Your thoughts on rear end choices....

[entourageguy]

Hey guys

Have a chance at two different rear ends to put into my truck when I install the 4 link

1981 firebird 10 bolt 8.5 posi 3.43 with discs

1999 s10 blazer 4x4 posi 3.42 with discs also has sway bar attached

pros / cons

Thanks ..Brian

[bretcopsey]

What year Firebird? Second gen should have 8.5" ring gear and I believe 3rd and 4th gen both have 7.5" ring gear.

[1-ton of fun]

the firebird one will likely be better, but it depends if it is a 7.5", 8.2" or 8.5"

if you give me an email address, i can send you a chart that shows how to identify it.

[dwcsr]

I think the blazer 4x4 is almost a direct bolt in and the correct length

[SURFER1316]

The 99 blazer is a great swap, this is off the top of my head, but will be 59" wide, correct width, believe it's either a 7.625" or 8.5" 10 bolt, either way have stood behind decently built V8 swaps in S10's, and will have the Blazer bigger rear discs that are like 11" rotors

[entourageguy]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm going to go look at the S-10 this weekend.
Brian ...

[nogaroa4]

How did you make out? (entourageguy) I'm looking for a "cheap" rear for my 1955 chevy 1/2 ton. I can't decide. It will be matched up with a sbc (350) and auto trans which will hopefully one day be switched out for a manual trans. What I'm looking for is disc brakes, and a posi. Any suggestions or pointers on where to look?

[Hart_Rod]

I know a lot of folks are using rear ends out of the newer F#$D explorers. They are the correct width, come with disc brakes and posi and are cheap.

[nogaroa4]

The explorer defently look like a posiblity. does anyone have any specs on the rear axles currently in are trucks, I belive they are 59" wide, but does anyone know pinion offset? Or who would make an adapter for a chevy to a ford driveshaft?

[1-ton of fun]

just have a custom d/s made for that.

i think the explorers have 31-spline axles, people use them as cheap upgrades for mustang (28-spline) rears.

also i don't know if anybody has seen these, but they are good for putting discs on old rears for cheap:
http://www.scarebird.com/
or
http://www.steeltechsolutions.com/RE...PAGE_CODE.html

[CAL 58 GMC]

Hey Brian,

You know where my vote go's to!!!! THE BLAZER!!

[jds319]

So what year blazer rear ends are good fits? I'm looking for a rear end for my '56 too!!!!

[CAL 58 GMC]

Originally Posted by jds319

So what year blazer rear ends are good fits? I'm looking for a rear end for my '56 too!!!!

1998 to 2003 Blazers all had rear disc brake. The 4X4 rears are wider then the 2X4's. I used a 2X4 and had to use wheel spacers to get the wheels out more. If I were to do it over again I would us the 4X4.