The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Corvette Rearend???

I'm kicking around the idea of putting a corvette rearend in my 51 suburban. However, knowing that the vette is a sports car, I am not interested in a stiff, uncomfortable ride. I like the idea of an independent rear for a softer ride as well as the handling. Anyone else tried this? If so, how did it ride? Just curious.

IMO opinion without knowing all your plans or details I think it would be a waste of time & money UNLESS you did a complete front end suspension replacement too. If that were the case the proper way to go would be a full chassis replacement with complete new modern components.

If all you want is a softer ride and handling then bag it with a modern 4 link. A heck of a lot easier and less bucks. Plus you'd have full ride height and firmness at your fingertips.

A live axle with properly setup leaf springs will match the ride.

I own and drive a C-4 Corvette frequently and with the 'performance' suspension it is a little harsh. But most of the kits that mount that suspension in something else swap the fiberglass traverse leaf springs for coil overs which allow you to choose how the vehicle rides.

I'd suggest going with the Corvette stuff on both ends if you are going to do this. I love the crisp precise handling and if my Suburban came even close it would worth the work.

But the Corvette is shorter length wise and shorter height wise. Both of these figure into the handling and simply mounting Corvette suspension on your Suburban won't overcome some of the disadvantages of all that steel six feet off the ground and a 20 inch longer wheel base.

I guess I should've been a little more clear as to my intentions. I will probably drop this gal onto an s-10 frame. I know the bag/ 4-link combo would be easy to do, however, I thought a corvette rear would be something different in regards to this old suburban. I suspect there are not many IRS suburbans out there. However, if the resulting ride is not going to be comfortable, I wouldn't do it. That's all that was intended by my question. I apologize for the confusion. Also, sorry for the late response to your posts, Wednesday's high winds where I live knocked out power until yesterday (just in time for Daytona )

Rich..wouldn't an S-10 ride easier than the original anyway? Just curious and don't mean to criticize your intentions. Perhaps a long wheelbase S10 SUV would be a good candidate.

There is at least one Suburban out there with an IRS from a Corvette. I think I saw pictures of it on the HAMB.

I doubt you'll be able to decern a difference in ride running an IRS. A leaf spring rear suspension in good condition will ride pretty nice.

At a swap meet Saturday I saw front and rear suspension from a 2000 Corvette with the rear mounted transmission. Going that route under a Suburban might be unique, and moving more of the weight to the rear might improve both handling and ride.

The transaxle corvette suspension would be cool but the technology is too new (i.e. pricey) for my budget. I'll end up sticking with the s10 swap. Im always looking for ways to be different- some of those ideas, after some thought, aren't practical, wind up costing money I don't have, or I find out it's not original. However, It's my nature to explore off-the-beaten-path ideas . And, I tend to think out loud by asking questions- sometimes (and often) before thinking them through . Who knows, maybe I'll come up with a winner one day . Anyhow, thanks for your input, guys. Expect more ideas from me - some good, some bad, and some totally ridiculous.

www.flatout-engineering.com
They sell vette IFS and IRS for many old trucks, check them out.
I am also thinking that one day (time and money...), my 57 Suburban will get this. I am sure the ride would really improve a lot, maybe not down the Interstate or around the fairground, but pretty much anywhere else. I have several vehicles with a stiff rear axle and am certainly tired of the way they all ride (speed bumps, bad roads, sharp turns...), compared to all the vehicles with factory IRS I have driven, even old. An IRS can only improve things!

I don't know about availability over in the States,but a junkyard contender might be a Jaguar back axle.It's an IRS unit with loads of diff options and as tuff as old boots!
It would certainly be man enough and can be made to look good too!.
It's quite a common swap over here. Guys use them in loads of different cars/vans etc.
You should be pretty close to the correct width too.
Just my 2c.

I believe the Jag is a Dana, just like the 'vette. In 'vettes there were two different differentials, one of them a bit stouter than the other. I'm not sure which was used in the Jags.

The suspension design on an Jag is a lot different than a C-4 'vette, which is what the kits I've seen are based on. The Jag might be easier to mount without a kit.

Center section is Dana 44 in both cases (depending on what year 'Vette). 'Vette rears with the complete suspension and mountings aren't too hard to find, especially the '84-'96 style. I see them on a regular basis when i go to the Hoosier and Super Sunday swap meets. Many times, the matching front suspension with crossmember is also being sold, too. Never got prices, but I don't think they were too far out of line.

If money wasn't a problem, how about one of these?