Need help deciding on what rear end to use...for my 30 Essex

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essexrat

Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2007
Messages
10
So I'm trying to figure out what rear end would work best with my 30 Essex 2 door coach...I'm running a Chevy small block with a Turbo 350 for now, but unsure of what rear end to use. The rear of the Essex is about 5' wide without the fenders. I want to drop the body over the rear axle and use a 4 link set up. I don't plan on running fenders and would like to not have to use wheel spacers. I've got an 84 Olds Delta 88 but am thinking it will be too narrow. Could also use a diff out of a 81 or so firebird...what do you guys think would be the best choice? A guy in our club used a rear out of a Chevy van and had lots of clearance in his 28 Dodge Sedan...any suggestions? Would be nice to be able to use what I already have, but if I need to find something else, that's no problem....Thanx
 
http://www.carnut.com/specs/rear.html

Ford Outside
Width Year Model
56.50 1969-1977 Maverick 8"
57.00 1974-1978 Mustang II 8"
57.25 1957-1959 Ford, Ranchero, Station Wagon
57.25 1965-1966 Mustang
58.00 1966-1977 Bronco
58.00 1964-1965 Falcon
58.00 1977-1981 Granada/Versailles
58.50 1977-1981 Versailles
59.25 1967-1970 Mustang, Fairlane, Comet, Cougar
60.00 1967 Cougar
60.00 1958-1960 Edsel
61.00 1964-1971 Ford Full Size
61.00 1949-1951 Mercury
61.25 1957-1972 Ford F-100 Pickup
61.25 1960-1964 Ford Full Size
61.25 1971-1973 Mustang
61.25 1967-1973 Torino, Ranchero, Fairlane
63.00 1970-1979 Ranchero & Torino
63.00 1972-1979 Ford Full Size & Intermediate
63.50 1967 Fairlane (Coil Springs)
65.25 1973-1986 Ford F-150 Pickup
65.25 1978-1986 Bronco
65.25 1973-1986 Ford Van 3/4 Ton
68.00 1972 Ford Van 3/4 Ton
69.25 1977-1986 Ford E-150 Van

Chevy Outside
Width Year Model
54.25 1983-2004 Chevy S10 2WD, GMC S15 2WD
57.75 1962-1964 Chevy II/Nova
57.75 1965-1967 Chevy II/Nova
58.00 1978-1988 Chevy Malibu, Monte Carlo
59.50 1968-1982 Corvette
60.00 1955-1964 Chevy Car
60.00 1967-1969 Camaro
60.25 1968-1979 Chevy II/Nova
60.50 1984-1995 Corvette
60.50 1964-1967 Chevelle
62.00 1955-1959 Chevy Pickup
62.50 1968-1972 Chevelle
62.50 1970-1981 Camaro/Firebird


Mopar Outside
Width Year Model
55.60 1960-1976 7 1/4 A-body
55.60 1973-1976 8 1/4 A-body
55.60 1966-1972 8 3/4 A-body
55.60 All 8 3/4 A-body
56.00 1932-1934 All Mopars
57.40 1963-1972 7 1/4 A-body
58.54 All 8 1/4 F-body
58.54 All 8 1/4 M-body
58.54 All 8 1/4 J-body
59.00 1935-1936 All Mopars
59.14 1966-1970 9 3/4 B-body
59.20 1962-1970 8 3/4 B-body
60.00 1937-1948 All Mopars
60.70 All 8 3/4 E-body
60.70 All 9 3/4 E-body
62.00 All 8 1/4 B-body
62.00 1971-1974 8 3/4 B-body
62.00 All 9 1/4 B-body
63.40 All 8 1/4 C-body
63.40 1971-1974 8 3/4 B-body S.W.
63.40 All 9 1/4 C-body
 
Your best bet is to get the wheels and tires you are going to use. Set then were you want then to be at the body and measure from wheel flange to wheel flange.

Then use the chart dmw56 listed. One think about the Maverick is that they are not all the same length. They can by from 56 1/2 to 58 inches. I have ran into that a couple of times.
 
An addendum to DMW's Chevy list. The S-10 4 wheel drive rear is about 4" wider then the 2 wheel drive unit
 
International Scouts ('65-'74) have a Dana 44 that measure WMS to WMS 58", they usually come with a 3.55 or 4.10 gear set and use the early Ford lug pattern (5 on 5.5").
 
Thanx guys, but what I need is something about 62-64 inches wide from backing plate to backing plate....the ones mentioned in the list are to wheel surface...I want to drop the body over the rear axle and since I'm 5' wide already and would need atleast 1" of clearance, I need something fairly wide....preferably a GM...any one know off hand, how wide a GM van diff is from Backing to backing plate?
 
B.T.W, I am in need of both doors if you should find any. The front doors of a 4 door coach will work, as will the doors from a 2 door coach. Thanks perley
 

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