Inliners International Forums General Discussion Drive Train Rear End for 54

I am looking for wisdom...235 dual carb, fenton dual exhaust, .30 over, moderate RV cam, with TH 350. I live in mountains but want to drive 70+ on freeway when I get out of town. Is there a simple bolt in rear end or do I have to go ford 9 " and make modifications.
12/03 A little addl. info... No I am not driving this ride yet,Just bolted up th350 using Buffalos' trans adapter the car is about 2' in the air,I just dropped the stock rearend out and loaded up to go to junkyard lookin, when I thought it would be wise to get some wisdom.I measured my stock backing plate to backing plate at 56" and 45"3/4 cntr to cntr on springs. The 2x S-10 I measured was only 46" to the backing plates is the 4x wider?
I still have the HEI ign,12 volt change and fenton exh system to work out, but man are we havin fun! If you all have the time I can use all the help and encouragement you got. thanks BA Dave

[This message has been edited by 54 Bel Air Dave (edited 12-02-2003).]

Easiest unit for that swap lately would be a rear end out of the Chevy S-10 4 X 4. It's 5 lug same pattern as your front wheels and gear ratios are about right. A friend is running such a rear under his 51 coupe so should be same as the 54. Only mods necessary would be spring mounts.

Another possibility would be a 55-64 car rearend, with the 55-57 ones allready having spring perches, the 58-64's are coil and will need perches welded on. Also keep in mind that the centerline of your stock rearend is not centered over the spring bolt, so adjust your new one accordingly. Driveshaft will need to be made/modified, shocks, brakelines, emergency brake cables, etc... Some say the stock springs are not adequate for using with an open rearend (wrap up from torque), but I couldn't say personnally. Common ratios are 3:08 3:36 3:56 3:70 4:11.
Another option is the late 60's thru 70's Nova/Camaro. Same changes as above. Wider range of gears available.

Is this car allready setup and drivable with the changes you mention as well as an open rearend, or ???

Like was stated the 55-57 rear is a good choice. I think the 58-64 might be a little too wide. I believe the spring perches are offset by 1 3/4" from the centreline. My '54 HTP has a 55-57 diff in it and the width is good.

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Ontario Inliners

1940 Chev Sedan
1954 Chev Custom
1965 Chev Pick-up

55-64 should be the same. My '57 and '59 are anyway. I believe the axle bearings on the 55-56 ones aren't as good though, so try for a '57 or newer.

The reason I ask for more info is if you are currently driving it, and your only concern is faster highway crusin at lower rpm's, you may find that switching to a 2004R may be a better solution than a rearend change. It will give you a good overdrive ratio for crusing, but won't hurt hill climing or launching like a real low rear gear might. It is closer in size to the TH350 than the 700R4 is. Hooking up the TV cable correctly and modifying the tranny mount should be the worst of it (if you allready have a TH350). Just a thought.

GMDad, are you using the stock springs yet?

The rearend was in the car when I bought it but they sure look like the stock spring and shock setup. You are correct on the 55-56 bearing not being as good as the 57 and newer style.

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Ontario Inliners

1940 Chev Sedan
1954 Chev Custom
1965 Chev Pick-up

[This message has been edited by GMDad (edited 12-03-2003).]

Hi
Just went thru this myself in Sept. Have a 53 Chevy BelAir and my engine is similar to yours. Had the powerglide and put in a S-10 T5 trans. Wanted to use a tri-five rearend but couldn't locate on around here. So, used a 73 Nove rearend. The Nove measures the same from backing plate to backing plate, 54 1\2 inches. Had to weld on new spring perches and used longer U-bolts. I used the stock shock mounts. Also used my original springs. Even with 2 in. lowering blocks it still rides and handles surprisingly well. First gear is a little short but out on the hiway it runs 70 MPH at 2300 RPM's. Because the Nove rearend was a junkyard dog had replace the ring & pinion and went with a 3:42 ration. If you are interested in more details you can e-mail @lukelucas424@aol.com.

One more plug for the S-10 4 X 4 rear end. They are everywhere and relativly new when compared to a 57 and first finding a 57 unit then second, surely having to search for parts to repair. I had a 57 rear under a 48 Chevy car, it was the correct width, but the spring saddles were a bit to widely spaced, so had to address that. If you rebush the springs and renew the shackles on the 54, those springs will be fine.
Belive the S-10 unit under my friends car is 3:42 ratio. BTW the 2 wheel drive S-10s are great for the older and smaller cars, early to mid 30s.

