Hello fellows, I am new to the Garage and I am currently building a 53 4 door Belair. The car was original with 235/Power-Glide. I am looking to change out the rear end and drivetrain. I purchased a rear end and was told it was from 71 El Camino. So I am looking to understand how to identify the year of this so that I can purchase my brake set up, any help is appreciated.
Welcome from Central Coast.
I'm sure some can get info from the casting #s, but to me there little to make me think parts of a 71 would be any more original than what's going on your Bel-Air.
We have some facts;
It's a 10 bolt, so probably from a grocery getter spec car.
It came from a coil sprung car.
...so 72 small block car is probably a decent starting point Looking in the catalog.
Are you just looking to renew the stock stuff? Or switch to dics?
In the 1st case you need ;
Drum dia(often there is a cast in wear limit you can read).
Pad width, tape measure good enough.
Wheel cyl diameter, usually cast mark in fractional inch. (This might not be ideal to duplicate as it's balanced to car/weight, influence by what's going on up front,what was stock...)
So you might get 11" drums 2"wide shoes, and 3/4" wheel cyls, where a police taxi car might have 12" drums or a bigger wheel cyl.
If you're going disc, axle tube diameter might be your main criteria.
Gm didn't really change their brake stuff for a very long time after going to front discs.
