Rear End Swap (UPDATE)

[HAULIN IT]

I had mentioned a while back that I was preparing for a 9" swap. Here are some photos as it went along. I built a jig to narrow 9" housings many years ago. On this one I used a 9" housing center, the GM truck axle tubes (so the U-bolts, plates ect. would be the stock size) turned upsidedown & Ford axle bearing ends. The center section is a 31 spline 3.70 gear for now (I may try a 3.89 later). The brakes are Crown Vic discs.
 
A couple shots of the homemade shock brackets:
 


I'm using Rancho RS9000 9 position shocks (mounted vertically)


While the lower U-bolt brackets were off, I made some "Cal-trac copy" traction bar mounts with a tie-down incorporated.
 
 
The rearend was installed on top of the springs & the rear hanger/shackle were turned over
 




Please excuse the "ratty" looking undercarrage, this is a stress relief, play toy, definitely not a show vehicle. The outcome is, I got it done just in time to test it at Norwalk Raceway this past weekend. It works GREAT! I'll post some more photos from the race when I get a chance. Lorne   

[Stewart G Griffin]

i hearby dub this truck the "International Truck," due to it's mass conglomeration of parts from various manufacturers, although Oldsmoboggie is/was GM so it's ok.

i'm a little disappointed, not nessesarily in you, but they way the truck is turning out, especially in the rearward sections.

My personal opinion , not nessesarily factual experience,  is that with the 12" (or whatever size you are using) slicks, they (the slicks) will break free (spin) before the 12bolt would get damaged if in fact the engine is at the point where it is producing enough power to spin them.  But what do i know?  i've never gone faster than 13 secs and have only used 10 bolts.


What's next?  i hear toyota disks fit the chevy 10/12 bolt.  Not that it makes a difference now.

[SUX2BU99]

Well I'm pretty impressed. Some cool fabrication work going on there. Here I am trying to get thru just a simple-as-it-gets stock for stock rear end swap and you're mating GM axle tubes to narrowed 9" centre section, new shock mounts, cal-trac mounts n' stuff. Very cool!

[VileZambonie]

i'm a little disappointed, not nessesarily in you, but they way the truck is turning out, especially in the rearward sections.

  What exactly do you mean?

Looks great man. Good job!

[Captkaos]

Looks Great!  Nice work!

[78 Chevyrado]

Great lookin work!

[choptop]

very impressive. Id have never thought about mounting the gm tubes to the 9 in center...hmmmmm

[80stepsideguy]

Nice job your doing man, 2 thumbs up on your  work.

thanks
pat

[HAULIN IT]

Thanks for the complements guys! Some days that's what a guy needs to forge ahead. Chop, I started doing the "original tubes" on Mavericks & such, the 8" uses the same (if using 28 spline) axles, bearings, ect. as the 9". The problem with them is a posi for an 8" is nearly like hen's teeth & the gear selection isn't as good as the 9". What I would do is really just change the housing center, then came Camaro's & even a couple Vega's (the older ones have all 4 mounting arms on the tubes). Stewart, What have I done to my truck that disappoints you? Changing it from the stock? The Ford rear end? Each of us enjoy working on & personalizing our trucks or we would not do it or be on this site sharing ideas, ect.  I realize the Ford rear may not be for the die-hard GM guy, but it has some advantages.... Changing gears in an hour, if you break a carrier strap the housing isn't ruined, close gear spacing (3.70,3.89.4.11) the bolt-in axles, ect. I thought other parts (the shock mounting, rear hanger flip, ect.) may be of interest to some. I could see if I had chopped the frame off, put the biggest tires I could buy & leave the stock 305 that would not serve much purpose. After all, hotrodding in it's base form started by guys adapting more powerful, stronger, different parts to a vehicle they have to accomplish whatever it is they are after (looks,performance, ect.) I have mentioned before, I've got allot of auto hobby interests & am a well rounded hotrod guy... the truck being it started out life as a GMC is just part of it. Try to tell the streetrod guys that they can only use a Mustang II front if it's going under a Ford. My truck is a good, sound working piece that is used daily all summer, it suits our needs & desires. Most importantly...gives the wife & I quality time doing something we both like. Lorne   

[eventhorizon66]

Looks like a top notch job to me.  Thanks for the pics.

[comp]

Looks like a top notch job to me.  Thanks for the pics.

 i agree,,can't wait to see more

[GMCtruckinNDN]

Looks great, nice job!

Glad to see new modified is good thing to have.

I think that'll runs stronger, smooth ride and hope to win the race!

[HAULIN IT]

Over the weekend I found time to make & install my traction bars. They are designed after ones that John Calvert gets credit for the original plan. Out of respect to John & Chris who sells Cal-trac bars, I have no intentions to do a step-by-step or discuss diamentions, ect. Besides, I didn't find a set, measure & copy them, so who knows...maybe mine don't work as good either. More or less a little encouagement for the do-it yourselfer. On a side note... I got these little rubber boots for the rod ends, Seals-it I think was the company, they are pretty slick. I stuck a needle tip grease gun along the edge & filled them up. Should work well to keep the grease in & the dirt & water out. Now back to the track next weekend to try them out. Lorne
 

[comp]

looks Good

[Captkaos]

Nice job!