The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Rearend Swap

Hi everyone I just started working on my truck and have hit my first dilema. I want to swap out the rearend I just dont know what to use. I have been told that camaro/firebird rearends work. What have you guys used in your trucks?

Welcome ,Laid-out. Are you wanting to stay with a 6 lug rear end? I used a '67 chevy 1/2 ton rearend in my panel. The width is perfect.

I want to change out to a 5 lug rear end

Laid_Out_50, Check out the tech tips for rearend swaps, lots of info on the topic.

Can anyone help out?

hey laid_out i just finished with a 69 camero rear on my 39 width is indeed perfect only real mod i had to make on the rear was to take off the camero perches and use the original style sandwitch mounts "one on top and other on botton amd they bolt togather "works perfect"

Hey Daniel are a 39 and a 50 the same width? I am going to use a 4 link and run airbags on my truck. Will a 2nd generation Camaro/Firebird rearend work on my 50

Hi Laid Out 50....I used an '86 Firebird rear end as you can see it fits a treat!
I hope this helps. Oh.... and BTW welcome to the 'bolt!
Here's a later pic showing the airbags and exhaust.
Jock

i beleive they are fairly close laid_out my best freind is building a 54 and he is using a 70 camero rear on his the later 70s and early 80s rear i think were 2" wider and they were limited slip where the early ones most of the time were posi

oh and jockbolter's rear has one advantage over the early ones alot of those types come with rear disk brakes stock

Thanks Guys

welcome LO-50
here is the header above all pages showing a search button
There is LOTS/TONS of info on this subject

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in the driveline section

So any 70's or 80's Camaro or Firebird rearend would work? What is the original width of a 1950 rearend?

lol and make sure and notice the drum measurements

i used a 79 nova but be careful of the final drive ratio. i have a 2.73 and it works for me but also have a t-5 trans from an s-10 and i live in flat country.

I'm running an 89 Camaro diff.....plenty of them in the salvage yards with 3.08, 3.42 and some 3.73 ratios. In fact, any of the 3rd generation Camaro diffs should be the same (62") mounting surface to mounting surface widths. In addition the Camaro sway bar can easily be adapted to work with the AD 39" frame. I just flipped the bottom mounted Camaro setup to the top of the diff, pointing to the front. The Camaro control links installed straight up and required a 3/8" hole on the bottom lip of the frame. The Camaro emergency brake cables tied in with the AD emergency brake setup with a couple cable clamps. Aside from having to scrub off all the coil spring mounting hardware the install was straightforward and most diffs were in the $100-150.00 range. As was pointed out, you need to ID your transmission final gearing,and tire diameter to insure you're going to be matching your R&P ratio. A typical 235 engine makes it's torque way down between 1500-2400 rpms.

BTW...the Camaro diffs are 5 lug on 4-3/4" pattern with plenty of aftermarket rims. I run 4" backspacing on 15X7 w/235/70/15 on the front and 15X8 with the same backspacing on the rear with 255/70/15 tires. With front discs, I have between 5/8-3/4" clearance between the tire sidewall and the tie rod ends and the rims are centered in the rear wheel wells.

Dave

So a Camaro/Firebird axle it is. LOL.

florida and indiana are flat country
gilroy and any place east has mountains around it LO-50
stuck w/ 3.40 & lower

now to change the front to 5 lug

I am doing a complete suspension swap front and back. I am going to use a Jim Weimer IFS airbag kit and use the camaro rearend.