53 chev rear end swap out

hey guys so i have done some measuring and reading on here so backing plate to backing plate the stock 53 chevy rear end is between 53 to 54 inches im using the stock springs just need something better to handle the V8 i see some guys say 60" is best but wouldnt that rub on the Qtr? i went online to find a rear to buy and so far i have a guy with a 68 chevelle rear that he said its 54 to 58 he is going to measure and get back to me and another guy i called had a 4x4 s10 rear he says its about 53" 52 and 3/4 will that be to short? how much space do i have to play with like whats too short and whats to wide and whats the happy medium ? im running 215/70R15 standerd offset if that helps

 

Use the "search" feature, just last week or so was all the info on rear end width's you could imagine. Everything in that thread you would want to know. If I was better with the computer, I would send it to you, heck I dont even have a avatar. Good luck.

 

first of all you need to measure from where the wheel mounts, not the backing plate since the brakes could be different widths between cars.

 

i am building my 50 fleetline now and went with a camaro rear. also the 80s buick if i was told correctly i have posted up pics in my build but they arnt fully up to date. also the picture to the left is with the new rearend under it it is about an inch or so wider but still clears nicely

 

The reason the 60 inch measurement is used is that you always measure from the wheel mounting flange to the wheel mounting flange.



Different axle shafts have different offsets and brake drums vary in width ...



I always like to use a 57/58/59 Ford 9 inch Ford rear end ... they are actually 58 inches wide ( measured the way shown above ) and are about two inches more narrow than the original rear end. That is only one inch per side. The 9 inch Ford is famous for it's strenght and ease of working on. Parts are easily found. Gear ratios easily changed and they have a way range of ratios from 2.50 or so to over 6.20. The only drawback under a Chevrolet is the wheel pattern ( 5 on 4.5 ) but there are many rims available with both the Chevrolet ( 5 on 4.75 ) and Ford ( 5 on 4.75 ) pattern.

.

 

I have a 53 Chevy and i have the S 10 4x4 Rearend and it was a real nice fit plus parts are cheep !

 

hey louver dude do you have to use a different offset with that rear and how low you sittin

 

i used a 1957 chevy axel its a perfect fit

 

I have an axle out of a 56 nomad. Perfect fit. it almost bolted right on.

 

Go to 50chevy.com lots of tech. there. I am using a rear out of a 71 camaro. Good luck on your build.

 

thanks guys

 

i just put a 95' S-10 4x4 rearend in my 50'... a perfect fit. only had to cut the old spring perches off and weld on new ones ($13.00 @ summit)

 

check out www.chevytalk.com lots of great info and pic's there like gsport posted.

 

I am running an S-10 7.65 10 bolt in a 50 chevy with no problems also 68-72 camaro and nova 10 bolts are the perfect width for 49-54 chevys. Thats why most people run 10 bolts.

 

I have a 1973 camaro 10 bolt in my 53, fits great.

 

here's some good information that someone else passed on to me...
The first gen camaro is slightly narrower than the second gen (70 - 82). First gen is 60 on the rear and approx. 60 1/2 on the front, which is almost exactly the same as your 50. This measurement is mounting surface to mounting surface (outside hub). The second gen is 61 1/2 on the front and 60 1/2 on the rear, mounting surface to mounting surface. Scroll down near the bottom of the info below and you'll find some clip measurements.

Original Vehicles
Rear Suspension Width (Flange to Flange)

Year
Classic Vehicles
Width

26-39
Plymouth-Dodge car/pick up
56-58"

40-52
Plymouth-Dodge car
60-62"

26-39
Chrysler/DeSoto Car
60"

Most Early
Mopar's
56-62"

25-39
Chevy Car
56-58"

26-46
Chevy Truck
56-58"

40-48
Chevy Car
58-60"

49-54
Chevy Car
58-60"

47-54 & 55 1st Series
Chevy Truck
60-62"

Most Early
Buick,Olds, Pontiac
58-61"

28-31
Ford Car/Pickup
57 1/2"

32 & 33-34
Ford Car/Pickup
56 1/2"

35-48
Ford Car
57-60"

35-41
Ford Pickup
56-60"

49-58
Ford Car
57-58"

49-56
Mercury
57-58"

49-51
Mercury
61"

64
Falcon
58"

67
Cougar
60"

55-59
Chevy Pickup
62"





Donor Vehicles Front and Rear
Suspension Width (Flange to Flange)

