I recently acquired a 1953 Chevy Coupe and it is slightly modified into a start of a custom. I was looking at changing the drive line. It is stock 216 and 3 on the tree. I would like to put a 292 six in it but I am not sure about tranny but want to change out the stock rear axle. Suggestions ? I plan on getting all the parts and changing through the winter. What have some of you used for a rear axle?
If you are changing out the stock rear, you will have to change out the trans since 53's use a torque tube. in my 51 Chevy I used an 8.5 inch Chevy 10 bolt out of a 86 Monte Carlo SS, it comes in about an inch narrower than the stock rear. A 55 to 57 Chevy rear is a direct bolt in if you can find a good one. A 10 bolt out of a 64 to 67 Nova is a good fit as well as an early Camaro rear. I Have not used one but an S10 rear is supposed to be a good fit as well. As for the 292 I don't know if there is an over all size difference between a 292 and a 250 but i've seen a bunch of 250 sixes in them over the years. A friend had a 53 years ago with a 250 and a Saginaw 3 speed out of a 69 C10 truck and was even able to use the original column shift stuff, although I'm sure it had to be tweaked to work.
Thanks! The 292 in a couple inches taller so if a 250 fits a 292 can. The s-10 is hard to find around here. I will check for the others.
Also if you don't mind the ford bolt pattern, an 8 inch ford out of a early Mustang or Maverick shoud be close to a bolt in as well.
Around here it is harder to find a 8" than a tri five rear and it has been a few years. Anybody know the inside width of a 4x4 s-10 rear?
A 4x4 S10 rear should be 59.5 inches wide from Wheel mounting surface to Wheel mounting surface. The rear axle out out a 78 to 88 Monte Carlo or Malibu is 58.5 inches wide. I used the Monte rear in my 51 because it gave me an extra inch to let me fit 15X8 wheels with 3 3/4 in back spacing and a 255 60 15 tire on it. Fits perfect and no rubbing at all.
Any suggestions for the windshield wipers or upgrading the brakes??? Both really do not work worth a tinkers Dam.
I'm building a '49 right now, but the parts for a '53 would be different. I went with an underfloor Power Brake Booster, and Front Disc brakes. As far as the engine goes, I don't think a 292 will fit. It's much longer. Do yourself a huge favor and check out ChevyTalk Forum. There's extensive help for what you're doing: http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/index.php?referral/265699/
Here is a link to some rear end measurements. http://www.carnut.com/specs/rear.html I believe New Port Engineering has wiper motor refits for your car as well.https://newportwipers.com/ Tom Langdon Stove bolt site may be of help as well.http://www.langdonsstovebolt.com/
As far as the Chevy 250 to 292 I have both in my little work shop the 292 is 2 inches taller they are both the same length. I am searching for a 3 speed local but they are hard to find worse case I will find a 5 speed but didn't want to give up the column shift. I really appreciate the web sites it will help to make the car into a daily driver.
I used an '83 Olds gutless rear axle under my 50 delivery. As was said above, gave me room to mount 15"X8.5" American Racing wheels with an 1.5" positive offset. I used wide [285/70] tires and had to massage the inner wheel wells and cut the lip off the outer wheel wells. A pair of 235s would have fit with no modifications. I used a 4 speed trans. When it came time to fab up clutch linkage, I went to U-pull-it and grabbed up the Z-bar and it's pivots from a 70s ford pickup. Mounted the pivots to the 50's frame and bell housing. I shortened and re-clocked the Z-bar to work with my original pedals...worked great! If you use the 292 engine, any '62 and later bell housing from a chevy 6 or V/8 will work. [I used a steel lakewood scattershield so I was able to weld my Z-bar pivot bracket directly to it] When changing the 292 engine in my daily driver chevy shortbox, I noticed in addition to the 6 flywheel bolts, there was an additional locating dowl pin. The flywheel had a corresponding hole for it so you can only put the flywheel on one way...leads me to believe the 292 flywheel is probably balanced to the 292 [only] engine.
Even the flex plate uses a dowel and a spacer for the 292. The 292 in my 54 Pontiac is 0.060 over with LP pistons and the head is decked 0.020 with lump ports. Still in process for a spring break in. Never really figured out the picture thing but what caught my eye on the 53 was a 57 Buick grill.
