The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 53 cab on s10 frame

Will the s10 rear end need to be swapped?
What rear end will accomodate a 53 bed width?

2 wheel drive rear will need swapped. Don't listen when they say the 4x4 rear end works. $200 rear end needed $100 spacers to make it fit. Get a Hardbody 4x4 rear and it should fit or get deep offset rims with a stock 4x4.

I disagree. On S10s, the 4x4 rear axle is a bolt in. Spring pads are in the same place, wheel bolt pattern is the same. The axle is just wider. No spacers should be needed.

Have you done this Bill? I'm living it right now with a 93 4x4 axle that we spent $200 on. Rolled it in and then put the bed on. Bed didn't go down, hit the tires. Another $100 on spacers to get the bed on.

What wheel off set spacing are you using?

you can not use the 4x4 negative offset wheels.

I've never done the swap as far as a chassis swap goes, but I've been working on S 10s going on 20 years, plus have owned one for 15. As noted, the bolt pattern for the wheels is the same as 2wd (5 x 4.75), so one can simply use 2 wd S10 wheels, or GM RWD passenger car wheels. Those will get you the correct backspacing. IIRC, the 4x4 axle is about 4" wider overall than the 2wd.

I'd like jump in here, I've got two s-10 rearends, one out of a blazer the other out of a 4x4 pickup, and I had to use 2" spacers to get it under my 53 3100.

Hey Yakima

Thanks for the info. What year blazer did you pull the rear end out of?

I've got an S10 Blazer 4X4 Rear under my 47 (on an 87 S10). The beds not setting on there right now but I had it on there to test fit it was close but did fit. This is with 15 inch 2wd S-10 Rally wheels with factory Tiger Paws. If memory serves the AD bed is 50 inches maybe 50.25 to the outside. The Blazer rear was 52 measuring from the rubber in the middle of the inside of the sidewall. So pretty close. Like any rear end swap it all depends on what wheels and tires you plan on running, and what look your going for. I have no idea what the offset is of the stock Rally wheel, I can pull one and measure as soon as I move some stuff in the garage next weekend.
I do know that the 2WD S-10 rear is 54 from mounting face to mounting face and the 4WD is 59. that's for the drum rear. I sold the disc rears I had so I can't confirm the measurements for them.
I went with the 4X4 Blazer rear at the time because a guy I knew was parting one and let me have it for $50. I had planned on switching to the disc rear but never got around to it and ended up selling 2 now so maybe I'll actually switch it out to the disc next time I come across one.
Mongo

I left the stock 2wd rear end in mine, and tubbed the bed about 4" on each side to clear Iroc wheels. They sit inside the fenders enough that I want to do something about it, likely the 4wd rear end swap at some point. But at least this way I can take my time and pretty much do what I please and know I'm not going to have wheel clearance issues. I actually think it looks kind of cool in the end, I used sections of the original S10 bed sheel wells for my tubs and I like the look of it.