Rear end for J body

[Doubt_Incarnate]

i didnt know where to put this really, since its drivetrain related i figured trannies was good place to ask.

Ive been long contemplating eventualy making my cavi rwd, i know there is a lot of work involved, but that why i said eventualy. I'd like to not have to modify a rear end to fit, does anyone know what gm vehicals might have a live rear axle that would be the right width? I was thinking the s-10, or 3rd gen f-body, the ones with rwd offset wheels. i'd like to use fwd wheels and hope everything comes out to be the right width.

[Wolf]

RE: Rear end for J body

a rear out of a rwd h body (vega, monza etc) would prolly come closest to fitting... also the 8" ford rear from a mustang II should be close

[Doubt_Incarnate]

would those hold up? im not up on what the monzas and vega's had in them but one reason i'm not thinking of the chevvete rear end, tho its probbly the closest, is i hear they are weak. as far as the ford, im trying to stay with gm parts for my chevy.

[geoffinbc]

First off how much power? The S-10 and the Camaro only had the 7 5/8". However if you look for a late model S-10 with ZQ8 suspension and a 5 speed you will find an 8.5" with disc brakes

I think the S-10 axle would be a close size but I have never measured one. I know if you go over to s-series.org you will find your info.

[bszopi]

You can always just cut the tubes, reweld them and get custom axles. That's what I'd do...

[sharkey]

ive heard of people wanting to use s10 chassis with j-bodies bacause they are very close in width (something like 1/2" difference). im guessing the axle from an s10 would be closest.

[Doubt_Incarnate]

cool, i'd like to get away from modiying the axel tubes and having to get custom axels made, just for availability sake, so if i need an axel its not gonna have to be a special order. as far as power, its would be a near maximum effort N/A motor, so it would be under 300 most likely, i dont think id have to worry about an s-10 peice failing since people put v8's in those truks. i'd like that zq8 setup with disc brakes, would that also haved an lsd? i'll have to keep that in mind.

[sharkey]

i was thinking of building a rwd cavy. was going to use a mazda 929 rear end. its irs and has its own subframe, and is the perfect width for a 2nd gen. the only downside is its not that strong.

i was planning on doing that with subframe braces to reinforce the car, cut out a tranny tunnel and box the firewall. powering it would be a twin turbo 3.4 tdc backed up with a 5 speed. i figure id be happy with 350-400hp, it would deffinitly be something different. i may build it eventualy when i have the time and money, however firsat i have a lot of other things i would like to build up, smaller more realistic projects for were i am at in life.

[Doubt_Incarnate]

lol, yeah more realistic... but if luck can smile on me for a bit longer i'm sure i'll have this car forever.

i know with the way the back of the J is set up you could almost just put an axle back there in place of the beam or make your own trailing arms and that would be about it. if i remeber correctly, the shocks bolt to the arm but the springs are seated inline the the path the axle would take, so to actualy "throw" a live setup in looks like it wouldnt be too hard. but its also been a while since ive been under the car, and since for every action there is a reaction, that would be puting an action in a place it was never meant to be, and would probly have a bad reaction.

I'd put enough of a subframe in to make sure that everything would live, I was thinking of a 4 link kind of setup and since youd need to do some work up front to make the motor fit in the orientation, front and rear subframes, and probly some subframe connectors since mines a ragtop.

thanks for all the helpfull info BTW

[geoffinbc]

cool, i'd like to get away from modiying the axel tubes and having to get custom axels made, just for availability sake, so if i need an axel its not gonna have to be a special order. as far as power, its would be a near maximum effort N/A motor, so it would be under 300 most likely, i dont think id have to worry about an s-10 peice failing since people put v8's in those truks. i'd like that zq8 setup with disc brakes, would that also haved an lsd? i'll have to keep that in mind.

Yes since all ZQ8 packages came with LSD (G80 RPO Code)

[RebelGT]

my Zq8 didn't have disk brakes, or a limited slip, and it was a 7.625" rear end...

[Doubt_Incarnate]

ok, so i should look for the axel from an SS s-10? or the extreme?

[geoffinbc]

my Zq8 didn't have disk brakes, or a limited slip, and it was a 7.625" rear end...

Wasent late model enough. I think it is only in 2000+ or something and it might have only been blazers according to this post.

http://forums.s-series.org/viewtopic.php?t=33490&highlight=exist

Oh and its got dimensions there too.

[smilinguy99]

Re: Rear end for J body

i didnt know where to put this really, since its drivetrain related i figured trannies was good place to ask.

I've been long contemplating eventualy making my cavi rwd, i know there is a lot of work involved, but that why i said eventualy. I'd like to not have to modify a rear end to fit, does anyone know what gm vehicals might have a live rear axle that would be the right width? I was thinking the s-10, or 3rd gen f-body, the ones with rwd offset wheels. i'd like to use fwd wheels and hope everything comes out to be the right width.

Chances are just about any rearend you choose is not going to be exactly the width flange to flange that you need. And if it isn't exact, it will be obvious.

I would encourage you to look into getting a 9-inch Ford either made to width or cut down from some production rear. It likely won't be as expensive as you thought. Axles flanges could be made to register your stock wheels if that's what you want and of course, the BC could be made to order as well.

Some places that make stuff for this rearend don't have many stocking items. Pretty much all they do is custom length tubes and axles.

The additional benefit of a 9-inch is there are zillions of suppliers for every single part, lightweight, or heavy duty, or dirt cheap not a problem, and of course strength would never ever be a problem.

Tube ends, brake brackets, iron steel or alloy center sections, alloy housings, cheap steel housings, whatever you want you could find about a dozen suppliers for any of any of them if you choose the 9-inch.

RWD for the J is a cool idea. So cool you'd think someone would make a conversion kit for this very thing. Hmmmm...

[1QUICKHATCH]

Re: Rear end for J body

i didnt know where to put this really, since its drivetrain related i figured trannies was good place to ask.

I've been long contemplating eventualy making my cavi rwd, i know there is a lot of work involved, but that why i said eventualy. I'd like to not have to modify a rear end to fit, does anyone know what gm vehicals might have a live rear axle that would be the right width? I was thinking the s-10, or 3rd gen f-body, the ones with rwd offset wheels. i'd like to use fwd wheels and hope everything comes out to be the right width.

Chances are just about any rearend you choose is not going to be exactly the width flange to flange that you need. And if it isn't exact, it will be obvious.

I would encourage you to look into getting a 9-inch Ford either made to width or cut down from some production rear. It likely won't be as expensive as you thought. Axles flanges could be made to register your stock wheels if that's what you want and of course, the BC could be made to order as well.

Some places that make stuff for this rearend don't have many stocking items. Pretty much all they do is custom length tubes and axles.

The additional benefit of a 9-inch is there are zillions of suppliers for every single part, lightweight, or heavy duty, or dirt cheap not a problem, and of course strength would never ever be a problem.

Tube ends, brake brackets, iron steel or alloy center sections, alloy housings, cheap steel housings, whatever you want you could find about a dozen suppliers for any of any of them if you choose the 9-inch.

RWD for the J is a cool idea. So cool you'd think someone would make a conversion kit for this very thing. Hmmmm...

depends on what is going to be used for a power plant. the 9" ford robs more power then a GM 12 bolt, but the 9"is stronger. I would just use a 7.5 10 bolt from an s-10 I beleave the was the closest one that would fit next to the vega/monza.