Thread: s10 rearend under full fendered model A

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Has anyone out there used an S10 rearend in a full fendered model A ford, with a stock 15" chev wheel. Do the tires fit in the fenders properly" I will know the answer by the end of the week, as I am starting trial assembly of my roadster pickup. I am using a stock model A narrow style box and a stock width model A frame, and stock 1970? chev steel wheels from the local wrecking yard. This thing was in semi peices, with no fenders when I bought it.

Hi---I just measured the S10 rearend. It is 53 3/4" from axle flange to axle flange. When I pulled the wheels off SURPRISE---damn thing has no brake drums on it. Now, assuming that the brake drums are say---1/2" thick each, that makes it 54 3/4" face to face of drums, where the wheels set up against. For some reason, the auto wreckers around Barrie, Ontario seem mentally challenged, and I am having a hard time getting plain steel 15" wheels to mount on this rearend. I have checked carefully, with a Vernier micrometer, and an S10 rearend has a 5 bolt pattern, on a
4 3/4" bolt circle. The studs appear to be 12 millimeter diameter, (approximately 0.472"). Hope this helps.

I am building a 1931 roadster pick-up, and the dimension from side to side of the box, where my fenders mount, is 43", and the fenders are 11" wide from the mounting surface(against the box) to the inside of the outer edge of the fender. I think that dimension should be the same for a roadster, I"m not sure about coupes.

Brian, first, the drums are usually only 1/8" thick at the flange, so you need to dial back your calculation a little.

It's not uncommon to put a maverick rear under these which measure 56" mounting flange to mounting flange (with drums on). So looks like you're in good shape. 4 3/4 bolt circle is "standard" Chevrolet pattern, so as long as the drum doesn't do anything funky shape wise then lots of options out there. If your measurements are accurate, you should be able to use a wheel with up to 1" positive offset, but it's always a good idea to do a mock up to verify.

The S10 rear is limited in gear selection and posi option. They are also all leaf spring rears and more expensive in junk yards. I learned all the Coil rears are a dime a dozen for the Buicks ETC.. F body cars. The internals are identical and many are posi units. That being said if you want a 4:10 or 3:77 posi for your leaf rear get the cheap coli rear and install carrier and the 4 to 3 ratio something gears from the leaf for a cheap posi setup.
I did this in a 383 powered S10 pickup and have blown several rears so found a way to get cheap posi replacements. The GM parts guys will say they only have open 4:10 rears for an S10 truck in the books !!