The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Rear end recommendation for a 55 Series 2 pickup?

Hi all! Well, I'm finally geting somewhere with my truck! I've got the frame dipped and primered and I have a new Mustang II front end from TCI.

Now, I need to start looking for a rear end. I bought a 350 crate motor for the truck, so I want something compatible. I'm not even close to being a mechanic, I'm learning as I go. I've done some reading and have heard that the 9 bolt read end is the "standard" for hot rods, but are there others that are just as good? I'm not interested in racing it,just having fun with it!
I'd appreciate any input. Thanks!!
Chris

You are thinking of a Ford 9" rear end. If I were choosing a rear end I would want it to have the same bolt pattern as the front uses, do you have front brake rotors? I know that a S-Blazer rear end will work and it has a 5 on 4 3/4 bolt pattern. You can also use a 68 and up Camaro or Nova 10 bolt rear end.

Hi Don! Lol!! Like I said, "I'm not a mechanic!". Yes, I meant the Ford 9" rear end. I thought you could get any bolt pattern with the rear end. Maybe it's possible if you buy a new rear end. I do have the front rotors, but I haven't put them on yet. I went with the Chevy pattern which I believe is the 5 on 4 3/4, right?

I was also told that I need to decide on the width of the rear end based on the tires I may want to put on it. Will the Camaro and Nova rear ends work with a little wider tire? Of course, I'll go with whatever will work best, but ideally I would like just a little wider in the back.

Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it.

Look into s-10 blazer and trailblazers will get disk brakes on the rear also. Wish I would have went this route instead of re-gearing a 78 camaro rear end.

So, the S-10 blazer and trailblazer rear ends will work. With my lack of knowledge I guess I thought that a rear end from a 4x4 would be different for some reason. Maybe a little more rugged or something. Is that not the case?

The 4x4 S10 is wider, and the ZR2 S10 from '98-'04 is even wider than the standard 4x4, and is a heavier duty axle. It's a narrowed version of the '88-'98 full size truck axle. Also, on 2wd S10s, there was a lighter duty axle found under 4 cylinder trucks.
Also of note, the Trailblazer axle has a different bolt pattern, 6 x 5, not used on any other Chevrolet truck. The same rear is also found under the Envoy, late Bravada, and the Rainier.

Ok, now I'm really confused... Lol. Thanks, for the info, Bill. So, if I was going to go with an S10 rear end, which size would I want? Would I need a 4x4 because of the width of the truck?

Or would it be simpler to get a Camaro or Nova rear end and disc brake kit?