Need REAR END HELP haha

[bguild]

Okay guys.. I am not a gear head yet but need some help here.. I just bought 68 chevy step side.. SWB
The guy converted the front to disc from a 72 truck. The front wheels are 5 lug and the rear still is older from the original truck.. the rear is a 6 lug patterned wheel. I need to switch this out for a new rear end.. my question is what will work I WANT A POSI TRAC. I dont plan to make this thing a torque monster.. i dont plan to do any real serious drag racing I just want a cruising street rod. My question also is I would like rear discs would a late model rear end with disc work? If I am going to do it.. whats my best bang for the buck financially and performance wise???? Thanks in advance... also I think I might go air ride suspension.. and I have a ton of questions for that as well but lets just keep this simple to rear end help..

Also pictures of hot rear ended women are allowed as it will help my creative thought process.

[Blue'72]

Hi bguild! Welcome from the PacNW! It sounds like you'll fit right in around here and you'll have all your questions and more answered. With that said, I don't have an answer for you.. Actually, there'll be a lot of folks chiming in as the evening progresses, and you'll get some good feedback.

I'll put in my .02 and say that you can get everything that you want out of a stock 5 lug truck rearend. In fact, you can change the axles in your rear to 5 lug and then add a posi unit and also disk brakes. The axles from 67-68 or 69 are shorter I believe than the 70-72, so you have to be careful to find something that will work. Others will provide more details.

Sorry I haven't got any other rear end pics...

[72swb_327stroker_?]

hey bguild, when i started hunting for ideas and parts for my truck i went that same route!

i found that a disc rear out of a 94-96 caprice or impala will work with a few mods. it is a limited slip,5x5 bolt pattern, disc rear end 2 legger and is pretty close measurement wise. the only thing that made me sell the one that i bought was, it is only a 10 bolt rear end as ours are 12 bolt(stronger) and can hold more power stock. i am running 500 hp 500+ torque to a stock 12 bolt posi rear and it hooks just fine. if you arent going to go full out crazy with hp and tq then i say go for the impala rear. you can get a complete impala rear disc to disc for 200-500 dollars. i paid 250 for mine on craigslist, and the guy drove it 40 miles to me to drop it off! the easiest way to mount it would be a 3-or 4 link weld on kit= 150-$400. plus if you are going to bag it the adjustable four link would be nice to have! you can stay with your 12 bolt but i think the 68 axles are shorter than the newer 5 lug 71-72 axles so they wouldnt work to bolt in,but.. i could be wrong. do a search for rear disc here on the forum and you will find gobs of usefull info on doing a rear disc conversion. so if you have a 68 leaf rear you will need, 300-500 for the rear disc conversion, 150-500 for the posi unit, 50-200 for the axles.....
or the impala rear installed for maybe 450-700 dollars. find what works for you budget and performance wise and make it work.

good luck!

[Robznob11]

well a 3 or 4 link is not the easiest way. you can buy weld on brackets from many suppliers (cpp) that allow you to put any rear on your stock trailing arm set up for cheap, that would be the cheapest way or you could order axles for around 260-300 from several suppliers in any bolt pattern i got mine for 280 through moser and they are non tapered stronger than stock, i got mine with the car bolt pattern so i could buy draglight wheels cheap and wide, but you could go with the 5 on 5 pattern and run stock 71-72 drums or people here have a bracket to adapt new impala rear disc pretty cheap im thinking you could gather up all the necessary parts and axles for around 600 and it will be a ton stronger than a 10 bolt and no shipping or replaceing the heavy rearend, alot of these trucks came with posi in many gear ratios you can probably pick one up on the board or ebay for less than a bill, (mine is moser axles, richmond 4.10 gears and spool all new timkin bearings and seals and new late 60 gm car drums and i have about 900.00 in it but its set up to hold alot of hp and tq with those parts, you can go cheaper!

[bguild]

Thanks guys.. i will look into all this.. I like the idea of just changing the axles out.. then I can learn how to fix the rear ends of the trucks work.. I bought my truck as a learning experience. I will do some more research.. what is that ccp company you talk about.. whats thier website?
I will also search rear disc.. the impala rear end might be a option since i dont think i will ever push the 10 bolt envelope with HP but I guess you never know.

[jlaird]

in the long run, a complete rear end swap will be much cheaper than buying a posi, new or redrilled axles, the disk swap, and labor(for the posi install)

If I were to do it again, I would look for a complete rear axle assembly.

Good luck!

Josh

[bguild]

I was actually looking at stuff and you might be right but I dont know what would be easiest or cheaper.. I think they both are going to end up being somewhat expensive.. so are the impala SS rear ends disc and 10 bolt posi? I have a 12 bolt in my truck now.. I saw some backer plates for 80 bucks for some cadillac calipers with e-brake on ebay.. calipers are roughly 80 bucks for a good used set. Then I can buy some cross drilled rotors. If I can find some axles that would be the best.. I can always wait on the posi rear till I get it drivable then I can buy one and take it someplace to have that thrown in.. so whats the best way to find axles? Do I need to get mine out and measure them or are there certain years to buy from.. Again I have a 68 chevy 12 bolt rear end. I live in Kansas City.. I want the easiest and cheapest way to get 5 bolts now and then I cna work on the disc brake conversion and then work on the posi. Its easier for me to do 80 bucks here and there instead of 500 all at once.. I also dont have a great way to haul rear ends around.. my other car is a dodge caliber.
SCARY I KNOW but the darn thing gets like 33 mpg haha.

[bigmike71]

I just did my rear end like this. I pulled my axles out first. I then counted the splines on the axle, I had 27 splines. measure the axle length and then made some phone calls to some yards and, bam I had 5 lugs. Checked out the bearings and put it all back together. Went quite well. It's not a posi trac but at least my wheels will match until I find the rear I can afford. hope that helps mike

[bguild]

So how much did you pay for the rear axle? ALso can I got to POSi trac later on? Are the splines and axles the same? I am a rookie at all this so sorry for the 1000 questions.

[jlaird]

Here's what I did with my 12 bolt with roundabout pricing

1. Had Moser redrill stock axles for 5x5. $150
2. Bought Eaton Posi. $365
3. Rebuild kit. $80
4. Installation of Posi and Bearings: $250
5. Bought Glocks(board member) brackets for Camaro Calipers: $115
6. Still need to buy calipers, rotors, lines, etc. Lets say all that will be $250

So all that is about $1200.OK, I almost puked. That is just stupid money in my opinion. Do your self a favor and look for a complete rear for a tenth of the price.

[Robznob11]

i called moser told them year an make, they found the oem size and then made my adjustments, they fit like a glove. oh i did not no that trucks came with 27 splines just cars all i thought all truck 12 bolts had 30 splines and 3 or 4 series carriers cars had 2 series witch had the weaker 27 spline axles, but i have been corrected before