What's the diff?

[LostMy65]

The track bar you have now may be fine.
I also had trouble getting the 65 track bar to work on the 62 frame mount location.
It pushed my wheels to one side.
If your truck is at the ride height you want and your rear wheels are the same distance to the fenders on both sides of your truck, then don't worry about the track bar.
.
I only mentioned the track bar because another member said something about getting the 'factory' track bar mount. I didn't think it would be a good idea to try and make the 62 factory track bar work, but rather get an adjustable one.
.

[WOLFMANmike]

Originally Posted by RBW

I welcome and appreciate advice on anything about this rear end set up. I'm just learning what it is, and would now like to learn what can or should be done to make it right.

BTW, the gum and bailing wire comment was overly kind. I was thinking more along the lines of hammered dog crap.

Is there a benefit to running the shocks behind the axle? I was considering replacing the crap mounts, but other than reducing the angle, putting them pretty much back where they are now.

Your welcome brother anytime

[LostMy65]

I looked at mine.
My 12-bolt came from a longbed, the e-brake cables were too long, so I did this :

https://www.s3i.co.uk/stainless-stee...e-standard.php

[vince1]

I had a 64 diff with the long track bar in my 66 for a while and had to stress the bar quite a bit to get the bolt in. It would probably be the same trying to line up the short track bar where there was previously a long one. The brackets on the frame are different. You wouldn't want to have one of the ends break off. If the after market track bars have swivel ends then having those would probably eliminate that problem.

Do you have the E-brake handle coming out of the floor or attached at the column and what parts do you have?

[RBW]

The e-brake is under the column. Appears that everything is there, except the rear cables were the wrong ones. They were attached at the front to the t-bar and clipped into the backing plate at the rear. The only thing holding the rest of the cable were zip ties. If you look at the last photo I posted, you can see a bracket, located under the coil spring perch. I'm wondering if the proper cable would attach here.

[vince1]

Mine is a 66 and it is one cable from one wheel up towards the cross member where it attaches to the front cable and back to the other wheel. At each wheel there is a piece of outer jacket about 3' long, back end into the backing plate and front end into a gusset on the side of the whatchamacallit triangle rear end braces that go up to the cross member. I don't know what cables you need to make yours work but as you have the column mounted handle it might be just as easy to convert it to the 66 way. But I don't know anything other than a 66 so take what I say with a grain of salt.

[vince1]

Oops, not a continuous cable all the way around. Two short pieces back at the wheels. I'll try to get the picture attached.

[RBW]

Originally Posted by vince1

Oops, not a continuous cable all the way around. Two short pieces back at the wheels. I'll try to get the picture attached.

That photo really helps. I was thinking the cables probably attached to the trailing arms somewhere along the way. That's probably what these brackets are for on my truck.

[jtrichard]

Could have been But pretty far back.. I would think to far back..... been looking for 60/62 pic of rear cables in stalled no luck yet

[RBW]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

Could have been But pretty far back.. I would think to far back..... been looking for 60/62 pic of rear cables in stalled no luck yet

Thanks for checking on that. I'd also like to see the '65 set up, if you happen across a pic of that system.

[notsolo]

I put the same axle under my 62 panel 25yrs ago. I think it was out of a 72...12 bolt 373 gears. Pan hard bar is in the same location right on the pumkin, and shocks are mounted in original location in the rear. I don't remember what I did with the e brake cables but I do have a extra set, I can measure them, panel truck wheel base is 115". Is your truck a short or long bed?

[RBW]

It's shot bed.

[RBW]

Originally Posted by RBW

It's shot bed.

Short bed

[notsolo]

Your e-brake cable bracket on the trailing arm is correct. outer jacket is short and bare cable goes up to the flat bar. Sorry photo's could be better. I used these same cables on mine, with the "72" 12 bolt rear. Worked well.

[RBW]

Excellent!