Rear ends! What are the best/cheapest set up?

[RamboHern]

Im really looking for a rear end off of another gm car or truck. I want something with posi preferably but not necessary. What have you guys used? Any suggestions are open.

[BIGglaSS]

Cheap is not best, and the best is not cheap. Do you want disk brakes? The easy to find and cheap GM rears are 7.5" from 4x4 s-10 blazers late 90's, and if I recall are 58" wide. S-10 2 wheel drive are too narrow and will require spacers. A good, but hard to find option is a 8.5" from a ZR2 4x4 with disk brakes, but some guys don't like the govloc positraction. 2nd gen camaros (70-81) had 8.5" rears and positraction, 61" wide. However, they are all drum brake. 3rd gen camaros may be another option, but I'm not sure on the details of those.

If you're willing to look outside of GM? Late 90's Explorers and Mountaineers had 8.8" 3.73 positraction with disk brakes. They are 59.5" wide wheel mount surface. The 5 x 4.5" bolt pattern will give you a lot more choices in wheels, and if you swap to an IFS front end, you can get the same bolt pattern up front. They are easy to find, and relatively cheap. My local pick-a-part yard sells these for $180. The full service yards ask $350.

If you're interested in IRS, C4 corvettes are a nice conversion, however they are quite wide for an AD truck. And not very cheap. They have disk brakes and positraction, 62."-63" wide. Also, Lincoln Mark8 from the late 90's have an 8.8" independent rear with disk brakes, that you can find for less than $200. However they did not have limited slip and are 3.07 gear. These are 63" wide, and will require to redrill or swap hubs for 5 x 4.5" bolt pattern.

Just some ideas.

[_Ogre]

scroll way down http://www.chevytrucks.org/tech/ifs&rearend.htm
i used a 3rd gen camero/firebird/trans am rearend, plentiful, many posi gear options, disc/drum options and cheap

[RamboHern]

I have good access to a 3rd gen camaro rearend. Is the v6 the same as the v8? As far as width. I know the v8's have disc. Do the v6's have disc or drum?

[1948GMC]

I have a 79 trans am rear end in mine it had 2:something gears and I put a spacer in and put a 3:42 in it. The posi unit is VERY tight because of the granny gears and being the car only had 40k on it. It seems to be a good fit and I do have some wide tires and it fits well might have to do a mini tub but not sure.

[59chev]

I will be running a 78 z28 rear in my 59. It has a factory 3:23 Posi in it.

[Old Crow]

For running a Nova or Camaro rear end in an AD truck with leaf springs, where are you guys getting your spring perches besides LMC?

[curmudgeon]

"For running a Nova or Camaro rear end in an AD truck with leaf springs, where are you guys getting your spring perches besides LMC?"

Got mine from Performance Online as well as new leaf springs:

https://www.performanceonline.com/Le...ng-Kits-c-752/

[Old Crow]

Thanks, found 'em at CPP too, after I posted.
Lady I talked to at Eckler's, while I was looking, told me they get theirs from CPP, so I checked CPP's site, and I can save about $15 over Eckler's. Looks like Performance Online beats CPP by another $10.
Lots of other nice stuff at that Performance Online site, too, thanks for that bookmark.
Found an interesting looking rack and pinion setup for my old F-100 shop truck.

[Skidder865]

I used a1986 XJS Jag Rear in my 1950 Chevy. It even came with a positive traction unit.

[yossarian19]

Late 60s C10s came with a 12 bolt, if you want to stay 6 lug.
If you are making wild-ass horsepower, you can run a 14 bolt with custom 6 lug hubs - though this is a very niche option.
99-04 Grand Cherokee jeeps came with 5x5 pattern Dana 44HD (not standard D44) axles, disc brakes & some came with vari-lok systems which are a very aggressive LSD.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Old Crow

For running a Nova or Camaro rear end in an AD truck with leaf springs, where are you guys getting your spring perches besides LMC?

cheapest place for spring perches is a local trailer supply, i believe i paid $3 each