How much work to install the Chevelle 12 bolt in an X-frame car

[425/409ER]

I know people have done this before and I am too lazy to look it up, but I remember back in the 80's Doug Marion put one in his '62 SS in a Super Chevy article and as I do recall he said the lowers were pretty close and bolted right up but the uppers were what he needed to make something for. What I think he did was take the Chevelle upper control arms and cut them and weld them at a different angle to go to the X-bod frame mounts. For me this will not be to big of a swap now as I have more time and talent to do this swap. Any of you others do the 12 bolt swap?, as this would be the last part of the driveline I need to replace. Sure as hell not going to use the crappy pumpkin style rear end if I don't need to anymore.

 

[pvs409]

I have a 8.5 Chevy rear end with new fabricated connectors to fit a Chevelle 12 bolt that is for sale.
See the connectors in my for sale section on my web site link below.
I am 100 miles from Worthington Minnesota.

Parts For Sale - paulstensland.com

Original 1961 to 1964 Chevrolet Convertible drivers side and passenger side stainless steel moldings (also called pinchweld moldings) Matching set of drivers and passenger side moldings -one has a small crack in weld that would need welding of the butt weld. nice original stainless moldings with...

paulstensland.com

Paul

 

[1958 delivery]

I know people have done this before and I am too lazy to look it up, but I remember back in the 80's Doug Marion put one in his '62 SS in a Super Chevy article and as I do recall he said the lowers were pretty close and bolted right up but the uppers were what he needed to make something for. What I think he did was take the Chevelle upper control arms and cut them and weld them at a different angle to go to the X-bod frame mounts. For me this will not be to big of a swap now as I have more time and talent to do this swap. Any of you others do the 12 bolt swap?, as this would be the last part of the driveline I need to replace. Sure as hell not going to use the crappy pumpkin style rear end if I don't need to anymore.

Don't overlook the rear end width. Make certain your 12 bolts aren't wider

 

[425/409ER]

Don't overlook the rear end width. Make certain your 12 bolts aren't wider

It's pretty close and I have a lot of tire room with the wheels we have.

 

[425/409ER]

I have a 8.5 Chevy rear end with new fabricated connectors to fit a Chevelle 12 bolt that is for sale.
See the connectors in my for sale section on my web site link below.
I am 100 miles from Worthington Minnesota.

Parts For Sale - paulstensland.com

Original 1961 to 1964 Chevrolet Convertible drivers side and passenger side stainless steel moldings (also called pinchweld moldings) Matching set of drivers and passenger side moldings -one has a small crack in weld that would need welding of the butt weld. nice original stainless moldings with...

paulstensland.com

Paul

So is the $300 for all the brackets, upper control arms and the rear end housing? as I don't need the 8.5 housing but I assume the lowers were not welded on yet.

 

[pvs409]

Yes $300 for everything in the pictures including the items listed below
New high strength bolts mount the new dual upper arms bracket assembly to the x frame ( there are 6 new high strength bolts used to mount the two arms to the x frame ( 3 per side) & two additional bolts mount the full width bracket centering it on the x frame
Both 1961-1964 lower control arms brackets were welded to the 8.5 housing( they could be removed and reused).

Also includes, not in pictures, both 8.5 - 28 spline C clip axles, both brake backing plates and brake hardware with brakes still attached, and a very nice 3.73 ring & pinion for 8.5 rear end.
The section of a 61-64 Chevy frame in the pictures was cut out and used to mount all these new parts - it was to be installed in 63 Chevy 2 door sedan that he sold

i have a extra 61-64 bare rear end housing that I can sell.
Paul
712-223-1962 cell

 

[63 dream'n]

Here’s an article I had posted sometime ago…….

63 409 with car questions . | 348 and 409 Engines

Hi ..Its been a while since I've been on this site and found it extremely useful with the build that i did. Well its come to that stage when i got the urge to do some more work to the impala,Again. The passed year ive had a rear main seal leak and thought that id use it to my advantage...

www.348-409.com

 

[425/409ER]

Yes $300 for everything in the pictures including the items listed below
New high strength bolts mount the new dual upper arms bracket assembly to the x frame ( there are 6 new high strength bolts used to mount the two arms to the x frame ( 3 per side) & two additional bolts mount the full width bracket centering it on the x frame
Both 1961-1964 lower control arms brackets were welded to the 8.5 housing( they could be removed and reused).