Year
Classic Vehicles
Width Front
Width Rear

74-79
Ford Mustang II/Pinto & Mercury Capri/Bobcat
55 ½"
55 ½"

71-77
Ford Maverick with 8" axle
56 ½"


75-80
Ford Granada with 8" axle
57 ½"


64-66
Mustang
57"


67-71
Mustang
59"


72-73
Mustang
60"


67-69 , & 60"
Camaro
60"


64-67
Chevelle
60"


55-64
Chevy car
60"


65-67
Nova
58"


68-72
Nova
60"
60"

78 & up
Monte Carlo, Regal, etc. with 10 bolt axle
58"
58"

68-72
Chevelle with 10 bolt axle
61 ½"


89
Trans AM (Disc brake)
62"


76-80
Camaro/Firebird
61 ½"
60 ½"

68-83
Corvette
58 ½"
59 ½"

84-95
Corvette
59 ½"
60 ½"

Early 70's
"A" body (Dart/Duster) with V8&3/4 axle
58"



"E" Body (Cuda) with V8&3/4 axle
58"



Dodge Dart
59"
55 ½"


Plymouth Volare & Dodge Aspen
61"
60 ½"

71
Blazer (6 lug)
63 ¾"


75-78
Granada 9"
(43" perch to perch)
52 ¼"

75-78
Maverick 9"
(43" perch to perch)
56 ¼"

81-87
Olds Cutlass
58 ½"




FRONT SUSPENSION INFORMATION



Track Width of Popular Donor Car Clips

Manufacture
Model
Years
Track Front/Rear
Curb Weight

Chevrolet
Nova
68-74
59.8-59.6
3,770

Buick
Apollo
68-74
59.1-58.8
3760

Pontiac
GTO
68-74
59.9-59.6
3880

Chevrolet
Corvette
68-83
58.7-59.5
3655



84-95
59.6-60.4
3890

Chevrolet
Camaro (Z28)
76-80
61.3-60.5
3820

Pontiac
Firebird (TA)
76-80
61.3-60.5
3900

Ford
Mustang II
74-79
55.6-55.8
3305


Pinto
74-79
55.6-55.8
3305

Mercury
Capri
74-79
55.6-55.8
3305


Bobcat
74-79
55.6-55.8
3305

Chevrolet
Monte Carlo
78-86
58.5-58.8
3235

Buick
Century
78-86
59.0-58.8
3700

Pontiac
Grand Prix
78-86
58.9-59.0
3735

Plymouth
Volare
75-79
61.0-60.5
3395

Dodge
Aspen
75-79
61.0-60.5
3395

Dodge
Dart
76
59.2-55.6
3600

 

What year of 4x4 S10 rears

 

all of them

 

My 53 Bel Air has a 1968 Camaro 10 bolt rear in it.

 

78 Camaro is what I used

 

Ditto. I used one on my '49 and it was an easy install.

 

This is like beating a dead horse, so for about the 100th time, to get a rearend in the car that's open drive with the same wheel bolt pattern:

55-57 Chevy bolts in with locating pin hole redrilled, perches will hang off to inside a bit.

70-81 Camaro, same deal, bolt in with relocated pin hole in perch. 75-79 Nova is supposed to be the same rearend, have heard the spacing is a tad different. This rear is about an inch and a half wider and may cause interference with fender skirts.

S10 4x4 all years fits well with new perches. Is about the same width, or slightly narrower, allowing for a wider tire or running skirts.

1st gen Camaro, 68-74 Nova will fit; and mid-80s GM RWD will fit but the latter needs coil spring and trailing arm mounts cut off and replaced with leaf perches.

 

Not trying to steal the thread but what would be a good gear ratio rearend for use with the .72 od.T-5 and a 216 or 235? Looking for more highway speed less RPMs. Thanks

 

No to the offset, i'm running stock rims and fender skirts and I think some one already said they are about a 1" narrower then stock, The 53 is sitting as low as 3 leafs and 4" lowering blocks will let it sit with the bags droped and no c notch.

 

3:73 would be great 3:54 would be my second choice.

 

Thanks Louverdude!

 

I went with s-10 4x4 in my 54. had 8 inch rally wheels with 305/70 tires. close to the lip with that much tire. parallel (sic) leafs and 4 in block. my .02

 

3.70 57 Chevy rearend in my 54, love it.

 

gsport, what springs do you have there?

 

As they said S10 or Tri fives. Tom (Tired Old Man)