Craigslist find 12 bolt/ rear end swap Q's

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Found this http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/pts/2138742062.html it's a 12 bolt rear from a 71 c10 and I was wondering with a 56'1/2 spacing between backing plates if it would fit in my 86 c10? I'm looking at changing gearing and or rear ends to get rid of my pos 2.73 10 bolt open end diff, I'm not sure if the truck 12 bolts were any good for drag or if it's hard to switch the 12 to a 5/5 lug axle if you have any suggestions on what I should do for the rear drivtrain? Any input would be much appreciated. And no ford 9 will not be ever come close to my truck lol
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[Dapper Dan]

Hey, you may already may know it, but it will not just bolt in it has spring perches for a coil sprung truck. So you would need to weld on new perches. 56 1/2 seems a little narrow mine measures 58" backing plate to backing plate. That may just be difference in where we are measuring. As far as strength I believe the weak spot is the c-clips but companies sell elimination kits for those. Here is an article with a comparison between 12 and 9, some good info
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...son/index.html

[INSIDIOUS '86]

I do know I need to weld in spring perches an c clips eliminators are a given to me so is it possible to lengthen the rear tubes? As I remember correctly the rear wield on or stock trucks are still narrower than the front
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[Big Port Jimmy 6]

Dude, just try to find a 73 up, it fits, and they made scads of them. The 71-72 rear end is more valuable to the early truck guys also. You are making more work for your self otherwise. Jay

[87 chevy silverado]

if u were closer i am tring to get ride of a 12 bolt only thing is dont know the gears and missing the break stuff and studs

[LostMy65]

You call that a find?

Here's a find:
http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/pts/2140787452.html

And it's exactly what you're looking for.

Not too bad a drive for you either

[INSIDIOUS '86]

I'm planing on having a fresh drivetrain I just put in my stroker engin and am building a 2004r getting my drivshaft custom made I'm just looking to build myself a 12 bolt or a Dana 60 maybe
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[SCOTI]

For the record, 67-72 rear suspensions can be leaf or coil & the 71-72's are the same width as your post-73 housing.

Truck 12bolts are weaker than the perf/pass-car housings because of a smaller pinion bearing. GM 10bolt housings can survive a significant amount of abuse though. There's a butt-load of 3400# f-bodies & Buick GN's in the 9's-10's using them. Think of them as the same thing as Ford's 8.8 (8.8 vs 9"; 10bolt vs. 12bolt). I would do a 12bolt swap if I already had access to a built unit. Otherwise, I'd spend the coin on what's already in your posession.

[codydubb]

QUOTE: You call that a find?

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/pts/2140787452.html

And it's exactly what you're looking for.

Not too bad a drive for you either

Decent deal but that would be a six lug not a five lug. You would have to swap axles or get diff rims blah check the junk yards there were a million 2wd 1/2 tons i got mine for $100 bucks 3.73 gears with a detroit locker....some people dont know what they have!

[codydubb]

i forgot you were trying to upgrade then again i have abused the holy @#$% out of my ten bolt and it still holds up just fine

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by codydubb

Decent deal but that would be a six lug not a five lug. You would have to swap axles or get diff rims blah check the junk yards there were a million 2wd 1/2 tons i got mine for $100 bucks 3.73 gears with a detroit locker....some people dont know what they have!

30-spline 5-lug 73-87 axles would be a direct swap where those 30-spline 73-87 6-lug axles sit.

[codydubb]

Didnt know that guess it would be a big deal then...learned something new today

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Scoti that was the kind of info I was looking for exactly I heard that the truck 12 bolt was different just didn't think it was strengthwise As for the 10 bolt I haven't been really finding any performance axles other than stock 27 spline replacements which I doubt I would want to rely on to get me to 11 sec passes so how hard would it be for me to get a passenger car 12 bolt to fit? Is it worth the trouble?
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[SCOTI]

You can find 10bolt posi's, gears, & 30-spline axles from most aftermarket manufacturers.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Will a 10 bolt hold with slicks and mid to low 19 sec passes? That's what's in this trucks future so I hope it holds
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