Can someone please measure their rear end for me?

[AusTexKid]

NO, not that rear end. But I got your attention didn't I?

I'm contemplating a rear end swap on my 05 automatic SSR. What I'd really like to do is put a 9" Ford under it, I even have a 3rd member already set up with a locker and the 4.56's. But the cost of having a housing and axles made (and a driveshaft) puts it out of my price range for now. So I'm thinking of swapping in a 14-bolt from a 6-speed or Trailblazer SS for now. Which brings me to my question...

Could someone with a 6-speed SSR or Trailblazer SS take a measurement off the rear end for me? What I need to know is the measurement from the centerline of the axle tube to the front face of the driveshaft yoke. In other words, how long is the "snout" of this rear end. You will need to measure parallel to the pinion and not along the housing itself (I used a tape measure and a straight edge). This will help me determine the difference in driveshaft length I'm looking at. At this stage it doesn't have to be exact, I'm just trying to get an idea of how much longer this rear end is.

If anyone out there has already done this swap, please let me know what you had to do with driveshaft length. I'm not sure I want to pop for a custom driveshaft for this setup as I will eventually put the 9" in it. But if I could use something from the "GM parts bin" (read: junk yard) to make it work then I'm interested in going this route for now as everything else just bolts up.

And if you have a Trailblazer SS rear end you'd be willing to sell me, let me know. I'd actually like to try 4:10's in it. After my latest round of upgrades the 4:56's are starting to feel like a little to much gear now.

[MoodyBlue]

Originally Posted by AusTexKid

NO, not that rear end. But I got your attention didn't I?

I'm contemplating a rear end swap on my 05 automatic SSR. What I'd really like to do is put a 9" Ford under it, I even have a 3rd member already set up with a locker and the 4.56's. But the cost of having a housing and axles made (and a driveshaft) puts it out of my price range for now. So I'm thinking of swapping in a 14-bolt from a 6-speed or Trailblazer SS for now. Which brings me to my question...

Could someone with a 6-speed SSR or Trailblazer SS take a measurement off the rear end for me? What I need to know is the measurement from the centerline of the axle tube to the front face of the driveshaft yoke. In other words, how long is the "snout" of this rear end. You will need to measure parallel to the pinion and not along the housing itself (I used a tape measure and a straight edge). This will help me determine the difference in driveshaft length I'm looking at. At this stage it doesn't have to be exact, I'm just trying to get an idea of how much longer this rear end is.

If anyone out there has already done this swap, please let me know what you had to do with driveshaft length. I'm not sure I want to pop for a custom driveshaft for this setup as I will eventually put the 9" in it. But if I could use something from the "GM parts bin" (read: junk yard) to make it work then I'm interested in going this route for now as everything else just bolts up.

And if you have a Trailblazer SS rear end you'd be willing to sell me, let me know. I'd actually like to try 4:10's in it. After my latest round of upgrades the 4:56's are starting to feel like a little to much gear now.

I guess you are going to eleminate your BCM and the rest of the Data System? That is if you go with a 9" Ford. But you must be aware of the systems that will have to be changed.

[AusTexKid]

Actually,

I've already had this rear end out twice. There are no electrical connections for sensors on the rear end. The ABS and speedometer must work off the speed sensor in the transmission. Like I said, it's a bolt-in except for the driveshaft.

[MoodyBlue]

Originally Posted by AusTexKid

Actually,

I've already had this rear end out twice. There are no electrical connections for sensors on the rear end. The ABS and speedometer must work off the speed sensor in the transmission. Like I said, it's a bolt-in except for the driveshaft.

I have a 9" Ford. Rear end. But you would be better off just to mount it under the SSR first and them make up the Drive Shaft. I just made one from a Chevy Tranny to a Ford Rear End. I purchased a Chevy and a Ford Drive Shaft from a Salvage Yard. I Cut and Mated the two together.

Out here I can get a 9" at a Salvage Yard for around $ 100.00 Bucks. If you lived closer you could just pick up this one for free. It came out of an Older Station Wagon.

[CQQL_SSR]

I looked into changing the rear end in the 05 Silver SSR I had purchased to the TBSS rear end.
I did find the drive shaft length difference on the site before but can't find it now.

I did find this post about a replacement drive shaft that would solve your problem.
It would also make the TBSS rear end package saleable as a package to another automatic SSR owner when you do go to the 9" Ford rear end.


Rear end conversion drive shaft

[Double-L]

You are getting where I wouldn't trust the rear end, I bent my control arms and replaced them With upper and lower bmr and then just twisted the stock axle housings like they were alum. So then I had a 9 inch Ford in a Moser 2500 rwhp unit built for it but the last time I made a run I bent the axle housings right at the main unit so I have to come up with a bracing of some kind, SSR's are really hard on parts!!!

[1luckydog]

Originally Posted by Double-L

You are getting where I wouldn't trust the rear end, I bent my control arms and replaced them With upper and lower bmr and then just twisted the stock axle housings like they were alum. So then I had a 9 inch Ford in a Moser 2500 rwhp unit built for it but the last time I made a run I bent the axle housings right at the main unit so I have to come up with a bracing of some kind, SSR's are really hard on parts!!!

Virtualy no option to shorten axle.

We added 3/8" steel plates (as shown) to reduce axle bend on a 68 Mustang...no problems.

[Ross]

Did the 14 bolt TBSS rearend swap a while back. See post 29 for the measurement. Replacing 10bolt w/ 14bolt from TTSS