[Shawn F.]

I have an S10 rear end with 3.73 gears, posi auburn gear unit in it and moser axles. It was in an S10 I had with a 350/350 combo swap and was supposedly rebuilt which the PO of the truck I had gave me the reciepts for this and has about $1300 in labor and parts in this rear end. Does anyone have any idea if this rear end will fit in my 63 wagon? I figured it would be a bit beefier than the stock 10 bolt in it now, plus I can add disk brakes from a Chevy S10 blazer fairly easy and also have the Auburn posi unit in it...
Oppinions on this would be greatly appreciated!

 

[6NOVA4]

measure the distance between the spring pads and the overall length. I've heard the S-10 rear ends bolt in. I was gonna use a S-10 rear in my wagon.

 

[undercvrSS]

S-10 rears are narrower than a Nova. I believe by 3"?

Not sure about the pad measurements

 

[Paul Wright]

There's a difference in offset between 4x2 and 4x4 rear axles and if it's an 8.5" or the smaller 7" (and a fraction). I would measure CAREFULLY before investing in something that won't fit.

I thought we had a thread on the S-10 axle? It might be worthwhile to collect all the axle swap threads into Best of PT. If someone want's to find them, I can (or the other mods) put them in the archive.

 

[Bill_K]

The S-10 rear is most likely a 7.5" ring gear. Some S-10's did come with the 8.5" gear but a rare and difficult to find. Yes, the 2 wheel drive and 4 wheel drive rears are different widths, be sure to measure everything first and know what you are getting.
Bill

 

[Shawn F.]

Well using the S10 rear is not really going to cost me anything because I already have it... It's sitting in the back of my yard next to my 48 Chevy coupe. It's the 2WD off a 96 S10 extended cab... I will try to go out and measure them both. Any idea the stock length of the 63 wagon 10 bolt rear?
Thanks again guys!

 

[DANNO]

Any idea the stock length of the 63 wagon 10 bolt rear?

http://www.novaresource.org/axle.htm

 

[Shawn F.]

From what I measured where the backing plate of the drum brakes bolt to the S10 rear end I just measured 48"... I couldn't get under the wagon to measure the stock one though since it's not running and in the mulch here at my house...

 

[undercvrSS]

A Nova rear is 58 1/4". If you measured 48" at the backing plate, that would be about 55" like I thought

 

[Shawn F.]

Hmm... will the inside of my wheels/tires hit if I buy new 17" wheels with a different backspacing? I am guessing that 3 inches may be too much as far as being narrow?
Edit: BTW, I forgot that the gearing in the S10 is a 3.42 gearing which is probably better than what's in the wagon now which I think is a 3.55 but if I throw in this 350 tranny and taller wheels and tires in the back I think it will help bring the RPM's down some.

 

[DANNO]

I couldn't get under the wagon to measure the stock one though since it's not running and in the mulch here at my house...

You won't need to if you'll click on the link I provided you above.

 

[Shawn F.]

Sorry Danno! I didn't see it, I made a post after you did it and didn't see it above mine thinking mine was the last one. LOL
Thanks a lot!

 

[DANNO]

No problem. Hope it works out for you. Free is always a great price. :yes:

 

[OB_67_Nova]

I have 2 S10s here. a 1997 AND A 2000 both 2WD extended cabs.
.
The distant between the spring perches inside edge to inside edge is 36 INCHES on the S10s and 39 INCHES on my 67 ss.

Let me know if you need more info.

 

[tnblkc230wz]

If you can weld, New spring perches are $60 a set from Moser.

 

[Cool II]

Sorry, I tried to find a previous post I put up for this s-10 swap. I did it 8 or 9 years ago. The 2x4 and 4x4 axles are different widths, the 2x4 is what I used. The diff was only 7.5". A keen eyed shoper may find a sport truck 8.5" version with disc. Randy's told me it would be hard to instal 4:56 gears into a 7.5" rear. Special shaft, this and that. I like Randy's but I did it my way. My buddy still runs that old rear in his roundy truck.
Anyway, little anoyances were metric lug studs, wheel cylinder bore sizes, u-joint sizes, stuff you don't think about beforehand.

Oh, it was not a bolt in although close.

 

[Shawn F.]

I will see what I can do... I'm either going to use this rear for my 48 Chevy coupe or this wagon, I have not decided yet. I may just leave the stock rear end in it who knows. It's plenty strong enough for 350-400 HP is my guess I dont know. That's not the reason I was going to change it though, I like the fact that the s10 rear end has 3.42 gears with the Auburn posi unit out back and is rebuilt and has Moser axles...
I have a Ford 9" rear out of a 70's F100 with a posi unit (I can't think of the kind of unit it is but it's the kind that unlocks through turns WITHOUT the ticking noise) that I got for $350 bucks from a guy in a Ford truck club I was in. If I could find a center chunk with better gearing and something like this posi unit that unlocks in turns for the same amount of money then I'd do this as well.
I dont know, it's all up in the air right now. Maybe some of your guys' oppinions and suggestions will help me out. :yes:

 

[Cool II]

Call me lucky, I beat the snot out of that 7.5". I thought the cones in that Auburn would eat themselves. Only change I made replaced the crush collar with spacer and shims.

 

[63 II]

I have a S10 in my 63 and it is 4 in narrower than stock. The spring purches will need to be removed and new installed. I moved my springs in so it was something I had to do anyway

 

[dave's 62]

I just finished my 5 lug convert in my 62HT and used a 94 olds bravada 4x4 7 5/8 with the weak factory posi,it measured 59in from rim mounting surface to surface it was about a inch longer then the factory 4 lug had to cut off old perches and weld new ones on, super easy, got a u-joint thet fit the stock 62 driveline and rear yoke, all and all 80 bucks for swap. use a 5inch backspace rim and its all good.