54 Del Ray Rear end question

Hello All,
Im finally getting back to working on the engine / driveline swap in my Del Ray. Question is the rear end. I know I can swap in the s10 rear but what i'm wondering is if the center section from a 55, 56, or 57 rear end would go into my stock housing? It would be nice to keep the housing that's original to the car.

Thanks,

 

In a word..No.

 

No. If you did that you would still have change the spring pads as they flex with the torque tube.

 

Thanks for the info. Just for my education...why won't one of those center sections fit?

 

Because they are different. The '54 is a closed drive-line with back loaded gears and the '55 up is an open drive-line with a front loaded center section. Virtually nothing interchanges.