12 bolt rearend into 1961 Apache

[Ianmattchevy]

I bought a good condition 1967 12 bolt rearend to replace the broken weak 10 bolt in my 61 Apache. I understand rewelding the trailing arm perches but I am not sure how the panhard bar will work. The one that came on the 12 bolt is much shorter and was bent by the PO. Anyone done this swap and any pointers? Thank you

[bonehead]

I had one of those 61's back in the 90's. I replaced the old rear with 4:56 gears with a 12 bolt 3:73 gear from a 1985 suburban. If I remember correctly it was only .75 inches wider each side than the original rear. This is what I did, so use your own judgement, my swap was lo-buck.

I had $50 bucks in the rear end and the plate was scrap from my buddy's fab shop.

I just made my own "U" shaped rear end perches just like the originals out of three pieces of plate, and drilled the same holes as the original had for the U-bolts. I bolted in the 12 bold just sitting in the saddles with the u-bolts in place and not welded to the rear end yet. Let it down to put all the weight on the suspension and set the pinion angle to match the original rear. I tightened up the u-bolts after making sure the new rear has the correct pinion angle and that it is centered in the truck. Tack your new perches to the rear end axle housings.

Then I took the stock pan hard bar and mocked it up like the original. Then the original standoff mounting bracket that was positioned, with the weight on the suspension, where ever in fell on the new rear I tacked it in place. Measure everything until you are satisfied that it all matches the dimensions that you wrote down from the original rear before you removed it.

Take the rear back out and weld the new perches on, and weld the pan hard bar bracket to the rear end. Reassemble everything and bleed the brakes.
Your done.

Let me know if you need any more info. you will need some light fabrication experience.

[verdell]

Originally Posted by Ianmattchevy

I bought a good condition 1967 12 bolt rearend to replace the broken weak 10 bolt in my 61 Apache. I understand rewelding the trailing arm perches but I am not sure how the panhard bar will work. The one that came on the 12 bolt is much shorter and was bent by the PO. Anyone done this swap and any pointers? Thank you

I've ran '65/66 rear ends in 3 different Apaches and what I did was weld two different panhard bars together with a slight bend to fit the Apache frame and the newer 12 bolt rear end. The current 12 bolt has been under the truck since maybe 2005.

[60short]

ive got a squarebody (78) rear end in my 60 (and yes, I believe .75 in wider on each end) - we used captain fabs brackets, and the stock trailing arms and panhard bar, I would have done the rear diff gear change at the same time, but install wise, no major issues!

[AcampoDave]

I did it just like Bonehead but instead of making new perches, I carefully removed the OEM ones with a grinder and a Sawzall and reused them.