I used the Newport Engineering wipers on my 51. They work great and I had the motor installed in 15 min. Vacuum wipers suck. As for the brakes, you already have the self energizing drums on the front, so your good. I used a kit from Muscle car brakes to rebuild the front drums. I had used their kits before and they are great. I rebuilt the brakes on the 10 bolt I swapped in and then installed a Walton Fab firewall mount power brake pedal set up. One of the best things I have done to my Chevy. Also when I swapped rears I put in a Chassis Engineering rear spring setup. really rides great. As for the front I used Mustang II front springs with 1/2 a coil cut of and shorter shocks. Drives and rides better than I ever expected. Check out the links below. https://newportwipers.com/product-category/cars/chevrolet/ http://www.musclecarbrakes.com/bib5170chevy.html http://www.waltonfabrication.com/19chfimopobr.html http://www.chassisengineeringinc.co...949-1954-chevy-heavy-duty-springs-gas-shocks/
Thanks! I already know I need better brakes and wipers and this information saves a lot of computer time!
Wipers from a company called Raingear out of Port Townsend Wa. Good stuff worked right out of the box.
Update if anyone wants. I found a 85 Malibu with a Auburn locker 2:63 and it will go into the car along with a 283 and 3 on the tree. I would like to thank everyone for the assist.
Awesome! that rear will work great for a highway cruiser. Just remember, when you swap in the rear, if using the original rear springs the axle center pins are offset to the front of the wheel well about 1 1/2 inches. so you will need to redrill the axle pads for the alignment hole to center the axle in the wheel well. I have a kit I bought for my 51 that I didn't use just for putting a modern rear on the stock springs. Lines it right up and has the narrow spring pads for use with stock springs. PM me if you want it, I'll hook you up cheap!!
One morning a fellow coffee drinker asked if I knew that a '57 12v wiper motor would bolt onto my '54 Bel Air firewall and offered one up for S60.00. Left off a couple of small tabs and it bolted on with 2-speed settings. Its been place for 15/16 years.... dyno dave
Stick with Newport for the wipers. I used some Raingear parts years ago and could not get any technical support. Bob from Newport won't leave you hanging!
2.63 axle & a 283 3 speed will require a new set of driving skills & some spare pressure plates & discs. '55 - '57 wiper motors fit '53 & '54 as is, but not earlier.
302GMC I was looking at what you posted. Are you saying it really will not work as a viable driver? I know a stock 216 and 3 speed is a dog and limits going on a long drive... Are you saying it won't work?
The 216 Chev is far from a dog as delivered with 4.11s, just unhappy today's speeds & 40s technology. They'll pull a 3.70 or even a 3.55 axle if in decent shape. The 2.63 axle is just too tall even for a V8 3 speed Chev unless you were trying for extreme fuel economy. The slipping required to get underway will become very tiresome ...
I have the 216, or a 250, or a 292, or a 283, or 350, or a 390 Cad or a 472 Cad.. What would work best for overall running in all traffic conditions?
I think your best gear ratio for the Malibu rear end would be a 3:73 or 3:50. As I recall 55 -57 chevy 3 speed manual gear ratio was the 3:73 and the automatic was 3:50 from the factory. I also think these would work good with the bigger 6 cylinders.
Stuff that big Cad in there with a 400 turbo ... use that 2.63 axle, & there's your 145 MPH Chevrolet that'll get way over 20 MPG at 70 MPH.
I can tell you from my 51 chevy, it has a 350 th350 and an 8.5 10 bolt from a monte Carlo with 3:73 gears in it. I think it's to much on the freeway. At 70 I'm turning 3200 rpm with a 255 60 rear tire. I'll be putting an overdrive in it soon. 2:63 rear is pretty tall. I would think about a 3:23 or 3:36 gear for it. If your worried about it. I would put the set up you have, 283 3 speed and your rear and see how it does. Or swap gears in the 10 bolt. A 283 works great in these cars. The cad will be a pain with the stock front suspension and steering. And i dont know if the exhaust would clear any of the steering. It's tight with a small block.
The funny thing is I had a Monte with a 2:63 and 350 it was a cruiser at 70+ the rear came out of a Cutless due to the original blowing up. We tend to have long winters and it will be April/May before I have a real answer. I know the Big Cad would not stuff into my 54 Pontiac but I now have a rear sump pan.We shall see.
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