Need help with rear end restoration

by Sinister Mon Apr 02, 2012 5:47 am

I'm waiting on a 74 Elky to arrive from the west coast...in the mean time,I'm trying to make some room in the garage.
My current A body Project was hacked up by the previous owner who was a welder and tried to weld everything.
He welded in F body mounts,rather than bolting in those made for Chevelle.
He welded the exhaust system because he had to modify the headers to fit the mounts that were incorrect.
He swapped in a 73 and later rear end in which the geometry is off.
I plan on removing this 10 bolt chevy posi and installing it into the Elky..unless it also has a posi..in which I'll keep it as a spare.
I have a 73 and 75 service manual...so I have the dimensions to measure everything once I get the rear ends removed.
What I could use is detailed photos of someone restoring the rear suspension setup in a 68-72 and/or 73 and later.
Thanks Guys.
Here is my hacked up setup at the moment...try not to laugh... Evil or Very Mad

Need help with rear end restoration Fc8e2r

by Sinister Mon Apr 02, 2012 5:48 am

by Sinister Mon Apr 02, 2012 5:49 am

by Sinister Mon Apr 02, 2012 6:03 am

by 77mali Mon Apr 02, 2012 5:13 pm

http://www.g3gm.com/t75-hydro-king-s-suspension-upgrades

This might help you. There is other suspension related items in the tech section.

by Sinister Mon Apr 02, 2012 7:02 pm

Thanks for the link....Don't know what to say... affraid

I don't think my skills in fabrication are that good.
Just looking to make the car safe and drivable.
I'll hunt around the tech section...Thanks again.

by 77mali Mon Apr 02, 2012 7:09 pm

Sinister wrote:Thanks for the link....Don't know what to say...
I don't think my skills in fabrication are that good.
Just looking to make the car safe and drivable.
I'll hunt around the tech section...Thanks again.

LOL, You & me both w/ those mods... pale

by bigredlaguna Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:15 pm

Is the axle rotated so the spring doesn't sit square on the mount? Did he weld (or re-weld) the mount for the springs? I just can't see how else it would be so far out of line. The shock is bolted to the wrong place also.

by Sinister Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:34 pm

Yes.he welded the spring perches incorrectly.
The 68-72 have staggered shock arrangement.
The rear end is coming out and a correct 1968-1972 will be installed.
Funny how some folks can weld but have no mechanical ability or common sense...LOL

by bigredlaguna Wed Apr 04, 2012 12:10 am

Why in the world would the spring perches need to be moved!!? Are 68-72 in a different place than 73-77? I would use the axle from the incoming car to template where they need to be. I bet you could even eyeball it better than that other fellow did.

by Sinister Fri Apr 06, 2012 6:53 pm

I'm guessing the control arms are a different length.
I removed the upper ones...and the perches stay where they are at.
Don't want to re move the air shocks yet as the vehicle still needs to be moved to make access for another project.
Even if the spring perches were welded better...the drive line would still be incorrect.
The rear end pinion is canted up at an angle...not straight.
This would result in U joints wearing and surely an unsafe driving condition.
I will try to take a lot of photos of the swap and give you guys a better understanding of what I'm seeing.
I'm currently hunting down a replacement rear for the 71.

by Joe73 Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:10 pm

If I remember correctly, the upper control arms for 72 and earlier are different than 73 and later. I know for sure that the lower control arm length is the same for all years. I've had solid (custom square tube with sleeves welded in each end for the bolts) lower control arms from a 70 chevelle in my 73 years ago. I've even run solid aluminum rear end bushings with grease fittings in both my uppers and lower arms as well. Sure am glad I kept my original arms with sway bar intact in the roof of my garage.

by Sinister Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:09 pm

I got the rear end removed today.
The code on the rear end is zy-1977 308 posi.
Any ideas what vehicle it came out of?
Malibu wagon?
I took off the cover,and removed the lubricant and had a look see.
pretty clean inside...not much of anything besides fluid.
whats the best way to clean the posi unit before refilling and adding a new cover?
Thanks.

by Sinister Sat May 05, 2012 7:13 pm

I'm guessing the 308 came from a Monte Carlo.
I'm ordering a few cheap brake parts for the Monte to see if they match what I have.
The drums from the Elky original 74 are different than the 308 axle,the shoes are the same though.
I installed the posi today,and noticed the joker who sold me my Le Mans welded the spring perches incorrectly.
He welded them too far forward,instead of centering them over the axle tube.
In the current arrangement the shocks rub the springs.
I'm going to remove the spring perches from both axles and have the good original Elky perches welded correctly.
This is what it should look like.

Need help with rear end restoration 2njzr5k

Need help with rear end restoration 2njzr5k

by Sinister Sat May 05, 2012 7:17 pm

This is how the chump had it installed...
He tried grafting in a 77 rear end into a 71,and failed terribly.
But it gets me a nice 308 Posi for the Elky. bom

Need help with rear end restoration Io3dzt

by pila Sat May 05, 2012 10:29 pm

Are the brackets for the control arms in the correct position ? They would affect the angle of the pinion if they aren't in the right place.

by Sinister Sun May 06, 2012 12:03 am

The control arms that came installed with the posi that I removed are weak.
Rust through in a small section along the length of one side.
I snapped off the bolts removing the sway bar.
While I have it apart,I'd like to just replace them and save problems down the road.
Another member from another site posted this link...not bad for $279.

http://www.pmtfabrication.com/Products/99-73-77-monte-carlo-a-body-boxed-rear-suspension-kit.aspx

by pila Sun May 06, 2012 7:52 pm

Those look very good, and the price is right too. If the pinion angle falls into where it should be, those are the way to go. Otherwise, you may need adjustable upper arms, which that place may have also.

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