Which rearend fits a 46 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Wvgearhead · 09-10-2010, 06:49 AM

A body of mine picked up a nice 46 project. He is wanting to swap out the original diff for something a little better. Does anyone have a good donor list and the width. I think a gbody montecarlo should be close, but thought I would ask somebody that has already done it.
Thanks
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raycow · 09-10-2010, 02:56 PM

If you still have the stock rear, measure it over the drums and you should get something around 60". This means a G-body will be somewhat too narrow, but it should work ok if you are wanting the deep wheel look. For a closer match to stock, look at 68-74 Nova, 1st gen Camaro, or 4WD S-10. Early Chevelle will work too, if you don't mind dealing with the suspension brackets and lugs. I have used 55-57 passenger car rears in these trucks, but those are getting rather scarce/pricey now.

On a related issue, the stock front track is about 2-1/2" narrower than the rear, so keep this in mind if you are going to an IFS and you want the F&R track to match.

Ray

Wvgearhead · 09-11-2010, 12:52 PM

Thanks raycow,
I read somewhere that the 46 and down was narrower than the AD trucks. I have a 53 and it was suppose to be 58-60. The older was said to be 56-58, but I like to here a couple different opinions.

raycow · 09-11-2010, 04:44 PM

Your figures are probably in the ballpark for track. The AD rear is about 62" over the drums. Track is less because of the offset built into the stock wheels.

I installed a 52 passenger car powerglide rear in a 46 truck and it was almost identical to stock width. That's where I got the 60" drum to drum dimension.

Ray

Wvgearhead · 09-11-2010, 08:32 PM

You are right. My buddy measured the stock rearend today. Drum-drum 60.5 . I went with a 8.8 out of a ford explored for my 53
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raycow · 09-12-2010, 10:45 AM

Would you happen to know the width of the explorer rear? I'm not much good on Ford parts.

Ray

Wvgearhead · 09-12-2010, 12:33 PM

I'm going out to work on the truck here in a few. I ll measure it and post it up.
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Wvgearhead · 09-12-2010, 08:23 PM

95 or 96 explorer with disk brakes 31 spline 8.8 measures 59.5
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raycow · 09-13-2010, 04:31 AM

Thank you for checking. That info could come in useful.

Ray

Muleman100 · 09-13-2010, 02:45 PM

My '41 has a 1982 S-10 rearend, fits well, now I have 5 lugs on back and 6 on the front. That will change when I put a disc brake kit on the front with a 5 lug pattern.

Wvgearhead · 09-13-2010, 04:59 PM

Ok. Thanks
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**Warrens69GMC** · 09-13-2010, 10:14 PM

A 7.5 out of a 82-92 Camaro/Firebird is 60.5 inches.

HarleyT · 09-15-2010, 09:21 PM

when I had my 46 I put a rear end in out of a 76 ish suburban. the axle pads where in the right spot anddidn't require anything. I rolled out the original one and rolled in the new one. Mine was also a 12 bolt truck posi with 373's.
Harley

09-10-2010, 06:49 AM	#1
Wvgearhead Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Charleston Wv Posts: 159	Which rearend fits a 46 A body of mine picked up a nice 46 project. He is wanting to swap out the original diff for something a little better. Does anyone have a good donor list and the width. I think a gbody montecarlo should be close, but thought I would ask somebody that has already done it. Thanks Posted via Mobile Device

09-10-2010, 02:56 PM	#2
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: Which rearend fits a 46 If you still have the stock rear, measure it over the drums and you should get something around 60". This means a G-body will be somewhat too narrow, but it should work ok if you are wanting the deep wheel look. For a closer match to stock, look at 68-74 Nova, 1st gen Camaro, or 4WD S-10. Early Chevelle will work too, if you don't mind dealing with the suspension brackets and lugs. I have used 55-57 passenger car rears in these trucks, but those are getting rather scarce/pricey now. On a related issue, the stock front track is about 2-1/2" narrower than the rear, so keep this in mind if you are going to an IFS and you want the F&R track to match. Ray

09-11-2010, 12:52 PM	#3
Wvgearhead Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Charleston Wv Posts: 159	Re: Which rearend fits a 46 Thanks raycow, I read somewhere that the 46 and down was narrower than the AD trucks. I have a 53 and it was suppose to be 58-60. The older was said to be 56-58, but I like to here a couple different opinions.

09-11-2010, 04:44 PM	#4
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: Which rearend fits a 46 Your figures are probably in the ballpark for track. The AD rear is about 62" over the drums. Track is less because of the offset built into the stock wheels. I installed a 52 passenger car powerglide rear in a 46 truck and it was almost identical to stock width. That's where I got the 60" drum to drum dimension. Ray

09-11-2010, 08:32 PM	#5
Wvgearhead Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Charleston Wv Posts: 159	Re: Which rearend fits a 46 You are right. My buddy measured the stock rearend today. Drum-drum 60.5 . I went with a 8.8 out of a ford explored for my 53 Posted via Mobile Device

09-12-2010, 10:45 AM	#6
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: Which rearend fits a 46 Would you happen to know the width of the explorer rear? I'm not much good on Ford parts. Ray

09-12-2010, 12:33 PM	#7
Wvgearhead Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Charleston Wv Posts: 159	Re: Which rearend fits a 46 I'm going out to work on the truck here in a few. I ll measure it and post it up. Posted via Mobile Device

09-12-2010, 08:23 PM	#8
Wvgearhead Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Charleston Wv Posts: 159	Re: Which rearend fits a 46 95 or 96 explorer with disk brakes 31 spline 8.8 measures 59.5 Posted via Mobile Device

09-13-2010, 04:31 AM	#9
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: Which rearend fits a 46 Thank you for checking. That info could come in useful. Ray

09-13-2010, 02:45 PM	#10
Muleman100 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Crosby, Texas Posts: 377	Re: Which rearend fits a 46 My '41 has a 1982 S-10 rearend, fits well, now I have 5 lugs on back and 6 on the front. That will change when I put a disc brake kit on the front with a 5 lug pattern. __________________ " I never think of the future. It comes soon enough " - Albert Einstein

09-13-2010, 04:59 PM	#11
Wvgearhead Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Charleston Wv Posts: 159	Re: Which rearend fits a 46 Ok. Thanks Posted via Mobile Device

09-13-2010, 10:14 PM	#12
Warrens69GMC Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Safford,AZ Posts: 3,625	Re: Which rearend fits a 46 A 7.5 out of a 82-92 Camaro/Firebird is 60.5 inches. __________________ 1969 307, t350 1950 Chevy Wagon 1978 Big 10 1967 C10, 250,3-OTT

09-15-2010, 09:21 PM	#13
HarleyT Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Memphis,Tn. Posts: 145	Re: Which rearend fits a 46 when I had my 46 I put a rear end in out of a 76 ish suburban. the axle pads where in the right spot anddidn't require anything. I rolled out the original one and rolled in the new one. Mine was also a 12 bolt truck posi with 373's. Harley



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