Need gears and spool for 55-62 Corvette rear

Wade Mahaffey · 05-01-2008, 09:21 PM

Trying to find spool and gears ( 4:88-5:38 ) for a Chevy rear used in 55-64 passenger cars, and 55-62 Corvettes. I believe it to be an 8.2 but am not sure....please school me! If there is no spool availible, who has the best posi unit.

Terry Cain · 05-01-2008, 09:48 PM

Best I can remember from the old days, guys would change to a Pontiac or Olds rear-end. Suppose to be stronger.

Wade Mahaffey · 05-01-2008, 10:35 PM

Thanks Terry, I should have mentioned it was for stock. I have been told by NHRA it must be of the same type (third member) and from the same manufacture (Chevy) and not GM. That leaves me with nothing, but what they used back in the day. Probably a 4:56 and a posi. Or go SS, then it's wide open!

55 Chevy · 05-02-2008, 12:55 AM

Wade,I have a spool,axles,steel caps & gears for a 55-64 chev rear end. The axles are Henry's,the spool & steel caps are Summer's Brother's & the gears I believe Schiefer. I have a bunch of ratios anywhere from 3.08 to 5.57,some Pro & some street. Also have a complete "heavy duty" carrier with posi unit & 4.56 gears that I just took out of my '56 street car yesterday. E-mail me at marciala@telus.net if you are interested.

Allan

Rory McNeil · 05-02-2008, 01:51 AM

[QUOTE=Wade Mahaffey;67893]Thanks Terry, I should have mentioned it was for stock. I have been told by NHRA it must be of the same type (third member) and from the same manufacture (Chevy) and not GM.
Thats odd, if that was the case, a 5.0 Mustang guy wouldn`t be able to legally use a 9" in place of a 8.8, or a MoPar guy couldn`t replace 8 3/4 with a Dana. Sounds like you got some bad info.

Wade Mahaffey · 05-02-2008, 05:33 AM

Allan, Thanks for the information and I will be in touch. Doing more homework at the Div 2 race this weekend......Thanks for the good news !

Wade Mahaffey · 05-02-2008, 05:45 AM

Rory, I got that information from Wesley Roberson who explained it very well to me. Talking with him, I came away with the feeling that he wrote the rule book. He reminded me of a police officer, very nice and helpful. But not the guy you want to meet on the wrong side of the law.....or rule book ! I feel he is the source you want, prior to your build......do it right, or get pulled over later !

PJ305 · 05-02-2008, 06:41 AM

Wade,

Put a 12Bolt in it, been legal for years. Wesley better get a new rule book.

55 Chevy · 05-02-2008, 10:24 AM

Wade

The original units are quite weak. As you get into the lower ratios they do not have a lot of teeth on the pinion. For the street they are OK but for racing you better like doing "weekly" maintenence on the rearend. You will get tired of racing real quick using the old 10 bolt.

Allan

Wade Mahaffey · 05-02-2008, 05:55 PM

Thank you PJ305 and Allan for your information. I did speak with a few NHRA officials in Richmonds Divisonal race today. A few were OK with the 12 bolt, I then went to Jim Collins (NHRA DIV2 Tech Director) and explained my understanding from Wesley Roberson. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT I AM NOT LOOKING TO PUT ONE OFFICIAL AGINST THE OTHER. I am preparing to build this car and want to be afforded the same as the other racers, nothing more or less! Mr. Collins was in agreement with Mr. Roberson but, he would check it out with NHRA DIV1 director Mr. Bob Lang ( chairman of the Stock committee ). Hopefully they will see fit to allow the 12 bolt in a 60 Corvette Stocker. There are many rear end applications and/or components out there that differ from the rule book right now. All I want is what they are using.

05-01-2008, 09:21 PM	#1
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Need gears and spool for 55-62 Corvette rear Trying to find spool and gears ( 4:88-5:38 ) for a Chevy rear used in 55-64 passenger cars, and 55-62 Corvettes. I believe it to be an 8.2 but am not sure....please school me! If there is no spool availible, who has the best posi unit.

