rear end swap question

[k120189]

well a 4 1/2 hour trip down to gary's would be fun and it might still happen..but my friend just killed the engine in his 1500 it has the 8.5 10 bolt rear...how hard would it be to put that under the van...its a 2wd truck if that makes a difference and its an older truck and has the matching 5x5 pattern...in fact the wheels off that truck are on the van now

[LiftedAWDAstro]

The problem is that the drive shaft may hit the gas tank. The 8.5 rear is centered. Best you can do is take some measurements and see if it'll fit.

[Rebel]

The problem is that the drive shaft may hit the gas tank. The 8.5 rear is centered. Best you can do is take some measurements and see if it'll fit.

Had the same problem installing the center dif. Vette rear. Wound up installing a more narrow S-10 tank for shaft to clear but I also had to run 1.5" thick adapters to get wheels sitting in correct location.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

I also had to run 1.5" thick adapters to get wheels sitting in correct location.

With the truck rear end there won't be any need for wheel spacers.

[k120189]

ok.. what about the spring perches? probly have to move them and the shock mounts right? its a free axle so a little work is worth it...plus the van is getting four linked and bagged soon so i might be looking into a fuel cell anyway...i found a 93 mazda b2200i (4cyl mini truck) that my friend will trade for my bronco..i can drive that while i do the van then drive the van while the truck gets the same treatment

[GEJ]

After building a number of race car set-ups using Jeg's,Alston,etc-for 4 links,let me advise you that you have be careful with offsets(passenger to pinion center and driver to pinion center)and square to the front end.The start of it all is a completely level van on all four cornners for the sake of measurements."xing" in the stock location of the pinion and duping that with the four link.Center of the right spindle to center of the left rear axle as a example and the same on the other side.Then centering the pinion to the output of the tranny.

I got to go for now-but all I am going to say is drive trains can do some really weird things if your not on your "A" game.

Will post later.

BTW-those articles about "Sub and Tub in a weekend are all just so much nonsense .

[k120189]

no four link just yet but im also going triangulated...it seems like it would fit better under the astro...and rebel...the s10 tank...does it just bolt it (doubt it) how hard it is to get that in...

[Rebel]

The S-10 tank was no big deal. It's not an exact fit but close enough. The problem I had was with the tank being shorter and more narrow my mechanical sending unit was shorting out on the floor support bracket. Went to Big Lots and bought one of those long foam tubes kids play with in the pool and cut two pieces to place between top of tank and floor. This dropped the tank down so unit would clear.

[GEJ]

Pm sent about Mr_Roboto's 9" ford swap:

Here is a link to the thread:


http://www.astrosafari.com/cgi/ib/ikonb ... =6;t=17717