but parts are scarce for them. Check the width on the Camero donor and see if it fits. The earlier Camero 10 bolts were almost a perfect fit with lots of gear choices available.
It'll fit and would be plenty strong for a 305. A posi would be expensive if you insist on having one, but brake parts and seals and stuff are easily available. 2nd gen Camaro rearends are also a popular choice. I don't think I'd bother with a '90 305 but that's personal opinion. 700r4's are good though.
I used a Ford 8.8 out of a Explorer. Measures 59.5", your factory rear is 60". I went with a CE leaf kit as well so it was as easy as cutting off old spring pads and mounting it up. Mine came with 3.73 posi gears. I believe the 95 and up are disk brakes, mine is drums from 93. Good Luck
Thanks guys, Does anyone know the width of an early camaro/trans am rear? I would like something with 2.73s or 3.08s, I'm looking for a good highway cruiser.
The '57 Chevy rearend is one of the easiest installs out there, and it stands a shot of having 3.08 gears. All you have to do is drill a couple holes - the pin on the stock spring is offset to the front a couple inches, and you may need to move it over a little too. The perches don't match up 100% but they are close enough. And parts are not that scarce, Hell they reproduce entire '57 Chevy bodies now, the differential was used 55-64, the brakes are cheap, the bearings and seals can be had, and if you need to replace more than that just go find some other rearend. That said, I have a Suburban with a 2.73 and the 700R4 and it's a great combo if you want to cruise at 80 MPH - you'd be happier with 3.23, 3.41, even a 3.73 in there. There are about 85 billion threads telling what rearends fit best in 49-54 Chevrolet cars, if you do a search something should come up. There are tons of good options without having to go to a Ford rearend that has the wrong wheel bolt pattern on it.
I'd look closer at the camero rear or the ford 8.8 out of an explorer. The 57 rear is good, but the original ring gears are known for being somewhat weak, and the worst of it, the 57 axle bearings are slightly different than many other years and are pretty spendy. you could go to pull and pay and get a explorer rear for less than what a pair of bearings will cost for the 57 housing (I know this!)
With a 305 engine there's virtually no chance of putting out enough power to bust gears, and with stock springs if you hammer it you'll get wheel hop and break something else first.
I think something between the 3.23 to 3.73 would be great. I need to find out what my year 700R4 has in it. It came bolted up to a 90 305 TBI motor. I've heard the late 60's camaro and early 70's novas are a good choice.
55-64 Chev rearends are 60". Here's a handy chart that will give you widths for many donor rearends. You might want to consider the S10 rearends with your setup. They would be plenty strong for a 305 and a 700R4, and they're very cheaply priced. Lots of ratio choices, and many with posi for under $200. http://www.carnut.com/specs/rear.html
Thanks for the link! Yeah I'll have to check the junk yards this weekend. I plan on bagging the rear end with a 2 link so I can keep my back seat. I saw a kit that the jiminez borthers make that looks real nice.
1982-1998 are virtually identical. $12 for weld on leaf spring mounts, or use the 57 as it nearly bolts in.
Whoohoo! Grabbed my rear end from the junk yard today. Got it out of an 81 4x4 s-10 blazer! Now to start work on my mustang II cross member!
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