So far my stance has been Ford with Ford. Due to a good price, my stance may be moving to Chevy with Ford.

I have been offered a 1980 Chevy 10 Bolt rearend for FREE!! Does anyone else have this set up, and how well does it hold up to a 460 and what modifications are needed to make it fit a 1949 F-1?

 

The force is strong with this one....

 

The 460 will eat that rear axle. There weren't that strong. The 12 bolts are okay. The 10 bolt is pretty much equivalent to a ford 8".

 

Most of the guys on the hotrodders site ditch the 10 bolt in favor of a ford 9" (and these are cheby guys).

 

There could be a reason it's free 10 bolts even in the big ten were pretty lousy rears. Maybe you could trade it for a Ford 9" Now that's a rearend!! Even the die hard GM guys run them, now don't that say something about 9" rears? Seriously from a guy who's real sorry about runnin a GM engine, trade it or sell it and get what you want. You wont be sorry.


Of course that's my opinion for what it's worth?

 

I'm with 51Dueller, sorry to say i only know people who swap OUT 10-bolts, never swap then IN.

when looking for an axle upgrade, finding something with the correct width, bolt pattern and of course desired gear ratio will save you a fortune.

 

Since your Gallery says you have a '49, a Ford 9" will bolt in. I don't recall the exact years (58-65ish ?) but there is a good reference chart listed on this site that explains the widths, bolt pattern etc.

I replaced a GM 12 Bolt which was a tad too wide with a '60 F150 9" in my '49 and it was a breeze.

 

I actually paid a guy to take my 10 bolt's from my shed. Go 9" imo.

 

those ten bolts were weak as the guys are saying . we had to run " stock " parts in the bomber classes and at least once a year we were swappin' out a diff . we had to put in c clip eliminator kits and the rules allowed it as they were prone to breaking axles and spittin' 'em out while you were trying to navigate around ye ol' dusty ovals . go with the 9 inch you'll be much better off .

 

57 to 72 F100 9'' rear axles are the same width.

 

By the way, you are already a "darksider" by virtue of your 460 or any other non stock item.

 

i prefer the 9inch, but have seen some c***y ch*t haul into the 10sec range with a 10bolt.... ill put it simple, anything can break if not built to handle what your going to throw at it....

 

Ok that one got shot down pretty quick.

You guys can kill an idea ALMOST as fast as my wife.


I will probably take the rearend anyway and see what I can get for it if anything.

 

Take it from a DARKSIDER that has been there and done that. You don't want a 10 bolt. Use a 9". You could use the 10 for a boat anchor. That's about all there good for. Or to hold a barn door shut. LOL.

 

That's what I'd do.