magrag

Is the rear axle housing for a C1 Corvette (1962) special in any way or is one from a 1957 Chevy the same?
If it is different, what are the differences?

Does anyone know what would be the the cost of a used axle housing.

Same questions about the axle shafts?? Same as 1957 Chevy? Cost??

Thanks

Driver 61

I have a set of axel shafts if your in need of.
Richard
richard.galope@gmail.com

DZAUTO

The 58-62 Vette and 58-64 pass car BARE HOUSINGS (NO PADS FOR LEAF SPRINGS, COIL SPRINGS, OR PANHARD BAR) are essentially the same.
The 57 Vette and 57 pass car housings are different ONLY BECAUSE OF THE PLACEMENT OF THE PADS FOR THE LEAF SPRINGS!
The difference between 57 and 58-64 car housings is the width of the pocket at the ends of the housings where the bearing fits. The 57 car and Vette use a bearing that is .120 thinner than the 58-64 bearing (RW307 vs RW607 bearing).
The 57-58 car axles and 57-62 Vette axles are interchangeable. You just have to use the correct corrosponding axle bearing for the housing that the axle goes into. The 59-64 pass car axles will PHYSICALLY interchange into a 57-62 Vette housing, BUT, each (L&R) 59-64 car axle is about 1/2in longer. The additional 1/2in is between the bearing and the wheel flange of the axle (from the bearing to the end of the splines is the same length). Thus, if 59-64 car axles were installed in a 57-62 Vette housing, the rear wheel base would be about 1in wider.

While we're on the subject, the 55-6 car and 56 Vette axle housings/axles are the same, EXCEPT for the placement of the spring pads on the housings.
The 53-55 Vette complete rearend is VERY close to identical to the 49-54 car rearends. The major difference is that cars had an enclosed driveshaft and the 53-55 Vettes had an open drive shaft.

wmf62

and, FWIW, the 56 corvette axle housing is the same as the 57-62 corvette housing, EXCEPT that the 56 housing takes an axle bearing that is unique to 56....
Bill

DZAUTO

AND, in addition to that, because of the way the axles/bearings are designed, ONLY 55-56 pass car and 56 Vette axles will fit a 56 Vette housing.
You CANNOT put a 56 axle bearing on a 57-62 axle and make it fit. The reason is because the surface on the axle where the bearing is pressed on is in a different position between 55-6 and 57-62 (57-64 pass car) axles.

62Jeff

One minor nit, if NCRS is the goal of the original poster - the 62 corvette housing did not have a drain plug in the bottom of it under the gear set, earlier housings did.

wmf62

hmmm, no drain plug in my 56 housing but i have seen one in a 61 housing..
Bill

DZAUTO

For BOTH pass cars and Vettes, the drain plug on the bottom center of the axle housings was ONLY 57-61. Since these rearends are essentially the same for 55-64, I do not understand, and have never been able to find someone who can tell me why. WEIRD!
In the Vettes, the 59-62 axle housings are the same.
In the pass cars, the 59-64 housings are the same.
Thus, if for example, a 61 and 62 axle housing are 100% identical in every way except for the lack of a drain plug on 62-later housings, WHY?
Who has the answer?
Could this possibly be attributed to a corporate bean counter? Maybe. The cost to punch (not drill) a hole and cut threads in the housing and the cost of drain plugs/gaskets would be eliminated. so, for many thousands of rears, this would be a savings, but how much of a savings is anyone's guess.

L78racer

most likely cost savings.
remember when auto transmissions had drain plugs? those went away for the '73 model year.
i remember working at the chevy dealer in the early seventies. the '74 models came out and we soon noticed that they had eliminated the radiator drain completely. that made mechanics and owners very angry.
most 4 speeds had no drains except the m-22.

DZAUTO

EVERY Muncie that I rebuild (that doesn't have a drain plug) gets drilled, tapped and a magnetic drain plug installed. I also remove and toss (unless the customer wants it) the magnetic donut in the bottom of the case.

JohnZ

True, until 1970 - all Muncies from '70-up had drain plugs.

Remember when they removed the rear pump from the Powerglide and you couldn't push-start them any more?

DZAUTO

Yes, I do remember. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, I don't remember what was the FIRST year for no rear pump, 65? 66? 67?
I know 63 PGs had rear pumps because we had to push start my cousin's 63 Impala SS one very late night.

magrag

In my original post I was also asking about:
Can anyone help with the cost of the housing and axles??

How much will used ones cost me---if I can locate them???