47-55.1 1950 gmc rear end options

[1957 chevy]

What the best axle to put u dear these truck that have the same width as the mustang 2 suspension up front and the same bolt pattern? I can weld perches on ,I have a 1986 c10 rear end now but pretty wide compared to mustang and different bolt pattern.thanks

[dsraven]

peruse through this link, maybe find what you need.

https://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/...l_measurements

[dsraven]

lots of guys using the ford 8.8. easily sourced and can also get one from an explorer, with decent ratio, large axle shafts and disc brakes fairly cheap. go through the ranger station link for a bit of info on narrowing the axle. it's got an offset center pumpkin so what some guys do is shorten the long side to be the same as the short side then use another short side axle because they are easily available. they are a tough axle. if doing high horsepower you may want to put a strengthening diff cover on and do the axle bearing/axle C clip eliminator upgrade. for most guys that would be overkill (the C clip eliminator)

https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...8_8-axle.shtml

[dsraven]

the 8.8 will likely have the wrong pattern for the wheels but that is easily remedied by drilling the correct pattern between the old studs. a template can be made from an old disc brake rotor, drilled with a small pilot drill size, then bolted onto the axle with the old lugs and it self centers on the axle center. then drill through the pilot holes to mark the location of the new lugs. remove the template and drill the holes for the new studs in the axle. when done pound the ford studs out of the axle and the new studs in. use studs with the same thread and size as the ones up front. it's what I have done. keep the template so if you need to replace the rotors at some time it will be easy to drill them to fit. personally I simply cut the flange off an old brake rotor and marked/drilled it for the 5 on 4 3/4 chevy pattern. the remainder of the brake rotor is easily stored then because it is just the flange part that has the lug bolt pattern.

[dsraven]

if you don't want to shorten the axle check out a mid 90's mustang for a centered pumkin. not sure of the track width though.
another possibility is the s10 axle from the zr2. see the s10 specs below

2wd 54.5"
4wd 59"
ZR2 63"