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Doing 2000 s10 rear end swap in 1977 vega wagon

PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 1:10 pm
by Drpepper454
Im working on a 1977 chevy vega wagon using a 2000 s10 rear end swap with disk brakes will it work and how do you use the torque arm still and what power master cylinder will work im changing the front to s10 5 lug to. Thank for any help

Re: Doing 2000 s10 rear end swap in 1977 vega wagon

PostPosted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 2:33 pm
by Smiley
S10 rear end is not a good choice for a torque arm car as there is no provision to mount the arm.
You can use early S10 axles in a 7.5 Monza/Vega housing to switch to 5 lug wheels, later S10 axles have a larger spline but they can also be used with some carrier and pinion mods.
There is an aftermarket 12 bolt housing with a torque arm provision now or a torque arm mount can be welded to a Ford 9 inch housing.

Re: Doing 2000 s10 rear end swap in 1977 vega wagon

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2018 3:19 pm
by Frosty92
Smiley wrote:S10 rear end is not a good choice for a torque arm car as there is no provision to mount the arm.
You can use early S10 axles in a 7.5 Monza/Vega housing to switch to 5 lug wheels, later S10 axles have a larger spline but they can also be used with some carrier and pinion mods.
There is an aftermarket 12 bolt housing with a torque arm provision now or a torque arm mount can be welded to a Ford 9 inch housing.



So using the s10 axles to make it 5 lug will the front hubs work as well if not what is the fix for the front?
Frosty92

Re: Doing 2000 s10 rear end swap in 1977 vega wagon

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2018 6:27 pm
by Smiley
For the front you can use S10 spindles along with S10 brakes to get 5 lugs and better brakes.

Re: Doing 2000 s10 rear end swap in 1977 vega wagon

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2018 8:54 pm
by hammerdown7
Smiley wrote:For the front you can use S10 spindles along with S10 brakes to get 5 lugs and better brakes.


You will need adapters for the ball joints if you use the stock h-body a-arms.

Re: Doing 2000 s10 rear end swap in 1977 vega wagon

PostPosted: Mon May 21, 2018 12:28 pm
by 75Monz
These are the adapters I used on mine for the swap...http://www.v8monza.com/catalog/index.htm .
You can find a guide for the front swap here...http://www.v8monza.com/faq-fsus-S10_front-walk-thru.htm

Re: Doing 2000 s10 rear end swap in 1977 vega wagon

PostPosted: Mon May 21, 2018 2:06 pm
by 67shovel
I have a 73 GT wagon w/ S-10 disc brake rear end. I don't have the torque arm problem but the calipers hit the rear body support that you can see with the rear wheel off in the wheelwell. Check for travel
.

Re: Doing 2000 s10 rear end swap in 1977 vega wagon

PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2018 5:15 pm
by Bullet
Has anyone tried a Camaro rear? Cutting axle tubes is a piece of cake using 3 or 4 inch by 3/8 inch angle and some good clamps as a weld jig to put the tubes back together. Cut it to S10 width and use S10 axles back in it and the housing has provision for a torque arm.

Re: Doing 2000 s10 rear end swap in 1977 vega wagon

PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2018 12:52 pm
by Smiley
Camaro rear ends are 7.5" just like Monza and late Vega rear ends so the only thing you would gain narrowing a Camaro housing is the larger pinion bearing, but then you have to weld all the H-body brackets on in the right places.

Re: Doing 2000 s10 rear end swap in 1977 vega wagon

PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2018 4:15 pm
by Bullet
True but so are S10 rears except 4dr 2wd 5spd blazers and ZR2's which are 4" wider than 2wd S10's. These had 8.5 rears. S10 rears aren't a huge improvement but they can handle the power of a V8 a little better. As long as you are spinning instead of hooking up the factory rear can take a lot of abuse. Traction is what kills. I think the original question was concerning torque arm mounting. That's the advantage of the later Camaro rear, they had torque arms as well.

Re: Doing 2000 s10 rear end swap in 1977 vega wagon

PostPosted: Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:47 am
by Bubbabigblokwingnut
So.... what did you come up with on the rear end situation? I took the same without the disc brakes 2000 s10 internals and installed them into the Vega housing of course I had to replace the pinion bearing to accommodate the shaft difference. It's a perfect fit and torque arm is not an issue. It's still being built but it can be done. And a lunchbox locker fits in the carrier real nice as well. No welding the spiders.

Re: Doing 2000 s10 rear end swap in 1977 vega wagon

PostPosted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 9:22 pm
by Smiley
An aftermarket 12 bolt housing with the torque arm provision is now available and Autoweldchassis offers a bolt in 9 inch for torque arm Vega’s.
You can use 28 spline 2wd S10 axles in your 7.5 Monza housing if you swap in the 90 and up 7.6 carrier.
7.5 ring gear will work on the 7.6 carrier.