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Rear Ends That Fit A 1938 Chevy 1/2 Ton?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Zoomzoooie, Mar 16, 2022.

  1. Zoomzoooie
    Joined: Feb 10, 2013
    Posts: 17

    Zoomzoooie
    Member
    from BC Canada

    I want to start working on my 1938 Chevy 1/2 ton again.

    I would like to know what rear end you guys are using and the measurement from wms to wms if possible.

    Thanks
    ZZ
     
  2. My 36 has a 10 bolt from a (69) Chevy N♧V@, I dont know the measurement off hand but it fits well, the rear tires are even with the outside edge of the fenders with 15x7 rims. It has been under it for 42 years or so. My buddy is building a non HAMB friendy 38 and is using a 8.8 from an "Expl■d¿r", can't say how well thats working out for him. I seem to remember that a 55-57 Chevy rear fits good. Happy hunting, Mitch.
     
    Bob Lowry likes this.
  3. I used a early '70's 8 3/4 Granada Rear on a '40 Ford pick up with a parallel leaf spring kit from Chassis Engineering. . Believe it was 57 3/4 " from axle flange to axle flange and the spring pads on the rear lined right up with the springs.
    Might work on a chevy
     
  4. My old 37 Chevy pickup had a tri-five rearend under it. Basically anything around 59 inches WMS will work. Depending on your wheels offset you may want a little narrower or little wider.
     
    Bob Lowry likes this.

  5. 1pickup
    Joined: Feb 20, 2011
    Posts: 1,437

    1pickup
    Member

    @mitch 36 1968-72 N word rear is 60"
    Mine has a '65 (64-67) Chevelle rear which is 60.5"
     
  6. Zoomzoooie
    Joined: Feb 10, 2013
    Posts: 17

    Zoomzoooie
    Member
    from BC Canada

    Thanks for the replies.

    Any chance to see some photos of how your wheels and tires look?
    I'm wanting wide white wall radials with smoothies and stock hub caps and I want the wheels and tires to be centered under the fender.
     
  7. I used a 79-85 toyota 4 runner 2 wheel drive rear end in my 34 chev . 55 inches wide wms-wms , strong 8 inch gears 4.10 ,posi .
    12 inch drum brakes , 6 bolt wheels , same pattern as gm .
    Chev rear end is 56 inches wide .
    86 and up rear ends are 58 inches wide .
    They are great rear ends ,look under any well built rock crawler or 4x4 and you will see these rear ends ..
     
  8. My old 37 with 255/60R15 rear tires and the chrome smoothies which if memory is correct were 15x7 37Truck.jpg

    These were my alternate www bias ply on 49-54 Chevy car wheels. I think rear were 7.50x15? Been too many years and can't recall exact. But this picture shows the rear wheels centered nicely.
    37TowingDigger.jpg
     
    Bob Lowry likes this.
  9. 20220318_142425.jpg 20220318_142441.jpg Best I can do right now. Wheel Vintiques 62 series 15x7 with 4.25 backspace ,61 Chevy cap and 235/75 r 15 non-approved skins.. Mitch
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2022
    Bob Lowry likes this.
  10. Blade58
    Joined: Mar 5, 2012
    Posts: 363

    Blade58
    Member
    from apopka ,Fl

    I used a 2002 S10 4x4 rear end on my 38, it had a 12 bolt with 4:11 gears IMG_0927.JPG
     
    Bob Lowry likes this.
  11. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I'd say the first thing to consider is what lug bolt pattern you want to run.
    The open drive years ago was a 55/59 Chev 1/2 ton rear. 6 lug.
    Tri 5 though 64 Chevy car is right at 59/60 but you have a lot of brackets to cut off the 58/62 rears.
    68/ mid 70's Nova are right at 60 as the others said, I have one of those under my 48.

    The Ford 8.8 with 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern
    • 1990-1992 Ford Ranger 8.8-Inch Axle – 56.50 inches
    • 1993-2009 Ford Ranger 8.8-inch Axle – 58.50 inches
    • 2010-2011 Ford Ranger 8.8-Inch Axle – 58.50 inches *
    • 1991-2003 Ford Explorer 8.8-Inch Axle – 59.625 inches

    • 1986-1993 Ford Mustang 8.8-Inch Axle – 59.25 inches
    I'd swear that the rear under my 92 Ranger 4x4 is wider than 56.5 Beefy bugger though.

    Your bed is right at 46 inches out side of the bed sides from the looks of this.
    upload_2022-3-19_0-49-33.png
     
    Bob Lowry likes this.
  12. Zoomzoooie
    Joined: Feb 10, 2013
    Posts: 17

    Zoomzoooie
    Member
    from BC Canada

    38Chevy - Your second pic on the 7.50s is the look I'm wanting. I'm not sure I will go with bias ply though. I want the look but be able to jump in and go anywhere any time.

    Mitch - The fenders on the '36 look much more narrow with a bigger opening than the '38.

    Blade58 - That looks nice. The wheel and tire fill the opening just right. I'm curious what size of wheel and tire are you running?

    Mr48chev - Thanks for that info. I did come across some info stating the 4x4 rear end is wider. The 62-64 Nova were 58" and I'm pretty sure that was the stock width.

    If anyone knows what the stock rear end width is that might help a little more, since those tech drawings show the 1/2 ton ton tire center line at around 59.5 -60" and the wheel was a 16.00x6.
     
  13. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,264

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Point of note about all of the 8.8 rears.

    These have solid axle flanges, with no extra holes in them.

    They can be re-patterned to any late passenger car pattern at a machine shop, or with a drill jig.
     
  14. Zoomzoooie
    Joined: Feb 10, 2013
    Posts: 17

    Zoomzoooie
    Member
    from BC Canada

    I have another question.

    What leaf springs will fit? Sadly years a go when first got the truck and started tearing it down someone convinced me to scrap the entire drive train. It still makes me mad when I think about.

    I found out that the Jeep Cherokee rear and is about 58" so that could be another candidate.
     
  15. Blade58
    Joined: Mar 5, 2012
    Posts: 363

    Blade58
    Member
    from apopka ,Fl

    Rear tires are 285/70/15 BF Goodrich, rims are 15 X 10, rear fenders are widen 2",my bed is custom made of aluminum since the original was too far gone it widen to 48", the rear fenders are widen on the inside edge you can get away with it because the flow of the fender match the front IMG_1090.JPG
     
  16. Zoomzoooie
    Joined: Feb 10, 2013
    Posts: 17

    Zoomzoooie
    Member
    from BC Canada

    I had started out with a pro street truck in mind when I first got the truck, but now I want to do the least to get it on the road sooner. I was considering 285's previously, but since I'm really liking the traditional look with wide whites, that saves work narrowing the frame.
     

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