Impala wagon rear end

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

dragginwagon · 09-13-2010, 05:07 PM

reading your advice Mark reminded me of the demise of my 66 Pontiac wagon 396 325 hp 400 turbo and 12 bolt posi...ripped out the left lower control arm and sold car for $400.00...1986...oh well

Bob Bender · 09-13-2010, 08:50 PM

Get the 12 Bolt..............I run that with a 5.57 ......at 4400 lbs.

Mike Taylor 3601 · 09-13-2010, 09:23 PM

Like Mark said Pro Gears. 10 blts.there are'nt pro gears and 8.5,5.57 is lowest made
Mike Taylor3601

09-13-2010, 12:24 PM	#1
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,130 Likes: 1,592 Liked 1,909 Times in 427 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	#2
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	#3
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,832 Likes: 2,926 Liked 5,142 Times in 1,963 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	#4
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

09-13-2010, 05:07 PM	#5
dragginwagon Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 30 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Impala wagon rear end reading your advice Mark reminded me of the demise of my 66 Pontiac wagon 396 325 hp 400 turbo and 12 bolt posi...ripped out the left lower control arm and sold car for $400.00...1986...oh well

09-13-2010, 08:50 PM	#6
Bob Bender VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,737 Likes: 1,601 Liked 460 Times in 91 Posts	Re: Impala wagon rear end Get the 12 Bolt..............I run that with a 5.57 ......at 4400 lbs. __________________ Bob Bender 144 O/SA 2010-2012 National Record Holder

09-13-2010, 09:23 PM	#7
Mike Taylor 3601 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somerset,Ky Posts: 1,374 Likes: 359 Liked 308 Times in 103 Posts	Re: Impala wagon rear end Like Mark said Pro Gears. 10 blts.there are'nt pro gears and 8.5,5.57 is lowest made Mike Taylor3601