8.5 rear out of an S10

[beeterolds]

I realized a very important thing... i have a co-worker who owns a ZR2 packaged S10, it has an 8.5 rear end, and I measured the axle and its the same width as the G-body! not to mention it has disc-brakes also! i wanted to share this with you guys because it would make a cheaper alternative than a GN or 442 rear, plus the hardest thing about swapping it in would be welding your existing brackets to the 8.5 and getting the upper control arm mounts.

 

[RITTER]

Thats a lot of work to do to a rear end tho. Unless you have the equipment for welding it seems like it would cost about the same as finding a G-body rear.

 

[beeterolds]

Thats a lot of work to do to a rear end tho. Unless you have the equipment for welding it seems like it would cost about the same as finding a G-body rear.

its just a lil bit more than what the gentlemen did with the ford rear, now u have to fab control arm brackets...but not mod the driveshaft if you can get your hands on a GN 442 shaft, hell u might get lucky the S10 shaft might be the same lenght....its just another option so dont rule it out

 

[CutMonRegMan]

I realized a very important thing... i have a co-worker who owns a ZR2 packaged S10, it has an 8.5 rear end, and I measured the axle and its the same width as the G-body! not to mention it has disc-brakes also! i wanted to share this with you guys because it would make a cheaper alternative than a GN or 442 rear, plus the hardest thing about swapping it in would be welding your existing brackets to the 8.5 and getting the upper control arm mounts.

Not a bad idea i can find way more of those than a 442 or GN. I think i will research it some more. 😀 😛

 

[beeterolds]

I realized a very important thing... i have a co-worker who owns a ZR2 packaged S10, it has an 8.5 rear end, and I measured the axle and its the same width as the G-body! not to mention it has disc-brakes also! i wanted to share this with you guys because it would make a cheaper alternative than a GN or 442 rear, plus the hardest thing about swapping it in would be welding your existing brackets to the 8.5 and getting the upper control arm mounts.

Not a bad idea i can find way more of those than a 442 or GN. I think i will research it some more. 😀 😛

Yup its just another option, but at this point i would do the 8.8 swap before attempting this...

 

[bigdan]

not another swap possibility! 😀

Beeter , are you sure that it is same width then our g bodies at 57"
did you personnaly check that ?


personnaly i dont care about upper control arms because i put 4 link suspension
wonder if they have 31 splines also?

Dan

 

[beeterolds]

not another swap possibility! 😀

Beeter , are you sure that it is same width then our g bodies at 57"
did you personnaly check that ?


personnaly i dont care about upper control arms because i put 4 link suspension
wonder if they have 31 splines also?

Dan

if your talking about the S10 rear, yes i measured this myself.

 

[bigdan]

so...it is better for me to find one of these ,since i dont use any original bracketry ...( going 4 link)

the 8.8 nice point being the upper control arms feasabilty but having to find two left 5 studs axles makes it more difficult to me to install on my cutlass....

was there only the V6 ( 4.3L ) that had the 8.5" or any other also ?

Dan

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Yeah, but you can take them off a Ranger, Aerostar or ( I think) a Bronco II. They are all the same length and plentiful in salvage yards.

 

[bigdan]

but the S10 axles already have the same bolt pattern then us ...5 x 4.75

the ford axles have to be modified cause originaly they are 5 x 4.5