1966 Rear End Swap
 

Can someone tell me what year truck (car?) rear ends will fit my 1966 chevy pickup? (preferrably posi/5 or 6 lug)

I tried looking in the 1960-66 forum first, but no luck. i guess i'm too computer illiterate.

Thanks,

Tom
Houston, TX

Re: 1966 Rear End Swap
 

You could put any rearend in it that you want, all you have to do is change the axle perches.

Re: 1966 Rear End Swap
 

there are kits out there like this one
http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...ck/6072RCK.htm
looks like it would make it pretty simple and the price isnt bad

Re: 1966 Rear End Swap
 

Tom 63-69 is the same size from drum to drum. 63-64 are a 14 spline axle. 65 and up went to 30. 70-87 is a little bit wider then ours. You can still use this axle you will just have to get the correct back spacing wheels. Also 71 they changed to 5 lug. 63-70 is 6 lug. I hope this helps some.

check out this website. www.car-parts.com just look for axles in texas and you'll find a bunch.

what are your plans with the one you have now and what gears in it?

Re: 1966 Rear End Swap
 

about my old rear end?

i dont know, i havent given it much thought.

it has 3.73 gears (confirmed by counting ring and pinion teeth and dividing the # of ring teeth by the # of pinion teeth)--but i dont think it's posi.

I read on the Internet (yeah, i know...), that limited-slip gears ARE posi-trac gears.

i thought limited-slip only transferred torque/power to one rear wheel. whereas posi-trac transferred torque/power to both rear wheels.

now, i'm totally confused. =(

how do i go about confirming if a rear end is posi or not?

Re: 1966 Rear End Swap
 

another thought...

if i found 2 rear ends--a 63 (14 spline) and a 66 (30 spline), the 30 spline is stronger... correct?

i seem to remember reading that it is.

with my mods (350V8/700R4), i'm guessing i should find a 65-66 rear end.

Re: 1966 Rear End Swap
 

also, are the 65-66 chevy truck rear-ends posi?

Re: 1966 Rear End Swap
 

I got my local diff specialist to weld in a 9 inch Ford head so I have full choice of ratio,s and its still in my 8 lug full floater No cables to change and all stays the same...

Re: 1966 Rear End Swap
 

If by "fit in my truck" you mean "bolt in", then newest is 1972. I think 68-72 are 5 lug. The 30 spline would be a stronger rear than 14 spline, but if you're not beating on it you may never need that extra strength. Are you building a street truck or a drag racer? Gear ratio availability is more relevant I think, but a 3.73 with a 700r4 Sould work nice with a 28 to 30 inch tire height. If you're doing a 5 lug axle swap, just be careful with wheel backspacing. According to Lolife99 in the "track width" thread I started, http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...83#post3595683 ,the 73-87 axles are 3/4 of an inch wider.
Ralph

Re: 1966 Rear End Swap
 

65-69 are the same 30 spline axle, Some are posi and some are open spider gears. 70-87 are wider, but you can bolt them in with the correct backspacing rims. 71-87 are 5 lug rims. 65-70 are 6 lug. Your best bet is to find a axle from 65-69 with a posi or just buy a posi with the correct gears you wanna run.

Re: 1966 Rear End Swap
 

The '71-'87 C10 differentials are 1.5" wider than the '63-'69 C10 differentials. I understand that there is some question on the width of the '70 C10differentials.

Re: 1966 Rear End Swap
 

thanks for the input on the 70 captain I didn't know that!