Rear end question?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

still w.i.p '68 · 01-10-2003, 10:26 PM

I tore apart my rear end tonight, That I'd plan on using in my '68,
It is a 5 lug, that I got out of a '71, along with the disk brake front end,

when I got into it , the spider gears are wore out, along with the shaft, My question is, shoud I hunt for new spider gears( I have another 71 rearend, that could be in the same or worst shape, also have a '68 six lug rearend(that I beleive the spider gears will interchange), or with a hopped up 454 W/ turbo 400, should I look for a different rearend? with lower gears?

current gears are 3.08, do I need lower gears?
This will not be a daily driver, It will be a romper stomper week end toy, that I hope to out run some folks with....
what are ya'lls thoughts, and opinions

still w.i.p '68 · 01-11-2003, 11:59 AM

Anybody??

JimKshortstep4x4 · 01-11-2003, 04:13 PM

With a 454 and how you are going to drive it, I would be looking at a 3:73 to 1 differential. I would go with a new posi carrier and gear set. The new posi's are not too bad in cost now and you can get a good one for under $300, (Tom's Differentials is one vendor) . I think new gears are around $150 and the bearing installation kit is around $100. This would give you a good strong rear end and let you play!

JIm

still w.i.p '68 · 01-11-2003, 05:37 PM

Yeah I would love a posi, and the 3.73 ratio I think would be a better ratio, now for a new question, what trucks sould I look for to pirate a rearend out of, for lower gears is there something to look for, I could buy gears, and a posi unit, but would rather put money else where...

Mike C · 01-11-2003, 08:06 PM

I would be surprised if that six lug rear you have wasn't 3.73. Unless it is a '70. If it IS a '70, you could just swap the 71 axles into the housing along with brake drums. If it is a '69 you can swap the ring and pinion along with the carrier into your housing. While not precise, the machining on the housings is reasonable consistent, and it would be a good learing experience

As noted, the easiest thing you can do is just swap the spiders and side gears along with the cross shaft into the '71. They only get torn up like that two ways. Driving a long time with a flat or two different size rear tires OR Peg Leg burnouts.

neonlarry · 01-11-2003, 10:43 PM

I was told that the 3.73 gears have a 41 tooh ring gear, and 11 tooh pinion. So, they would have 41..11 stamped in the gears. I think they came in the 6 cylender trucks, but unless you happen to come across one in a self service yard, I would just get new gears, because at least all of the places I talked to sell an axle with 3.73 gears for about $5-600.

mikep · 01-11-2003, 10:48 PM

I see them all the time in the paper for $200-$300. The junkyard is the absolute last place to buy rear ends.

neonlarry · 01-12-2003, 01:08 AM

I wish I lived in your area. If I found one in Pick & Pull it would be like $160, but any of the places around here that sell chevy parts don't even usually have them, and if they do thay are $$$.

mikep · 01-12-2003, 01:11 AM

You dont want to live here ! It rains too damned much! That more than makes up for the abundance of cheap old chevy truck parts.

01-10-2003, 10:26 PM	#1
still w.i.p '68 Dreams are free Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hogansville Texas Posts: 546	Rear end question?? I tore apart my rear end tonight, That I'd plan on using in my '68, It is a 5 lug, that I got out of a '71, along with the disk brake front end, when I got into it , the spider gears are wore out, along with the shaft, My question is, shoud I hunt for new spider gears( I have another 71 rearend, that could be in the same or worst shape, also have a '68 six lug rearend(that I beleive the spider gears will interchange), or with a hopped up 454 W/ turbo 400, should I look for a different rearend? with lower gears? current gears are 3.08, do I need lower gears? This will not be a daily driver, It will be a romper stomper week end toy, that I hope to out run some folks with.... what are ya'lls thoughts, and opinions __________________ '68 swb fleetside originally w.i.p '68 member since 1-01 w.i.p = ( work in progress )

01-11-2003, 11:59 AM	#2
still w.i.p '68 Dreams are free Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hogansville Texas Posts: 546	Anybody?? __________________ '68 swb fleetside originally w.i.p '68 member since 1-01 w.i.p = ( work in progress )

01-11-2003, 05:37 PM	#4
still w.i.p '68 Dreams are free Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hogansville Texas Posts: 546	Yeah I would love a posi, and the 3.73 ratio I think would be a better ratio, now for a new question, what trucks sould I look for to pirate a rearend out of, for lower gears is there something to look for, I could buy gears, and a posi unit, but would rather put money else where... __________________ '68 swb fleetside originally w.i.p '68 member since 1-01 w.i.p = ( work in progress )

01-11-2003, 08:06 PM	#5
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,715	I would be surprised if that six lug rear you have wasn't 3.73. Unless it is a '70. If it IS a '70, you could just swap the 71 axles into the housing along with brake drums. If it is a '69 you can swap the ring and pinion along with the carrier into your housing. While not precise, the machining on the housings is reasonable consistent, and it would be a good learing experience As noted, the easiest thing you can do is just swap the spiders and side gears along with the cross shaft into the '71. They only get torn up like that two ways. Driving a long time with a flat or two different size rear tires OR Peg Leg burnouts. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

01-11-2003, 10:43 PM	#6
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,746	I was told that the 3.73 gears have a 41 tooh ring gear, and 11 tooh pinion. So, they would have 41..11 stamped in the gears. I think they came in the 6 cylender trucks, but unless you happen to come across one in a self service yard, I would just get new gears, because at least all of the places I talked to sell an axle with 3.73 gears for about $5-600. __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI

01-11-2003, 04:13 PM	#3
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	With a 454 and how you are going to drive it, I would be looking at a 3:73 to 1 differential. I would go with a new posi carrier and gear set. The new posi's are not too bad in cost now and you can get a good one for under $300, (Tom's Differentials is one vendor) . I think new gears are around $150 and the bearing installation kit is around $100. This would give you a good strong rear end and let you play! JIm

01-11-2003, 10:48 PM	#7
mikep Used to have a truck Join Date: May 2002 Location: port orchard WA Posts: 1,552	I see them all the time in the paper for $200-$300. The junkyard is the absolute last place to buy rear ends. __________________ No truck :-(

01-12-2003, 01:08 AM	#8
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,746	I wish I lived in your area. If I found one in Pick & Pull it would be like $160, but any of the places around here that sell chevy parts don't even usually have them, and if they do thay are $$$. __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI

01-12-2003, 01:11 AM	#9
mikep Used to have a truck Join Date: May 2002 Location: port orchard WA Posts: 1,552	You dont want to live here ! It rains too damned much! That more than makes up for the abundance of cheap old chevy truck parts. __________________ No truck :-(



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