Also includes, not in pictures, both 8.5 - 28 spline C clip axles, both brake backing plates and brake hardware with brakes still attached, and a very nice 3.73 ring & pinion for 8.5 rear end.
The section of a 61-64 Chevy frame in the pictures was cut out and used to mount all these new parts - it was to be installed in 63 Chevy 2 door sedan that he sold

i have a extra 61-64 bare rear end housing that I can sell.
Paul
712-223-1962 cell

I will call you later this week to see what we can work out. Thanks.

 

[425/409ER]

Going to meet up with Paul next week, Road trip

 

[425/409ER]

Here’s an article I had posted sometime ago…….

63 409 with car questions . | 348 and 409 Engines

Hi ..Its been a while since I've been on this site and found it extremely useful with the build that i did. Well its come to that stage when i got the urge to do some more work to the impala,Again. The passed year ive had a rear main seal leak and thought that id use it to my advantage...

www.348-409.com

Well if I read this right, the lowers on a Chevelle 12 bolt are the same alignment as the 58-64 lower brackets, interesting.

 

[63 dream'n]

That is how it reads to me also

 

[Gliderider06]

So, I read and re-read this a few times. What comes to mind is that if it's nearly a direct bolt in, why do we not have done it more? Or along the same lines, a swap kit offered with the upper arms already made with the proper bends in them? I would also think that a 10 bolt rear would be a little stronger than our factory units that we run.
The pictures in the article shows what looks like the uppers were welded together to use the Chevelle upper mounts. Would it be gust as easy, or better to weld new mounts to the tubes and not worry about fabricating upper mounts? This has me thinking that I may try to go this route next year as I start to tackle the rear come spring.

 

[425/409ER]

So, I read and re-read this a few times. What comes to mind is that if it's nearly a direct bolt in, why do we not have done it more? Or along the same lines, a swap kit offered with the upper arms already made with the proper bends in them? I would also think that a 10 bolt rear would be a little stronger than our factory units that we run.
The pictures in the article shows what looks like the uppers were welded together to use the Chevelle upper mounts. Would it be gust as easy, or better to weld new mounts to the tubes and not worry about fabricating upper mounts? This has me thinking that I may try to go this route next year as I start to tackle the rear come spring.

I will let everyone know how this goes next year when I get ready to do the rear end install. I am sure this 8.5 would be a strong rear end in our car also as I have beat the snot out of the one in my Camaro for the last 30 years with BBC's and nitrous shots running in the low 10's at times.

 

[Skip FIx]

My 8.5 in my trans Am has gone a lot of 1.5 60 fts with factory 28 spline axles and an Eaton posi. Pretty sure most of the bearing sizes are the same as a 12 bolt.

 

[La Hot Rods]

The Pontiac Old's rear's were odd ducks to say. Do your best to keep them together

 

[425/409ER]

Road Trip this AM to meet up with Paul.

 

[425/409ER]

Got to meet Paul and purchased the frame adapters and 10 bolt from him today. A long drive to meet up but I enjoy it and meeting new people.
Going to be a good year in the driveline dept. me thinks in '24.

 

[blkblk63ss]

Got to meet Paul and purchased the frame adapters and 10 bolt from him today. A long drive to meet up but I enjoy it and meeting new people.
Going to be a good year in the driveline dept. me thinks in '24.

No pictures??

 

[425/409ER]

No pictures??

Well, just for you, here you go.

 

[425/409ER]

So I am catching all kinds of hell for this kind of swap and the 9" ferd guys are all over me to buy one of those rear ends to do this swap. I have to laugh as I told most of them "I am a fabricator I can make things you can't" LOL. No matter what, our car will have a new rear axle assy in it, be a 10 or 12 bolt, it's going to happen next year. I can't wait to get this done and dive the car like a stole it