Rear Axle: Buttercup gets a new rear axle

[Jerry Forrester]

Last week I went to a junk yard and pulled a 2 wheel drive, disc brake, rear axle assy out of a '99 Chevy S-10 Blazer. It's a 3.08. That just won't do.
Yesterday afternoon I got out the ole Summit Racing catalog and ordered a 4.10 R&P and a Ratech installation kit. Ups delivered it this morning. Good service, I must say.
With this 4.10, I think Buttercup is going to come off the line quite well. And with his 259 and 3 speed O/D he should be able to hold his own blasting down the Interstate.

[Flashback]

Thumbs up, Jerry. Let me know how comfy it is at about 70. I want to change my 3.42 to 4.10

[Jerry Forrester]

Thumbs up, Jerry. Let me know how comfy it is at about 70. I want to change my 3.42 to 4.10

Thanks Tex.
The 4.10 becomes equivalent to a 2.87 when you drop it into overdrive. Add to that the tall tires I like to run on the rear (265-75-15's), at 70 MPH the engine should just be chugging along.

[RadioRoy]

Ya gotta love Summit. Super fast shipping.

[Jerry Forrester]

Ya gotta love Summit. Super fast shipping.

And FREE!!!

[rusty nut garage]

did a R&P change on a 12 bolt chevy recently. Carrier shims outside of the carrier bearing unlike dana's. I struggled with the oem style shim pack. While setting up the .010 carrier preload it was impossible to get the shims in without ruining them. (GM doesn't use a case spreader like dana) anyway I found some interlocking shims that allow the smaller shims to sandwich between two of the thicker shims and will allow you to tap them in without destroying them in the process. Good call on the gear change the OD equipped cars like steep gearing.

Last week I went to a junk yard and pulled a 2 wheel drive, disc brake, rear axle assy out of a '99 Chevy S-10 Blazer. It's a 3.08. That just won't do.
Yesterday afternoon I got out the ole Summit Racing catalog and ordered a 4.10 R&P and a Ratech installation kit. Ups delivered it this morning. Good service, I must say.
With this 4.10, I think Buttercup is going to come off the line quite well. And with his 259 and 3 speed O/D he should be able to hold his own blasting down the Interstate.

[swvalcon]

Jerry post some pictures and let us know how the s-10 rear end fits in.

[Jerry Forrester]

(GM doesn't use a case spreader like dana)

The GM 10 bolt 7 1/2 and 7 5/8's do.
Here's a pic of my selfmade case spreader.

[Jerry Forrester]

Jerry post some pictures and let us know how the s-10 rear end fits in.

I have pix of Leo, my '55 HT but I can't find them since webshots went down.
Tex has pix of his Saturday Night Special ('53 Cp.) with a disc brake S-10 rear axle. He has my permission to post them in this thread.

[Flashback]

I have pix of Leo, my '55 HT but I can't find them since webshots went down.
Tex has pix of his Saturday Night Special ('53 Cp.) with a disc brake S-10 rear axle. He has my permission to post them in this thread.

I do have a few, Jerry. May not be too good but here some are:

[URL=http://s307.photobucket.com/user/Flashback53/media/53getsexhaust019.jpg.html][/

[Jerry Forrester]

I do have a few, Jerry. May not be too good but here some are:

Looking good Tex.
What size wheels and tires are you running?
What are the clearances between the tire and spring and tire and fender lip?

[Flashback]

Looking good Tex.
What size wheels and tires are you running?
What are the clearances between the tire and spring and tire and fender lip?

The wheels are 69 corvette. They are 8" with a 4" back spacing. The tires are 255-60-15. I have about 1/2" clearance between the tire and spring. About 1 1/2" at fender lip. Had no clearance issues (scrubbing) in the 2000 miles I drove it. Course you see the 2" lowering blocks. I also moved the axle centerline 5/8" forward.

[Jerry Forrester]

I also moved the axle centerline 5/8" forward.

Why? I'm not questioning your judgement, I just want to know why. I may want to do the same.

[Flashback]

After a lot o measuring, I reached the conclusion this would put the D/S yoke back in the same position as the original. This made my driveshaft bolt back in (using the combo joint,372, I believe?) with the slip joint right. Maybe just me. Some say I am crazy about this part? I checked the center bolt centerline to the yoke cup depth and kept coming to this measurement.

PS. Bout how many thousands do you spread the axle with the tool? You gonna give us some info on the gear change?

[Jerry Forrester]

After a lot o measuring, I reached the conclusion this would put the D/S yoke back in the same position as the original. This made my driveshaft bolt back in (using the combo joint,372, I believe?) with the slip joint right. Maybe just me. Some say I am crazy about this part? I checked the center bolt centerline to the yoke cup depth and kept coming to this measurement.

Does the tire look correct after repositioning the tire 5/8" forward in the fender well when looking at the car in profile?