What axle for a 350 engine?

murphystoys

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2005
Location
Greensboro NC
I am building a '48 chevy and am about to drop a 350 in it to replace the old inline 6. I am going to replace the rear axle on the truck but dont know what I should go with for the 350 motor and tranny. I was thinking of putting an s10 axle on it before I got the 350 but now I dont know if that axle or the gears could handle the motor. Anyone got an idea of what kind of axle I should go with without burning a hole in my pocket?

Also if anyone has a 350 tranny for sale let me know!
 
^ Depends on what s10. ZR2's came with an 8.5" 10 Bolt, same as the fullsizes. That would hold up.
 
You could do what I did, get a 94 n up 4 cyl. auto. s10 rear. most of them were 410. I had no problems with it sittin' behind my 350 with a Cooks 350 turbo. Good gas milage too.If thats not good enough try a Ford 9" out of a car.
 
Id use a ford 9".....I have a narrow rear housing if you're interested.
 
I've been running the stock 19 spline D44 in my '51 Ford for quite a while, pushing it with a "mild" 390hp smallblock with no issues. I think I'll be doing either a 9" or 8.8 Ford swap soon just for a higher gear ratio soon though. The biggest concern is width if you're looking for an easy swap, find an axle as close as possible to the factory width or narrower if your chosen wheel/tire combo needs it. On your '48 a 4x4 S10 axle will be pretty close to stock width, as will and 8.8 Explorer/Ranger axle, both are easy to find with disc brake pretty cheap, a 9" from a car application or a late 60's truck would also be a pretty close fit.
 
9" rear
12bolt
10bolt
any would serve you well.....
 
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