lets throw down some ideas....

[highschoolbuilder]

so i bought a 64 chevy, appx 1 month ago. its beautiful. and i just punched a hole through the posi case, or at least thats what i think its called. so list some good ideas for rear end conversions! and some opinions on a black diamond platted steel for the bed!

[monolith]

Any pics of the truck?

I like the bed idea, what thickness of steel are you considering?

Will it weigh more or less than a wood bed?

Is your current rear end salvageable? Maybe you could just rebuild it if you just knocked a hole in the cover (with something other than the gears)

[ol Curt]

My grandpa had some 3/16" steel plates welded into the bed over the top of the wood. I couldn't tell any difference in performance with the steel out. I say go for it!

I agree with monolith on the rear end.

[joe231]

Do you want a different ratio?
do you have 5 or 6 lugs?
do you want to have 5 or 6 lugs?
do you have disc brakes in the front?
do you want discs in the front?

a '71-'72 rear from a coil spring rear suspension truck will bolt in to your's if you have coils....

do you have coils or leafs in the rear?

[Craven Moorhead]

Originally Posted by joe231

Do you want a different ratio?
do you have 5 or 6 lugs?
do you want to have 5 or 6 lugs?
do you have disc brakes in the front?
do you want discs in the front?

a '71-'72 rear from a coil spring rear suspension truck will bolt in to your's if you have coils....

do you have coils or leafs in the rear?

Good to know I am trying to figure out what to do on my rear also, I would assume most of the 71-72 are drum brake? I wondered of there was a bolt in like the 72-87 front disc conversion.

[glendale]

so a 67-71 won't bolt in? i lost an axle bearing last night. and i'm considering my options.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Well, if you already have a 5-lug rear, you'd need a 2WD 71-72
Rear. as they were also 5-lug. You probably have 6-lug though.

[joe231]

Originally Posted by Craven Moorhead

Good to know I am trying to figure out what to do on my rear also, I would assume most of the 71-72 are drum brake? I wondered of there was a bolt in like the 72-87 front disc conversion.

all are drum brakes, but if you look around there are several threads about rear disc conversions.....Captainfab sells a bracket kit and will give you a list of OEM parts to make it happen

Originally Posted by glendale

so a 67-71 won't bolt in? i lost an axle bearing last night. and i'm considering my options.

67-70 is 6 lug, 71-71 is 5 lug, they will both bolt in if they are from a coil sprung rear truck and going into a coil sprung rear truck, but they are a but wider...1 1/2" i believe.....

[glendale]

my truck is six lug. i really don't have any plans to swap to five lug at this time. i think i have a rear lined up so i can rob the parts i need. thanks guys.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Do you have pics of the truck? I'd like to know who you are..... Who are we answering? HighSchoolBuilder or Glendale? I'm confused.

[glendale]

i was just trying to keep the thread going. i was going to start my own thread but this one matched my question pretty dead on so i didn't see any point in doing another.here is a link to my intro with pics.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=353701

[joe231]

pretty much any axle is swappable if you can cut, grind, and weld.....

[highschoolbuilder]

sorry for the delay! i work weekends serving so i haven't even been home since today! haha it is a 6 lug, i have coils in it, my diff is posi!!!! but it is one of the four gears in there had a tooth chip off and just pinged the case! im having really hard time even finding steel to put back there ! im thinking of just going with some good old fashion yellow oak. might as well. im planning on ratting it out, so i dont care to to much on how good it looks, just the practicality of it. i will check this much more!!!! thanks for all the help

[highschoolbuilder]

[Imperial Kustom]

Dang! That looks like a pretty clean and straight truck you have there!!! Get some pics up of the diff and let's see if it's salvageable. Sounds like you need some sides and spiders. Or just find a spider gear and go!

[aerotruk63]

Nice rare seat you have there. Is the seat bottom in good shape?

[highschoolbuilder]

No it isn't haha but I got the truck for 3250!!! With a 327!!! Running and built up! How much do you think those gears will be? As my name says I'm doing a high school build!

[sams60gmc]

Truck looks sick man. Great starter.

[highschoolbuilder]

Thanks! Any tips?

[sams60gmc]

I think rattin it out would be sick. I love the stance of it.

[highschoolbuilder]

Well imagine that! that's what I'm doing! Haha

[chucks1967]

off subject a little here, but what is the drop you have? spindles or coils? back the same question. need to see a pic of the diff to see if its salvageable. what are you planing for the bed? going to re-weld the bottom lip and bolt down diamond plate or weld in the plating?

[highschoolbuilder]

i am not even sure. any guesses? haha i plan on rewelding the lip and bolting it in! i beleive. the diff is salvagable. its just a side that has a tooth chipped

[Imperial Kustom]

Hit up your local driveline/differential shop. They usually have that kind of stuff on hand that they've pulled out of other rears and might just give you one. I worked at Jim's Drivetrain for years rebuilding front and rear diffs. We kept a 5 gallon bucket full of good used sides and spiders. Or hit the local yard and get one from any year truck 12 bolt. It will be way cheap or free.

[highschoolbuilder]

okay! its at 4:11 right now i beleive what should i get if i want it to be very economical? as in an everyday driver gear