05-01-2008, 09:48 PM	#2
Terry Cain Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Georgetown, Indiana (close to Louisville, KY) Posts: 760 Likes: 492 Liked 224 Times in 103 Posts	Re: Need gears and spool for 55-62 Corvette rear Best I can remember from the old days, guys would change to a Pontiac or Olds rear-end. Suppose to be stronger. __________________ Terry Cain ???? STK tcain@twc.com

05-01-2008, 10:35 PM	#3
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Need gears and spool for 55-62 Corvette rear Thanks Terry, I should have mentioned it was for stock. I have been told by NHRA it must be of the same type (third member) and from the same manufacture (Chevy) and not GM. That leaves me with nothing, but what they used back in the day. Probably a 4:56 and a posi. Or go SS, then it's wide open!

05-02-2008, 12:55 AM	#4
55 Chevy Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Calgary,Alberta area Posts: 221 Likes: 15 Liked 12 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Need gears and spool for 55-62 Corvette rear Wade,I have a spool,axles,steel caps & gears for a 55-64 chev rear end. The axles are Henry's,the spool & steel caps are Summer's Brother's & the gears I believe Schiefer. I have a bunch of ratios anywhere from 3.08 to 5.57,some Pro & some street. Also have a complete "heavy duty" carrier with posi unit & 4.56 gears that I just took out of my '56 street car yesterday. E-mail me at marciala@telus.net if you are interested. Allan

05-02-2008, 01:51 AM	#5
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,257 Likes: 245 Liked 939 Times in 259 Posts	Re: Need gears and spool for 55-62 Corvette rear [QUOTE=Wade Mahaffey;67893]Thanks Terry, I should have mentioned it was for stock. I have been told by NHRA it must be of the same type (third member) and from the same manufacture (Chevy) and not GM. Thats odd, if that was the case, a 5.0 Mustang guy wouldn`t be able to legally use a 9" in place of a 8.8, or a MoPar guy couldn`t replace 8 3/4 with a Dana. Sounds like you got some bad info. __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

05-02-2008, 05:33 AM	#6
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Need gears and spool for 55-62 Corvette rear Allan, Thanks for the information and I will be in touch. Doing more homework at the Div 2 race this weekend......Thanks for the good news !

05-02-2008, 05:45 AM	#7
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Need gears and spool for 55-62 Corvette rear Rory, I got that information from Wesley Roberson who explained it very well to me. Talking with him, I came away with the feeling that he wrote the rule book. He reminded me of a police officer, very nice and helpful. But not the guy you want to meet on the wrong side of the law.....or rule book ! I feel he is the source you want, prior to your build......do it right, or get pulled over later !

05-02-2008, 06:41 AM	#8
PJ305 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 137 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Need gears and spool for 55-62 Corvette rear Wade, Put a 12Bolt in it, been legal for years. Wesley better get a new rule book.

05-02-2008, 10:24 AM	#9
55 Chevy Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Calgary,Alberta area Posts: 221 Likes: 15 Liked 12 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Need gears and spool for 55-62 Corvette rear Wade The original units are quite weak. As you get into the lower ratios they do not have a lot of teeth on the pinion. For the street they are OK but for racing you better like doing "weekly" maintenence on the rearend. You will get tired of racing real quick using the old 10 bolt. Allan

05-02-2008, 05:55 PM	#10
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Need gears and spool for 55-62 Corvette rear Thank you PJ305 and Allan for your information. I did speak with a few NHRA officials in Richmonds Divisonal race today. A few were OK with the 12 bolt, I then went to Jim Collins (NHRA DIV2 Tech Director) and explained my understanding from Wesley Roberson. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT I AM NOT LOOKING TO PUT ONE OFFICIAL AGINST THE OTHER. I am preparing to build this car and want to be afforded the same as the other racers, nothing more or less! Mr. Collins was in agreement with Mr. Roberson but, he would check it out with NHRA DIV1 director Mr. Bob Lang ( chairman of the Stock committee ). Hopefully they will see fit to allow the 12 bolt in a 60 Corvette Stocker. There are many rear end applications and/or components out there that differ from the rule book right now. All I want is what they are using.