i know it's been done to death, but i can't find a firm answer I've got a 1949 chevy which I want to convert to open drive. Choices are a little limited over here (junkyards not exactly full of tri chevs or S10's to use as donor's LOL) i've been offered a '60 impala axle which is the right width, has anyone else used one of these under a 49-54 chevy? Thanks, Taff
A 55 - 57 Chevy axel is a good swap for a 1949 - 1954 Chevy. A 1960 Impala axel is a coil spring version of a 55 - 57 Chevy. Are you sure of the width of the 60 axel? It seems like the 60 axel is wider than a 55 - 57 axel, though.
The width is nominal, if any, as compared to the tri-five rears. Just cut off all the bracketry, and weld on some spring perches. Pay close attension to the spring locating hole on the perch, you may need to move it forward 1 1/2". Butch/56sedandelivery.
I have a '58 Chev housing/setup under my truck.I believe they're 54" or 62" backing plate to backing plate if that helps? Compare that to your 49? Later model Camaros were close to that width (b.p. to b.p.) and might give you newer/easier-found stuff to work with? You might even score a Posi? Squirrel might know something about these axles and setups?
They are not that wide ,"backing plate to backing plate", which by the way, is totally bullshit way of measuring an axle for width. The only USEFUL/reliable way to measure is wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface. The Chevs of the period under discussion may be 62" wide by that measure, but if BP to BP were 62", they would end up 68" wide, and they ain't ! Ray
I've put a 98 Blazer 4x4 rear end under my 51 poncho - measured the same as the original axle. You must make sure its a 4x4 for else its about 4' narrower. From what I've found, as long as its a 4x4 it should fit ok Mt 2 cents
Hey Turdmagnet, if you attracted that babe in your avatar, you're magnetism is attracting more than turds. I like!!!
Hey Ray "Hnstray", "I've got a 1949 chevy which I want to convert to open drive. Choices are a little limited over here (junkyards not exactly full of tri chevs or S10's to use as donor's LOL) i've been offered a '60 impala axle which is the right width, has anyone else used one of these under a 49-54 chevy?" .... Notice he said "open drive?" As others posted options newer than just swapping axles,so did I? Respnd to the poster with help instead of critiquing someone who does? We buy housings b.p. to b.p. around here frequently. By the way,they're probably 54",but my truck is buried under snow,so I can't measure it.... Back to trying to help Taff...
And how is correcting erroneous information that was posted by others not helping the person posing the original question. Bottom line, if you don't know the correct information you are doing a disservice. But then, a lot of people don't know what they don't know. Common ailment.....especially, but not limited to, youth Besides which, my statement "Chevy's of the period under discussion" referred to the '55 thru '60 models......rear axle, the point of the discussion. I might also point out, your 62" inch reference, versus the 54" "it might be" is an 8" difference. Hardly helpful information when an inch or two can make a difference in go/no go. As for measuring and buying axles by the BP width, I'll just note people in your area also elected Joe Biden several times. Ray
"A lot of people don't know what they don't know." I won't defer to the forbidden political stance of the forum,but,being from Illinois,you obviously don't know election results or preferences around here? Hey Taff,apologies for your thread being hijacked.IM sent.
the widest from flange to flange you can use in 49-54 chevys is 61inches if you want to run skirts "60 wide should work 49-54 are 60" stock.always measure from mounting flange to mounting flange
I will get flamed for it I am sure, but there are ones of the right width under some pickups from that company that is having the big recall, which might be easier for you to find.
http://www.carnut.com/specs/rear.html that rearend should work just fine for you, with some of these. http://www.jegs.com/i/Moroso/710/85090/10002/-1 you will need to drill a new locating hole in the front portion if using stock leaf springs, and also will need the lower shock mount/ other half of the clamp. like this one link because the springs are much more narrow than the oem of what you are putting in, its not totally compatable. also, these springs are a bolt in and locate the axle properly. www.posiesrodsandcustoms.com/images/pages3247.pdf I've actually done this swap, its not hard. Don't let the bastards grind you down.
hi all, and thanks for all the info. Like i said, there are a number of "right" axles to use for this conversion, but due to geography my choices are limited. Picking up an axle for bucks would be simple, the logistics of getting it back to the UK are something else entirely. I had looked at a number of UK/Euro make axles, but RWD is less and less common thesedays, so choice was limited to some IRS set-ups (more work than I really want to do) or using commercial axles (same or worse ratio that I already have) So when the option of the 60 impala axle came along, at a good price, I wanted to confirm through this great resource that it would be suitable or not. For info, I took measurments as "wheel mounting surface" to wheel mounting surface" , as that would dictate where my rear wheels end up. The measurements matched up to within half an inch which i can accomodate, but I was a little concerned as I hadn't heard of anyone ACTUALLY using an axle out of a 60. Fabbing new mounts is an engineering task that I am quite comfortable with. I plan on fabb'ing up some mounts that include a 3 inch drop, save me the hassle of blocks. Thanks again to all who have inputted, a great help and hugely appreciatted. Thanks, Taff
You can also use a 68 to 70 Nova rear, I used one under a 50 chevy and you can run skirts it you like, I think the 60 chevy is to wide.
Alot of guys with great advice as to what fits but unfortunately the guy is in the UK where the salvage yards aren't exactly overflowing with American cars. Hell the poor guy isn't even allowed to own the AK in his avitar pic. What about the suggestion made earlier about looking into some small pickup truck rear axles of "Oriental" origin ? Surely there must be some of those over there and while it's maybe a sore subject here, they do have some good gear ratio choices and are normally pretty strong.
Dont mean to hi jack the tread but is the bolt pattern the same on the 50 chevy coupe as the 4x4 s10's
ha! over hear a good axle would be dearer than a bad AK...... i have looked at some euro and jap stuff, wheel patterns are no good , and in some cases the diff ratio os even worse than the stock chevy rear!
Yes, bolt pattern is the same. You know, there is an Isuzu version of the later S10s, the 1996-2000 Hombre. They're the same thing with a slightly different nose and dash. Those may be an option for folks outside of the US - I see them here, but they're relatively scarce, I've only seen and noticed one a handful of times. The '60 Chevy rear isn't a bad one to use, there's a fairly decent selection of gearsets available for one, you'll just need some perches. The ones Speedway and some other folks sell that are a Mopar part work fine, if you can source them in the UK, they're like $15 USD a set, and come with three locator holes pre-drilled so all you have to do is position them and weld them up.
'55-'64 Impala, Bel Air, etc. rear ends are within 1/2" OAL flange to flange of a '68-up Nova, '67-'69 Camaro/Firebird and '64-'67 A-Body GM. They are about 1-1/2" narrower than a '68-'77 A/G body or '70-'81 F body rear end.
I have a 8.5 inch GM 10 bolt rear from a 72 ish GM A body sitting in my garage.Flange to flange is 62 inches.
Taff, I have a 51 mine is fitted ( before I purchased it) with a Japanese rear end, I think it is out of a Toyota Pick up, the std wheels fit with a 6mm spacer plate, and the width wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface is just slightly over 62" if i remember correctly, I will re measure if you wish, but I don't know what the diff ratio is. I don't know if this is of any use to you. PM me if you want any more info.
Poor Taff, what happened to the Shabbilac? Listen to your fellow statesmen about that Toyota exchange.........MUCH more accessible for you my dear.
An inexpensive and fairly easy way to fab up some spring perches would be to use some scraps of rectangular tubing, some 2X4 inch could yield a 3" drop.
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