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#26284 10/16/2004 2:45 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 96 Member | | Member Joined: May 2004 Posts: 96 | I was going to start cutting the original mounts and brackets off my donor rear end. My donor axle is from a 1984 Pontiac Trans Am. The rear axle conversion kits, listed in product catalogs, lists the kit for any axle with a 3" axle tube. When I measure the tube, I believe it measures 2-1/2" or maybe 2-3/4", I'm pretty sure it's not 3" that the conversion kit suggests. Always thought measuring across a tube to be a pain in the [censored]. Is a 3" axle tube exactly 3" or just close? | | |
#26285 10/16/2004 6:13 AM | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,440 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,440 | I don't know about actual dimensions but if the tube was less than 3" it shouldn't make much difference. The perch just welds to a small portion of the total circumference. Even with a 2 1/2" tube the gap should be 1/8" or less on each side. Easy to fill with an arc. | | |
#26286 10/16/2004 6:59 AM | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 | Wrap a piece of string around the axle exactly one loop and measure the length. Then reach back to high school math and calculate the diamater by dividing by PI. Divide the cicumference by 3.1415. Your loop of string should be almost 9 1/2 inches if the diameter of your axle is 3 inches.
1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more...
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#26287 10/16/2004 11:01 AM | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 1,586 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 1,586 | The spring perches need only to be tack welded in place.Go easy with the welder,you can warp an axle tube .It's better to not weld anything, use the U-bolts to hold it together until a test ride says it ok,no unusual vibrations,pinion angle is good. | | |
#26288 10/16/2004 1:29 PM | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 141 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 141 | krissly1, check out how I did my rearend swap. Making a jig was the best thing to do; that way everything is assured to be the same as the original. Rear End Rebuild Just like Truckedup said, be careful of the welding. I had someone TIG the brackets on for me, but if you decide to weld it yourself, make sure it is in the jig nice and tight. You shouldn't have any warpage problems if you do that, and take it slow, only welding about an inch at a time and alternating sides of the bracket between welds. | | |
#26289 10/16/2004 3:23 PM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 96 Member | | Member Joined: May 2004 Posts: 96 | Thanks to all. I was hoping my donor rear end would suffice. I hope to have the entire project completed by spring 2005. I will have pictures posted of progress through completion. | | |
#26290 10/18/2004 2:33 PM | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 96 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 96 | You might also want to measure the width of the spring and the length you will need for the U-bolt. If you get the wrong perch you may get the wrong U bolts and bottom plate. A few years ago a lot of the guys around here recommended going to your local trailer dealer. Most of them carry perches, U-bolts and bottom plates. So that is what I did thanks to them I saved a few bucks but even better it fit. | | |
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