Hello, I though I might say something here that might be usable. I noticed that everyone who wrote here refererred to the rear end measurements between the "backing plates". This can get you into trouble.Always measrure rear ends to the outside of the drums. This will give the over-all widths. Some rear ends measure the same between backing plates but the brake shoe width is different or the backing plates are recessed or flat, so the over-all width changes.Some Pass.Car measurements: 49-54 Chevy overall width=59"; 55-64 chevy overall width=60"
64-67 Nova 5-lug=58"; 68-81--Camaro,Nova,Firebird,Ventura,=61 1/2"
Paul

[This message has been edited by paulweldit (edited 12-08-2003).]

I never use backplate dimensions for the same reasons.

Don't forget to take into consideration the wheels you are using. Wheels come in all different offsets and if you are buying new wheels you can order them in almost any offset that you want. If you want a deep dish look then you need a narrower rear axle and more wheel offset. Everything has to fit in the wheel wells.

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Gael
37 chevy sedan, 261,t5
57 pickup
58 burb

Thanks fellas
I'll be looking for the S-10 4x rearend right after the holidays.
Merry Christmas to all

Yes, the S-10 rear end will be easier to find, but remember that with the '57 unit, a change in ratio is as simple as swapping the pumpkin. And yes, the spring perches on the tri-5 rear axle don't exactly line up with your springs. You would have to drill the spot welds, adjust and reweld.

Man I sure appreciate all the feed back on the rearend! I went and checked out the s-10 4x4 and it won't work. the perches on the 54 need to be 47" out to out and the inside of the backing plates on the s-10 measures only 46".
I am going to look into Nova and Camarro world.
This is how we learn!
Is anyone going to the Turlock Swap Meet Jan 24-25 ?

Dave,

Dont be afraid of using axles with a different spring perch width. A careful hour with an angle grinder, a few smacks with a big hammer and the perches can be removed. Most trailer equipment supply places can sell you a new pair of perches for under $30 and you can put them exactly where they need to be and weld them in place. Be sure to set your pinion angle to match that of the tail shaft on your transmission. Should be able to complete the swap on a Saturday if you are handy with this kind of thing, if not, invite a friend over who is.

You say the inside of the backing plates are only 46" wide. Are you sure you were looking at a rear end from a 4X4? The s10 2wd are narrower. I am using an s10 Blazer 4x4 under my 37 and it was just right. Had to move the perchers to the right spot.

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Gael
37 chevy sedan, 261,t5
57 pickup
58 burb

Hey Dude yes I messed up and got a 2wd then exchanged for 4wd and it will be perfect! Thanks
Dave

All you guys that have swapped out the original 53-54 rear ends...I need a set of 15 inch /5 bolt rims for my 54 so I can mount the original hub caps. Anyone out there have a set?

Gentlemen! I finally got to start my engine! Long haul. One year later. I got intent in March with the completion(does this happen?) and the last Sunday my engine builder and a buddy came over and we fired it up,two days later I welded some 2' flex pipes to some flanges and at 5:30 am I put in the ear plugs rolled down the windows and barreled down to the muffler shop 40 miles down the freeway. It goes well but the ratio is low,3000rpm/60mph. I'll have to get taller tires. Man, did I pick the right guy! 26" glass packs straight out the back this baby loves to rap! Not my last car, paint next! Thanks everyone. BA Dave...

Way to go there Dave. Now you need to shop for that 700r4 with overdrive! Hope to see you in Lodi at the BIG picnic Sept 12th.

Yeah HiTork We'll be down to Lodi finally. Are any inliners interested in making a run up to my area, we have a car show and dance in August...We are in Garden Valley 95633. Let me know. Also if you like to parade we have one on July 4th.
Later! 54 Bel Air Dave

Man you learn alot when you just jump in! Thanks to everyone for putting up with my knucklehead questions!
54 is running great and will be down in Sept.
Mean time we have a car show and dance in our park on August 14th. Garden Valley, 95633
( 5 miles above Coloma, where Gold was discovered in 1849!) Registration is just $15 and includes t shirt!If interested call my pals Nanci and Byron Pethman 530 333-4729. We would love to have one and all up here in Gods' Country