Rooster Cogburn

I recently got a 63 f85. Its a y-body. Now I was hoping One of you might know a rear end that would fit on a y-body without to much fabrication. I do not care if it's a GM rear end. I just want to add something that stronger than what's on there now. any information would be great. thanks in advance

jensenracing77

I can not help but if you change it out I would be very interested in the center carrier out of your rear end if you want to sell it. Mine is about to brake.

young olds

there isnt an easy solution as far as mounting, you should be able to get away with an s10 rear end without narrowing it.

jensen, after i part out my f85 i might have an extra carrier crossmember, if thats what your after.

young olds

or do you mean the differential?

joe_padavano

Your rear axle is unique to the 1961-63 F-85 and Skylark lines. NOTHING else fits without significant custom fabrication. The S-10 2WD axle is the correct width, but since that is a leaf spring car, the cast center section does not have any mounting ears for the upper control arms. Obviously it also does not have lower control arm mounting points, but those are a weld-on bracket. The 8" axle from a Ford Maverick also is the correct width and the six cylinder versions have the same 4 x 4.5" bolt circle. This is also a leaf spring car, but the Ford housing is sheet metal, so it's easier to weld the upper and lower control arm ears in place. No other GM coil spring axle has the upper ears at the correct angle, so even if you narrowed one, you would have to fabricate custom upper control arms with ball joints to correct the geometry mismatch - or fabricate new chassis-side mounting points for the arms.