Impala wagon rear end

dragginwagon · 09-13-2010, 08:03 AM

have been told that no matter what I do 10 bolt rear end will not stand up to launching 4000lb wagon...any thoughts ??

Jim Cimarolli · 09-13-2010, 09:37 AM

8.2 or 8.5 10 bolt?
Engine size?
Stick or auto?

dragginwagon · 09-13-2010, 10:12 AM

327 275 hp 4 speed is the drivetrain I plan to use...other wagons I have seen are using extremely low gears in rear end... 6:14's??... thanx

dragginwagon · 09-13-2010, 10:16 AM

forgot to add...8.2" I believe as it is original to car...67 Impala

Alan Roehrich · 09-13-2010, 11:09 AM

The problem with that much gear in a small 10 bolt is the pinion is going to be about the size of your thumb.

dragginwagon · 09-13-2010, 12:10 PM

Is a GM 12 bolt my only other option if I want to run stock? my 10 bolt measures 56 1/2 " backing plate to backing plate...

Alan Roehrich · 09-13-2010, 12:24 PM

If you can get the right gear, you might be able to run a later 10 bolt, maybe something from a full size wagon or sedan from the eighties, some of them had the big 10 bolt.

You might be able to run something beside the 12 bolt. There might be a small savings in weight, drag, and initial cost. However, gear life could be a serious problem, and buying gears, installation kits, and paying for labor could get expensive fast. The slower cars are successful by being stone reliable and consistent. Remove some reliability and the slow cars are at more of a disadvantage.

09-13-2010, 02:22 PM

The 67 to 72 impala twelve bolt was fairly common and still is not too hard to find. I have a housing available. Call me if you might be interested.
Chris Hardy
J/SA
231-740-5862

Mark Yacavone · 09-13-2010, 04:28 PM

The Impala 12 bolt is the only option for that car. ( with a 4 arm housing and suspension)
All others are not even close with the mounting brackets.
You could cut the brackets off the original rear, but no other 12 bolts are that wide.
You NEED to use 12 bolt pro gears too, a girdle cover ,and a good spool and axles.

You will need to fabricate new upper and lower arms too. You'll tear the ends right out of the original one.
Also you'll tear the left lower arm mount off if you don't address that issue before hand.
Don't short cut any of this . It's not worth it.
Now you'll be able to start counting the runs on your ring and pinion and re -shimming it periodically as it bends and cracks.
BTW, you're looking for a 65-70 housing.

dragginwagon · 09-13-2010, 05:02 PM

Thanx for your input...I am starting with a bare frame so reenforcing of brackets is easily done at this point...I was leaning toward boxing the lower control arms and welding together pairs of the uppers flange to flange...is adjustment important for the uppers??...I guess I will have to track down a 12 bolt and build it up...my e-mail address is dragginwagon @hotmail.com if you want to reach me Chris...I will be attending Canams at Grand Bend at the end of the month

09-13-2010, 08:03 AM	#1
dragginwagon Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 30 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Impala wagon rear end have been told that no matter what I do 10 bolt rear end will not stand up to launching 4000lb wagon...any thoughts ??

09-13-2010, 09:37 AM	#2
Jim Cimarolli Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sulphur Springs Texas Posts: 734 Likes: 118 Liked 151 Times in 42 Posts	Re: Impala wagon rear end 8.2 or 8.5 10 bolt? Engine size? Stick or auto?

09-13-2010, 10:12 AM	#3
dragginwagon Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 30 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Impala wagon rear end 327 275 hp 4 speed is the drivetrain I plan to use...other wagons I have seen are using extremely low gears in rear end... 6:14's??... thanx

09-13-2010, 10:16 AM	#4
dragginwagon Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 30 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Impala wagon rear end forgot to add...8.2" I believe as it is original to car...67 Impala

09-13-2010, 11:09 AM	#5
Alan Roehrich VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 4,936 Likes: 1,021 Liked 1,093 Times in 286 Posts	Re: Impala wagon rear end The problem with that much gear in a small 10 bolt is the pinion is going to be about the size of your thumb. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

09-13-2010, 12:10 PM	#6
dragginwagon Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 30 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Impala wagon rear end Is a GM 12 bolt my only other option if I want to run stock? my 10 bolt measures 56 1/2 " backing plate to backing plate...

09-13-2010, 12:24 PM	#7
Alan Roehrich VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 4,936 Likes: 1,021 Liked 1,093 Times in 286 Posts	Re: Impala wagon rear end If you can get the right gear, you might be able to run a later 10 bolt, maybe something from a full size wagon or sedan from the eighties, some of them had the big 10 bolt. You might be able to run something beside the 12 bolt. There might be a small savings in weight, drag, and initial cost. However, gear life could be a serious problem, and buying gears, installation kits, and paying for labor could get expensive fast. The slower cars are successful by being stone reliable and consistent. Remove some reliability and the slow cars are at more of a disadvantage. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

09-13-2010, 02:22 PM	#8
Chris Hardy Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Impala wagon rear end The 67 to 72 impala twelve bolt was fairly common and still is not too hard to find. I have a housing available. Call me if you might be interested. Chris Hardy J/SA 231-740-5862

09-13-2010, 04:28 PM	#9
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,473 Likes: 2,648 Liked 4,570 Times in 1,732 Posts	Re: Impala wagon rear end The Impala 12 bolt is the only option for that car. ( with a 4 arm housing and suspension) All others are not even close with the mounting brackets. You could cut the brackets off the original rear, but no other 12 bolts are that wide. You NEED to use 12 bolt pro gears too, a girdle cover ,and a good spool and axles. You will need to fabricate new upper and lower arms too. You'll tear the ends right out of the original one. Also you'll tear the left lower arm mount off if you don't address that issue before hand. Don't short cut any of this . It's not worth it. Now you'll be able to start counting the runs on your ring and pinion and re -shimming it periodically as it bends and cracks. BTW, you're looking for a 65-70 housing. __________________ We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for..... Will Rogers Last edited by Mark Yacavone; 09-13-2010 at 04:34 PM.

09-13-2010, 05:02 PM	#10
dragginwagon Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 30 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Impala wagon rear end Thanx for your input...I am starting with a bare frame so reenforcing of brackets is easily done at this point...I was leaning toward boxing the lower control arms and welding together pairs of the uppers flange to flange...is adjustment important for the uppers??...I guess I will have to track down a 12 bolt and build it up...my e-mail address is dragginwagon @hotmail.com if you want to reach me Chris...I will be attending Canams at Grand Bend at the end of the month