what is supposed to come first? (rear end topic) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

vintage_car · 12-23-2010, 05:05 PM

newb on the s10 swap, and really first time hitting a project of this size...

What comes first on deciding the rear end? Ride height, tires/rims, the actual rear end? I really don't want to be buying parts and trying to make things fit. I would rather have it planned out on paper and buy the right parts that fit together.
What I know is I have a bone stock 350 and 350 trans, I'm not looking to use this as real truck, this is for cruising around, bone stock 350 is fine for me, some highway driving will be done (40/60- hwy/city). I won't be pulling anything with the truck either.
After lots of reading and some pm's- the 4x4 blazer rear end needs spacers- I'm not keen on that. 2nd gen camaro has drums, I'd like all disc- but not opposed to the rear drum setup, 3rd gen camaro is weak (read this in a few post), 94-01 explorer 8.8 is a solid rear end, but hubs needs to be re-drilled for chevy 5 lug.

So my mind is mushy and I'm looking for clarity.

BlueJeep · 12-25-2010, 02:51 PM

I believe the explorer 8.8 is a little narrower than the 4wd s10 axles, so you're at the same width concern there. Any of the axles you mentioned will work fine, so you might just see what you can find and what fits the budget. I personally used the 4wd s10 rear axle because I had one and it bolted in. I used spacers to get my tires to fit the fenders without tubbing the bed. I'd have no issues with the 8.8 if I had one of those, and then I'd run conversion adapters/spacers to go from the 5 on 4.5" to 5 on 4.75" bolt pattern.

**chev3600** · 12-25-2010, 04:40 PM

A lot depends on what wheels and tires you'll be running. Since custom wheels can be ordered in a number of different offsets and bolt patterns for sure, if that is your route, pick the rear end first. I found that the explorer rear end with lug conversion spacers fit the wheels I already had perfectly. The spacers are real solid and a bone stock 350 likely wont torture anything. 2 cents.

vintage_car · 12-26-2010, 07:41 PM

what is a decent year for the s10 4x4 rear? any models to stay away from or look for? One other item is, why is the 2wd rear end not a choice one to use?

BlueJeep · 12-27-2010, 11:08 AM

2wd is about 5" narrower than 4wd, that's why we don't run that one. Any year s10 4wd will work, but 98 and up Blazer rears are disc brakes.

12-23-2010, 05:05 PM	#1
vintage_car Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 198	what is supposed to come first? (rear end topic) newb on the s10 swap, and really first time hitting a project of this size... What comes first on deciding the rear end? Ride height, tires/rims, the actual rear end? I really don't want to be buying parts and trying to make things fit. I would rather have it planned out on paper and buy the right parts that fit together. What I know is I have a bone stock 350 and 350 trans, I'm not looking to use this as real truck, this is for cruising around, bone stock 350 is fine for me, some highway driving will be done (40/60- hwy/city). I won't be pulling anything with the truck either. After lots of reading and some pm's- the 4x4 blazer rear end needs spacers- I'm not keen on that. 2nd gen camaro has drums, I'd like all disc- but not opposed to the rear drum setup, 3rd gen camaro is weak (read this in a few post), 94-01 explorer 8.8 is a solid rear end, but hubs needs to be re-drilled for chevy 5 lug. So my mind is mushy and I'm looking for clarity.

12-25-2010, 02:51 PM	#2
BlueJeep Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Waukee, Iowa Posts: 1,608	Re: what is supposed to come first? (rear end topic) I believe the explorer 8.8 is a little narrower than the 4wd s10 axles, so you're at the same width concern there. Any of the axles you mentioned will work fine, so you might just see what you can find and what fits the budget. I personally used the 4wd s10 rear axle because I had one and it bolted in. I used spacers to get my tires to fit the fenders without tubbing the bed. I'd have no issues with the 8.8 if I had one of those, and then I'd run conversion adapters/spacers to go from the 5 on 4.5" to 5 on 4.75" bolt pattern. __________________ build threads: 86 Suburban 88 Jeep 6.0 swap 49 Chevy truck 54 Chevy wagon 86 Suburban lowered 4/6 54 Chevy wagon 49 Chevy/s10 mix 88 Jeep Wrangler rockcrawler

12-25-2010, 04:40 PM	#3
chev3600 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 444	Re: what is supposed to come first? (rear end topic) A lot depends on what wheels and tires you'll be running. Since custom wheels can be ordered in a number of different offsets and bolt patterns for sure, if that is your route, pick the rear end first. I found that the explorer rear end with lug conversion spacers fit the wheels I already had perfectly. The spacers are real solid and a bone stock 350 likely wont torture anything. 2 cents. __________________ 1949/1954 with LS swap-yeah! http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/i...0/AD%20trucks/jumbled mess of unorganized photos

12-26-2010, 07:41 PM	#4
vintage_car Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 198	Re: what is supposed to come first? (rear end topic) what is a decent year for the s10 4x4 rear? any models to stay away from or look for? One other item is, why is the 2wd rear end not a choice one to use? Last edited by vintage_car; 12-26-2010 at 07:43 PM.

12-27-2010, 11:08 AM	#5
BlueJeep Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Waukee, Iowa Posts: 1,608	Re: what is supposed to come first? (rear end topic) 2wd is about 5" narrower than 4wd, that's why we don't run that one. Any year s10 4wd will work, but 98 and up Blazer rears are disc brakes. __________________ build threads: 86 Suburban 88 Jeep 6.0 swap 49 Chevy truck 54 Chevy wagon 86 Suburban lowered 4/6 54 Chevy wagon 49 Chevy/s10 mix 88 Jeep Wrangler rockcrawler



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.