Parkwood rear end swap

OK folk, I'm a new member. I sold one of my Vettes and bought myself a 60' Chevy Parkwood for XMas. I really am having fun working on it and hope to be road ready by mid-June. The previous owner had already upgraded the engine/transmission (350) installed Vette disc brakes and re-wired everything. I've been working on the suspension and interior. One of he things I need help with is a rear end swap I want to do. The Parkwood doesn't have posi-traction. I plan to install a LS6 and 4L60e tranny. I need a chevy 12 bolt rear end to swap in. I've been told a Chevelle unit is a good choice...if so, which one?

 

Skip the 12 bolt 9" ford rear is the way to go. Cheaper and easier to get parts for. Did it last year in my 59. You can buy the rear end already Cut and weldedto fit in from SummitRacing

 

I really appreciate the advice . I'm really trying to do this swap without breaking the bank . I'd be satisfied with an OEM unit. Even though I plan to install a LS6 and 4l60e I don't plan to take it to the track . Just a red light bandit .

So, having said all that is there a Chevy unit that will bolt in? I wanna keep my Rally wheels . It would be nice to have disc brakes .

I found that the 67-69 Camaro is the correct width , but I'd have to weld on some of the mounts. I Don't seem to be able to find a suitable upgrade on the Internet , so I may end up searching out a replacement in a junkyard .

 

If you are talking affordability. ANY 12 bolt of the vintage you are talking especially in a factory posi unit, I suggest taking the other guys advice and use a ford 9". I would about guess you could buy a bolt in ready basically new rear for what a used 12 bolt will cost in "usable" condition. That may or may not need work. Unless you get lucky.

 

If I go with the 9" Ford, will my Chevy Rally wheels bolt on?

 

Factory bolt pattern NO. But I would think if you get a new one you can get whatever you want?

 

Couldn't a machine shop drill the axle ends to accomodate a Chevy bolt pattern? All one would need is an accomodating lathe.

 

I'm cheap and old school. All of my old cars, Ford and Chevy, have the earlier Camaro or Nova 10 bolt rears. Like the word Cadillac, only the name changes the junk yard price. A Nova rear doesn't know it's not a Camaro or an old station wagon. But the salvage guy does. Here the mileage and vehicle is usually marked on the rear.
If you look around you can get disc brakes. I'd average $100-$150 complete and just changing the spring mount spacing is needed. New spring pads are cheap. Or if you have coils just move those pads. If it's spacing you're worried about, you can get different offset rally wheels.

 

A Chevy doesn't know whether a Nova or Ford rear end is bolted on, either. There used to be a machine shop, across from the elementary school I attended. I went into the back door of the place and found someone still there on a lathe. I presented him the VW Beetle flywheel I needed machined out, to fit a modern bronze bushing into it, so that I could bolt up the '61 1200 cc to a Super Beetle transaxle which had a 1600 previously attached to it. A came back, after a couple of days and payed the man under the table. Simple as that.
There must be someone around who could stick those Ford axle shafts into some lathe chuck. Then, cut a groove to the exact Chevy bolt pattern diameter. He could then turn the axle shafts to evenly space each pin punch for drilling the 5 holes which will accomodate the wheel studs. No magic to it and you won't need to pay Camaro rear end prices. The coil spring mounts can be carefully removed from the old rear end and then welded onto the Ford's. Same goes with the mounts connecting the track bars. A Camaro rear end would be too short, anyway.

 

Many years ago there was a small shop where a pair of brothers built complete Ford rear ends for racing and street use. They'd do it anyway a customer wanted.
This was in a tiny community north of our small town. These shops are everywhere if you ask around. I agree, for me older Fords and tri-five Chevys made the early Camaro-Nova the perfect width.
My old Fords smile when I drive them with all Chevy running gear.
Look at those smiles.

 

I'd keep the hoods of those Fords shut, Sir. Otherwise, you may become the victim of an assassination attempt conspired by Ford Puritans who use some protest rally Anarchist, earning $50 and a tainted box lunch, as a patsy.

 

So many old Fords around here with Chevy engines that the average people think they came from the factory that way.

 

Thanks for the advice on Camaro/Nova. I'll start researching the width of Camaro/Nova rear ends. Since I have coil springs, I need to weld on those mounts and maybe the shocks. We'll see. I am determined to keep my Rally Wheels. I do know where there is one on an El Camino, but I need to get the year so I can check the width. It's gonna be a while before I install the LS6, so there is no rush.

 

You may need a wider rear or backspaced rallys. Start measuring. Some Camaros and T A's have rear disc brakes.

 

What's wrong with keeping the rear disc brakes?