7 1/2 rear end

Has anyone had a 7 1/2, 350 geared rear end live behind a 302 --c4 swap? I'm hoping if I dont do any burnouts and drive sanely it will last until I can find a 9'' rear to swap. I know their weak , but how weak are they ? Thanks.

The 7 1/2" WILL grenade??? Unless you drive it like a baby and remember that not only is it weak in the 1st place, its had the sssssst driven out of it for 50 years!!! Don't stomp on it to get on the frwy,,(not going to happen, LOL) and so on. I have nine inch rear ends here, but have no idea of where you are. I am in So Cal
Vic

It would cost way too much to ship to Tx.

chainsaw wrote:It would cost way too much to ship to Tx.

Road Trip!

I do love California.

Will a later model econoline rear fit, 68 thru 80 ?

NOPE,, besides smaller brakes (2" X 20" vs 2 1/2" x 10", its a five on five lug pattern, with an OFFSET pumpkin. You are about 1 in 5,000 looking for another alternative. If that is the case the least I WOULD SETTLE for would be an 8.8 out of a Maverick (if you can get one) they are swooped on here AS THE FORK lit sets it down....Your absolute easiest, no hassles is the 63 to 67 Ford Econoline 9"er,, hands down. Even if you have to give a few bucks more, its a bolt in!!!!!!! no labor or screwing around, AND IT HAS THE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER 2 1/2" REAR BRAKES TOO BOOT!!!!!
vic

I just bought a 1965 Econo that has a 302, automatic, and a 7 1/2" rear end. The engine and transmission came out of the car, so he had a short custom drive shaft made. The previous owner did the conversion in the 80s and ran it for 20 years before parking it. He used it to haul his motorcycle.

On the other hand, my first Econo was a 1965 with a 200 and a small rear axle. I broke an axle shaft in that one.

Kinda depends on how lucky you are I guess. Best I can tell ,mine has been running with the swap for at least two years. Dont know how much or how hard it was driven.

Its just a matter of time,, they were weak at best for the small six, and now you have some balls behind it,, just amount of time,,,thats all..
vic

Ok need help from the experts what rear is this?
It is a limited slip with 350 gears..don't know if it's a 7 1/2 or 9 ? can anyone tell by pics?
it can handle and has done this more then once

That's the prized 9" rear end.

That's the bad boy,, limited slip 28 spline third members are hard to come by. I just happen to have two of them for sale, LOL... 31 splines are all over the place and see them every week at the bone yards. NO 28 SPLINE ones though.
The 3:50 gears,no weight and a V8, make that thing a bomb out of the hole. BUT I am thinking 3:00 gears would also be quick and better on the high end. You have no weight and 3:50's will blow anything off the road from a red light.
THAT is one KLEEN looking truck,, wished I had the time for my own truck,,,DRATZZZZ,, super jealous now.
KRUD!!! VIC

Vic,

Good to see you back...hope you are doing well..without your help with your parts, I would not be buying new tires
thank you,,
ps if you, the orig poster need parts old skool is the man

Thnx,,, coming back slowly,, still no full use of my left arm but getting better. Things never took this long to heal before, but I never did it this badly either. Was dead on the spot if not for a Doctor passing by? Doing the best that I can.
Vic

Ok , Im going to use a bad word--chevy. A 10 bolt camaro is 6.5 '' wide ,dont know about mounting pads and shock mounts yet. Anyone tried that yet ? Since my truck is far from stock having a different rear doesnt bother me. Just lots easer to find camaro parts around here. Am I kicked off the board now?

You can do whatever you want with YOUR truck! We'll do what we can to help you keep it on the road.

I've been told a rear from a Chevy van , either a 10 or 12 bolt is almost a bolt in.

Duane in Tennessee