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Technical 55 to 64 Chevy rear end parts availability

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by junkyardjeff, Jan 27, 2022.

  1. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,588

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    I have two projects that I would like to do with mostly vintage parts,one is a 40 Ford and the other is a 42 to 48 Chevy coupe to use the 261 and late 50s GM 3 speed/overdrive that I have in stock. For the Chevy I planned on using a 55 to 57 rear end and are parts readily available,I plan on grabbing one when one comes up.
     
  2. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    Posi dropouts are really expensive now, but seals and bearings and brake stuff are all readily available and very reasonably priced. If you get a complete one and just want to keep it maintained then I think it'd be a real good choice. I was told '57 rears have bigger axle bearings in them than the 55-56 rears do.
     
  3. Brake parts are readily available. I've heard wheel bearings are not too bad, just cost more and likely require ordering. I run a 56 Chevy car rearend in my 52 Chevy Ute. Internal third member parts are where I think difficulty comes in. Seems that the common repair if something goes wrong inside is to just get a replacement used third member. I haven't reached that point in my case, yet.......
    As Squablow mentioned, posi are getting pretty rare to find now. Identified by a large "P" cast into the third member casting.
     
  4. Use a 57 if you can find one.Its the only one of the trifives with a drain plug on the bottom.The center carrier is stronger than a 55-56. The axle bearings are bigger.Better yet is a 58-59. Bigger axle bearing yet.Cut the coil hardware off,and add spring pads.Theres a way to use 58 bearings on 57 axles using the correct retainers. The 58 bearing has two oil seals,and is a bit wider.
     
    rockable likes this.

  5. Parts are available, especially if all you need are maintenance type items. I was offered a 57 rear a few months ago, but passed, as it would have just been "for future prospects" . They're around, for sure.
     
  6. hepme
    Joined: Feb 1, 2021
    Posts: 519

    hepme
    Member

    the good news is the chevy will take the tri five rear easy, even the pads fit but you'll probably have to drill a hole forward to center it to the wheel well. With the o.d. you can get away with a 3:70, otherwise i think i'd look for a 3:56 or even 3:36 if its going to be on the road. Alternative: a Ford explorer 8.8. I have a 40 that i replaced the tri five with one. Little more work but strong as heck.
     
  7. The 8.8 may be strong, and correct width for older cars, but the bolt pattern is small Ford 5x4.5; not the 5x4.75 pattern as used on Chevy.
     
  8. Glenn Thoreson
    Joined: Aug 13, 2010
    Posts: 925

    Glenn Thoreson
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    If you're going to run with the overdrive tranny you need a lower gear ratio or you will be constantly downshifting on hills. A 4.10 : 1 ratio was pretty much the standard for a setup like yours. Good low to mid range power without overdrive, good highway speeds with lower RPM with overdrive engaged.
     
  9. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,588

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    Are they all about the same width.
     
  10. 55-64 full size Chevys are 60 inches outside to outside. The later years are stronger,and have larger axle bearings. Cut the coil hardware off,and weld on spring pads.
     
  11. Rusty Heaps
    Joined: May 19, 2011
    Posts: 949

    Rusty Heaps
    Member

    And axle bearings are not cheap for the ‘55 rear end
     
  12. GTS225
    Joined: Jul 2, 2006
    Posts: 1,244

    GTS225
    Member

    I agree, to a certain extent, with Irishsteve, here. I disagree with using the '57 housing. (Unless I missed some details between the '57 and '58-'64 housings.) T'were me, I would go with the '58-'64 rear. EVERYTHING in it is interchangable, where the axles, retainers, and bearings are not in the tri-five rears. Found all that out when we were putting my T together, and discoverd a '57 housing, with '55-'56 axles just would not go together right. Ended up just getting a '59 full assembly, and things fell together after that.

    Just my 2-pence.....Roger

     
  13. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,588

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    Thanks for the info and will look for a 58 and up but if one from a 57 comes along I will not pass it up.
     
  14. dan c
    Joined: Jan 30, 2012
    Posts: 2,520

    dan c
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    i wonder if a bearing supply house would work? when i rebuilt my warner overdrive, i just took the rollers and bearings to one and they matched all the numbers and sizes for me!
     
    GlassThamesDoug likes this.
  15. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,931

    squirrel
    Member

    There's no problem finding bearings, shims, crush sleeve, seals, ring and pinion, etc. The parts you don't usually replace, such as side gears, etc, are long out of production.

    It's not much different from most other old rear ends.
     
  16. jnaki
    Joined: Jan 1, 2015
    Posts: 9,290

    jnaki

    upload_2022-2-7_4-1-46.png

    Hello,


    Every time we happen to be in this area of So Cal visiting the beach and sights, we see this cool panel truck. The term classy Chevy USA is the name of a local parts dealer/builder.
    https://www.classychevusa.com/

    You are located across most of the USA from the Westcoast, but perhaps you might want to get in contact with them to see if they can help in your search or purchases. No, I do not work for them or get a commission on sales. It is just that over the years of driving by the industrial area, we happen to see the cool cars and trucks built up from this shop.

    Jnaki

    You might not ever come out here in So Cal, but it is an area called the “Surf Ghetto” since it is a place that a lot of top name surfboard shapers and factories are located. I watched my last surfboard being shaped and glassed in one of the local shops in this area. It is a very funky area, with a mixture of all types of small shops catering to a lot of different clientele. Metal shaping to old cars to a massive party supply place and a paint/body shop are some of the different places here.

    If the ClassyChevyUSA site and place is as good as their builds, you might be in luck. YRMV


     
  17. 2OLD2FAST
    Joined: Feb 3, 2010
    Posts: 5,215

    2OLD2FAST
    Member
    from illinois

    20 years ago I had 3 tri five complete year ends , 2-4.10 's & 1 3.08. , saved since the late 60's , couldn't give them away ended up treading them for an unmolested 400 SBC . now people want them again ?
     
  18. Dooley
    Joined: May 29, 2002
    Posts: 2,956

    Dooley
    Member
    from Buffalo NY

    Just replaced the center section in mine with all new bearings and seals.
    Machine work to press old bearings off and new on plus parts was about 100 bucks
     

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