Has any one seen a conversion kit to indepentent rear suspension off a corvette or even a custom setup? Maybe I'm just spoiled to have had three cars that had I.R.S. 69 datsun 510, 73 porsche 914, 72 datsun 510.

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The night-time is the right time

****James Bondo****
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CHECKING MY CORVETTE SOURCE, THERE ISN'T A "KIT" TO MODIFY TO AN INDEPENTENT REAR SUSPENSION. BEST BET IS TO FIND A '68-'82 WRECKED CORVETTE AND ROB IT. GOOD LUCK!!

Attempting this kind of rear end swap takes a lot of knowledge not to mention equipment. I thought of doing such a swap but could not find anyone who had successfully installed one. I could not even find anyone who even heard of it being done. Things get tricky when you have to fabricate a sub-frame to mount the independent suspension. Screw it up and your left with something that handles worse than the stock solid axle. By the way, the solid rear axle setup can be made to handle pretty well with just stiff springs and good shocks.
One more thing. I just remembered when I was doing my research I found a few independent rear companies that make custom setups for hot rods. I came across them in the hot rod mags like Street Rod and alike. These systems are sweet and can be installed into anything, give the right amount of cash. That last point is the most important. These fabricators are used to working on $100,000 rods. I remember the Jaguar type independent rear alone, made to your specs, was $5,000. Install would probably be a another couple grand. If you have the money go for it and let me know when it's done, I'd love to see it.

Joseph

[This message has been edited by Joseph (edited 10-27-99).]

I know a guy that used C5 Corvette front and rear suspension in a 57 vette. These old vette's had solid rear axles. His car won best engineered at the "World of Wheels" in Minneapolis/St. Paul in Spring of 99. I've also seen the same thing done on a 56 Chevy, and a 57 T-bird. It is possible, but best left to the professional hot rod builders. It is surely not a do-it-yourself type of thing.

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70 & 1/2 RS
SB406 & M20 4spd
9" rear

70 Malibu 350/TH400

Gold member #103

hi have fitted a 96 rear corvette axle into a 67 went in easier than i thought do you in tened to use vette wheels as i did 17"+9.5s
you need to fit rear cross member also you can use orig 4 bars but you have to cut a hole in rear tunnel for snout then replate and bolt in there if you use earlier 85-87 axle you can fit coil overs easier than the later models hope this helps


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I have a friend who had this done by Art Rasmussen Design and Fabrication. Looks good. He has a web site too. http://www.hotroddingtoday.com/

I know what you mean about 510's handling. If they just would have put some extra horsepower in them they would be worth as much as camaros.
Anyway, I know of one guy that put the independent rear end in a '70 from a 1981 Mercedes 300SD (first year of the 126 body). It requires tricky driveline work because there is no universal joint at the differential end. Instead it is a plate and leather-like disc, much like a steering box to column disc but on a large scale. The other hurdle was getting the right rim off-set due to the differences in axle width. But I can't remember if the width was wider or narrower. The Mercedes rear wheels due have disc calipers that are fairly cheap to maintain. And they use lug bolts instead of lug nuts. Sounds like this would be a cheaper conversion than a new kit, because you can find high mileage 300SD's everywhere for under $3500 still running and they are worth about $5000 in core charges if you part them out.
Regards

I'm planning on changing the whole "not enough power" in my two current projects. "Everybody needs some, everybody want some, how bout you?" Anyway i'm planning on putting a late model turbo 2.0 jap motor that makes 300 horses in my '69 datsun 510(V8's aren't fun in a chassis like the 510. I'm planning on putting a 300 horse 350 in my 914 as soon as I have the others done http://www.camaros.net/forum/wink.gif

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<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>
The night-time is the right time

****James Bondo****
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>