The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1961 c10 rear axle

I did my best at searching the board for rear axle swaps for a 61 C10 but didn't come up with anything.

Is there a later model rear end/axle that would provide posi-traction and give me the 5 bolt lugs combined? I have not taken measurements but was hoping to narrow down my search a bit before I start crawling junk yards...I am looking to do the drop spindles and disc brake kit so I was hoping to upgrade the rear while I have the chasis high and dry......

Any input would be greatly appreciated...

up to '72 bolts in, but I don't know about width. The parts houses sell a bracket kit to weld on to any front end after shaving them of the old mounts.

Blackjack, are you referring to a clip or rear axle? I'm inquiring about the rear axle.......

just the axle. 1/2 tons interchange 1960-1972. Anything else will require the braket kit I mentioned. All 60-72 chevy 1/2 tons have the same coil spring suspension. Some jimmies too.

Oh, I see you're thinking I mean front end! No, rear end assemblies interchange 60-72. Front ends can use crossmembers as late '87, I believe, provided you drill some extra holes. The only reason I can think of to stay under '72 is to keep 6 lugs. Otherwise I would use the late stuff just cause it's less apt to be worn out!

Btw the rear end bracket kit is at:
http://www.truckandcarshop.com/
in the 60-66 catalog, P/N: 60-146131, page no. 113

My bad, I typed in "ffront end" when I meant "rear end. Now I'm even confusing myself!

btw bracket kit is $139.00

Thanks blackjack.....I was pretty sure that you meant rear end but I wanted to make sure. Your input is greatly appreciated....Now my search narrows....!!!

i am putting a 71 1/2 ton axle in my 62... to match the front end crossmember swap i just did,so i will have 5 lugs all around. i got new brackets from CPP, the 71 axle is 3 inches wider than the stock one was,but no biggie i am running stock rims. also the gear ratio is better (3:73)

62 mark, I'm certain that I'll be running custom rims/wheels so I very concerned about the rear axle width dimensions. Would you guess that all of the later axles would be wider??? I may have to stick with what I have and go with the 6 bolt front end conversion kits to keep the width overall.....bummer

Thanks.

the axle width is the same up to 69, you can use the newer style rear axle up to that year but it will have 6 lugs.you can get aftermarket axleshafts to replace the 6 luggers..but with the spindle kit you are planning to get, now your talking big bucks!

How much are these aftermarket axle shafts and who sells them?

check CPP...they have these shafts for 289.00 pair...Mark

Thanks Mark. It may be pricey, but I'm looking to do this project over time.......A LONG TIME! HAHA. The cab is on a dolly laying on its back going through major "floor pan/door pillar/kick plate/cab mount" surgery.....Worked on it all week and haven't even made it to the drivers side yet......Anyone that has done a frame off knows...

Thanks again for your help.

Dana

oh yeah...soon as i get my axle in next week, then the cab is coming off and it's time to go to town on the rusty floor...good luck!

I e-mailed CPP on these replacement axles listed on their website because I was just a bit confused by the following:

1960-64 Complete 5-lug Rear Axle Conversion, 30-3/4", kit states the following under the description:"Will not work with 1960-62 trucks." Not sure why they would list it as 60-64 and not have it work for 60-62.

I have yet to hear back from CPP on this.....

Won't work because the '60-'62 use a completlely different axle than the '63-'64. Used to see the same thing on the Summit site on Posi units, exept they go to say that it's for " '62-'76, 30 spline only". The 30 spline 12 bolt was a midyear introduction in '65, and the '62 is a different axle altogether.

Dana, i failed to mention in my other post those replacement axles are for the 12 bolt rear only..you have the pre 63 axle with the pinion that unbolts from the front..i don't know if anyone makes 5 lug axles for these.if you really have your heart set on 5 lugs ,you will have to do what i am doing..this weekend matter of fact,putting a 12 bolt rear in.hope that clears up some of the confusion!

There's a company called Tom's differentials that is making axles for them, but so far only for the '55-'59 version. It requires a change over of the side gears to the later 30 spline gears from a 12 bolt, and I beleive a different cross shaft to eliminate the center block. Not sure if one could use those axles to install a locking diff or not (like an E-Z Locker), though.

For what it's worth, I just recently switched the rear axle in my 62 1/2 ton.. Had the stock 10 bolt pumpkin with a 3;90 R&P.. Owch..!! Was afraid to drive it past 50 miles an hour with that 235 motor screaming..!! So my friend had a 12 bolt axle from a 69 that already had a 3;07 R&P in it.. It bolted right up like it was made for it.. Best thing I ever did.. The parts for the later model 12 bolts are easier to get and also they are easier to work on.. The only thing I had to do is re-set the welds on the brackets and make sure those wheels were set plum so It would track properly.. But you'd have to make sure they were plum anyway even if you were swapping out the same axle for the same axle.. Point is, it was easy peezy japaneezy..
Longbox55 along with some other guys on this forum coached me through the whole thing.. Thanks guys..

It appears that I've come full cirle. For my 61, I am leaning towards keeping the original rear axle (6 bolt 3.73) and just getting the 6 bolt spindle kit/disc brakes for the front. Options are few with these earlier puppies.!!! I probably should have waited for a 64-66 but I like the windshield/dash layout of the 60-63 and if you hadn't noticed, you can be too picky when a decent truck comes along. They are getting scarce.....

Thanks all.

NorthDM

Quick check back on this topic: I have access to a 1979 C10 Truck with posi rear. Does anyone know off the top if this would work as a option for my 61? Much appreciated....