The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop rear end swap Question

I would like to put a new rear end in my 54 half ton. A newer rear end with a gear ratio of about 3.55 would be best for the way I use the truck. It has an open drive line now and would need to stand up to 250 HP. Does anyone have any sugestions for an easy swap? I would like something that almost bolts in.

I sure do. Get a F**d either 8" or 9" out a a 60's/70/s series. The tag on them tells it all, as far as ratio. The 10 and 12 bolt Chevys use the axle for the inner bearing. If you munch a bearing you have to do an axle and a bearing. The 8" F&*ds are really hard to find in the ratio you want, however they came in the V6 pintos and bobcats and maybe some wagons. The 8" is preferable for your power as the 9" has a pinion angle that uses more power. Maybe get a 55-64 Chavy rear that has the right gears. They were built right. Sorry that I've gone on about this, but the way that the manufacurers have screwed the public has p****ed me off.
Dennis

I got a rearend out of a 66 chevy truck. I got the widest tires my fenders can handle on the ends and the rear is not narrowed or anything. It has a 3.73 rear which was built for a small block chevy. I just welded some mounting pads on the rear end, turned my leaf springs around to center the rear correctly and even my parking brake cables hooked up easy. This rear has the same 6 lug bolt pattern as stock and uses the same wheel cylinders as your stock AD rear. To me it is the perfect swap and you get to stay all GM. Mine holds up to about 275 hp and i have never worried about it. Good luck.

Thanks for the replys. The f*rd 9 inch sounds like the way to go. I think I will take my tape measure and go to the junk yard and seewhat I can find. Is there any thing to watch out for with the 9 inch rear ends?

On the 9-inch there are 31 spline and 28 spline axles. You'll find the 31's in vans and trucks mostly. Also there are some earlier 9-inch's which have a housing without the big hump, and it has two dimples. It almost looks like an 8-inch, but the 3rd member is more rounded and not flat on the top and bottom. I figured out the width of rearend I needed by the wheels I want (3.5" backspacing) and got one out of a '65 thunderbird. It was a 2-dimple 2.70 something, 28 spline. I found that the ring gear is actually 9 3/8? so it is an odd size, but I have another 3rd member I'm going to swap in it with 3.55 gears as soon as I change it to 28 spline.