54 vette solid axle
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 169
Likes: 11
From: Yorba Linda CA
54 vette solid axle
First of all please excuse my ignorance on the matter. In my continuing “midlife crisis”, I have purchase a 54 vette which is in boxes. It came with two different solid rearends and a set of axle shafts with bearings. The third member dates correctly for a 54 and fits both solid axles. One rearend has a removable rear cover plate and the brake housing back plates are riveted on permanently. The other has a fully welded cover and the brake backing plates bolt on. The axle shaft bearings fit the welded rearend and not the other. Which is the correct setup? If it is the one with the removable cover plate then the bearing don’t fit so can I just get the correct bearing size and reuse the axles?
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,606
Likes: 210
From: Nevada City Ca.
2015 C1 of Year
If you don't have the front third member (ring & pinion set up) your in for a vary hard time getting one or finding one in good shape. For the end that the cover comes off 53 to 55 Corvette only
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 169
Likes: 11
From: Yorba Linda CA
Thats what I thought. I do have the third member set up in pretty good shape. Now the next question. The axles have bearings on them that are to large to fit into the correct rearend housing. Is it just a smaller diameter bearing I press on to the axles? And how are the axles held in place? The last pisture shows the end where the bearing needs to insert.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,606
Likes: 210
From: Nevada City Ca.
2015 C1 of Year
Thats what I thought. I do have the third member set up in pretty good shape. Now the next question. The axles have bearings on them that are to large to fit into the correct rearend housing. Is it just a smaller diameter bearing I press on to the axles? And how are the axles held in place? The last pisture shows the end where the bearing needs to insert.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 169
Likes: 11
From: Yorba Linda CA
Thanks everyone. This has really helped. I always wanted a 53-55 vette but I did not realize how little published information is out there regarding assembly. Having it in boxes and fully disassembled has created one interesting puzzle to re-assemble. Especially when I have mutliple similar parts like two rearend housing. Glad this forum is here to keep the knowledge base available to use rookies. Your help is much appreciated.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 169
Likes: 11
From: Yorba Linda CA
54 third member
I have a rebuilt third member with the following code. Build date of F178 and case number 3725899. It appears to be a 58 corvette rearend. Can this be used with 54 axles which have the C-clips to hold them in place? Or would I be forced to replace the third member section.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,606
Likes: 210
From: Nevada City Ca.
2015 C1 of Year
I have a rebuilt third member with the following code. Build date of F178 and case number 3725899. It appears to be a 58 corvette rearend. Can this be used with 54 axles which have the C-clips to hold them in place? Or would I be forced to replace the third member section.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 169
Likes: 11
From: Yorba Linda CA
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,606
Likes: 210
From: Nevada City Ca.
2015 C1 of Year
