8.5 Chevrolet S-10 rearend

[dwhite]

Was looking around and noticed the post about the 8.8 Ford rearend, then found some info that an 8.5 GM rearend out of a newer S10 would work great but costs more. I looked around on car-part.com and found a few, but I was just wondering if I would want the one out of a 2wd or 4wd? Which would be better? I have an 88 ext. cab S10, and want to build it street/strip, have good all around performance, take off fast, but still be able to go fast when I get to the topend. The 2wd one's have a 3.08 ratio/opt GU4, the 4wd one's have 3.73 ratio and 3.42 ratio, opt. GU6. Any ideas?

[wheelspin]

Sounds like you still want some top end with a decent amount of get-up-and-go. Well I would reccomend the 3.42's all the way. now as far a 2 or 4wd as far as I know an 8.5 is an 8.5. -scott

[grimpuppy]

I believe the 8.5's are quite a bit wider. I believe they are 8" wider than the older 2wd and 4" wider than the older 4x4 rear. I maybe wrong but I am sure there has been post on here before about them.

[Ryoung68]

The 8.5" out of a 4x4 is wider than the one out of a 2 wd model. The 8.5" I have came from a 1995 2 wd S10 and bolted right in with the same 4.5" backspacing. It does have the 3.08 gears but that will be changed soon.

[rudedogg]

if you want to save money on the deal,get a rear end from a 74-81 camaro or firebird they are 8.5" and plentyful and cheap(80.00)add your choice of gears cause most range from 2.56-3.08 some z28s &t/a's came with 3.42s(rare)

you will need 4th gen offset rims due to the length.Lt1 or Ls1 rear brakes will fit on the axle tubes.

[RopeS]

I have a 8.5 out of a 2002 Blazer 2wd. It has the G80 and 3.42's. You want one from a 2wd unless you want the wheels to stick out farther, because the 8.5's from the regular 4x4's are 4" wider and the 8.5's from the Zr2's are 8" wider. Those widths are overall, so that would be 2 and 4" wider per side respectively.



As long as it's 2wd it will bolt right up. Whether it's from a blazer or truck makes no difference. Some of the Blazer ones (like mine) have discs. http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif



Pics are here if you want to check them out..





http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n310/91LilNoma/ (http://null)



A couple pics on page 2 shows the discs pretty good.



<font size=1>[ This message was edited by: RopeS on 2007-10-10 19:57 ]</font>

[Nicksblazers]

RopeS is correct about the widths and so forth.I purchased my 8.5 on e-bay motors from a place in Florida I think the name of it is S-10 warehouse.If you want the info let me know.It is a posi with disc brakes and uncut emergency brake cables.

[Scotty_S-15]

On 2007-10-10 19:56, RopeS wrote:

I have a 8.5 out of a 2002 Blazer 2wd. It has the G80 and 3.42's. You want one from a 2wd unless you want the wheels to stick out farther, because the 8.5's from the regular 4x4's are 4" wider and the 8.5's from the Zr2's are 8" wider. Those widths are overall, so that would be 2 and 4" wider per side respectively.

As long as it's 2wd it will bolt right up. Whether it's from a blazer or truck makes no difference. Some of the Blazer ones (like mine) have discs. http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

Pics are here if you want to check them out..

http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n310/91LilNoma/ (http://null)

A couple pics on page 2 shows the discs pretty good.





Let's try this:

RopeS's Pix (http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n310/91LilNoma/ )

[dwhite]

Cool, thanks guys. Now just gotta figure out how to sneak the money out of the checking account without the girlfriend noticing http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

[stonebreaker]

So exactly what's the difference in width between the 2wd s10 8.5 and the 74-81 camaro 8.5?



PS - Ropes, I love that truck. Even the paint is close to what I was thinking about.

[RopeS]

Hey thanks for the help with the link.. I'm really not that good with all this computer stuff. http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif I'm lucky I got the link to work at all.. haha. And thanks for the compliments on my truck.



I couldn't tell you what the difference in widths is between the Camaro 8.5 and S10/Blazer 8.5, but all I know is that there is no rear out there, besides From S-series, that will bolt up into the truck without modding the spring perches at the very least. The closest I think would be a rear from an Explorer, but I think even that requires a pretty good sized lever to stretch the springs out on each side to get it to bolt in, but most people make it work like that.







<font size=1>[ This message was edited by: RopeS on 2007-10-15 22:21 ]</font>

[stonebreaker]

I've got a wrecked impala ss with a rear end with 3.73's and a torsen T2 posi. I'm going to have to narrow the rear end regardless, but I was thinking I might come out ahead if I sold the impala rear and modded a camaro one, which is why I asked.