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REAR END KITS FOR ANY CAR WITH A CHASSIS

With a welder and basic hand tools, you can install these Jim Meyer kits at home on 1937 and newer GM cars in a weekend.

     There are a lot of reasons why you may want to install a new rear end kit in your classic Chevy and this Jim Meyer Racing Products, any-width kit, with new 31-spline (or optional 35-spline) Dutchman alloy axles, cover most of them. We make tailored universal kits that will fit just about any Chevy with a chassis from 1937 on up or year specific kits like this ’58 Chevy kit shown. Like most of the kits, they bolt to some of the existing factory holes. This is one of Jim Meyer’s signature moves: use as many existing factory holes as possible and he’s done it with this kit too. And, there’s only one existing hole you’ll have to enlarge in this kit and that’s to hold the upper coilover to the chassis (check the photos). This ’58 Chevy kit has to be one of the simplest to install.

     The Jim Meyer 9-inch kits include a new center housing, new axle tubes, new flanges and bearings, and jig-straightened. The housing with axles, any width at no extra cost, comes with all the brackets tig-welded to fit your application. The kits feature 1-inch diameter x .156-inch wall, urethane bushed, adjustable 4-link bars usually in 18-1/2 or 24-inch lengths (depending on the application), an adjustable 1-inch x .156-inch wall Panhard bar (either a urethane-bushed low roll-center bar or a straight bar shown with this kit), forward 4-link mounting brackets (that you weld in place) and a Panhard bar-to-frame mounting bracket usually welded in place, however this ’58 kit uses an existing factory hole. The optional antisway bar will make your ride handle like a sports car with the aluminum coilover shocks provided in all the kits. The optional 7/8-inch diameter antisway bar bolts to the back of the 4-link bracket on the housing in the ’58 kit, while the antisway bar arms and links go toward the rear and the brackets holding the end links weld to the inside of the rails on the kit shown. Other kits have forward mounted antisway bar arms. Each kit is tailored to your car depending on the application. Your antisway bar may be a different shape and the 4-link may be longer to fit your ride. All the same parts don’t fit every car, so the kit parts vary to fit you chassis. We will ask you all the question about your application when you order.

     Most kits can be installed with the body on the chassis at home in the driveway if you can weld or have a welder friend come over and help. Since the ’58-64 chassis’ are built in an “X” fashion, Jim Meyer provides a centered pinion housing so your driveline will align perfectly through the stock driveshaft tunnel. Other applications may have a centered housing. The photos will show you how minimal the welding can be. With all kits, you’ll usually have to weld the forward 4-link brackets into the chassis. Like this installation, they weld into the forward control arm brackets and the ends of the antisway bar tabs need to be welded on this application, while others may bolt to the chassis. In some instances, like this installation, some trimming may need to be done, but not with every kit. Here, Jim recommends trimming the edge of the stock coil spring bracket to maintain extra clearance above the 4-link bars, and that can be done with a SawzAll and grinder. Some kits include a forward 4-link crossmember, while some housings have the brackets in different locations to accomplish the same thing for your ride. Everything else bolts together with basic hand tools. Even the stock driveshaft is compatible and can be used with the stock U-joint when mating with their gearset (that provide a matching yoke). Grade-8 fasteners and Nylock nuts and washers along with installation instructions are provided.

     The Jim Meyer rear end kits are tailored for your application and the industry popular 9-inch rear end will allow you to find parts available everywhere and the drop-out gear sets are easy to change and available from Jim Meyer at industry standard pricing when you order your kit. All parts are available separately. Your options include thirdmembers with any gear ratios, antisway bars, different spring rates (at no extra cost), disc brake kits, coilover shocks with adjustable rebound-and-compression and Air Ride Technologies remote operated ShockWave air suspension system.

	(1) Like this ’58-64 Chevy rear end kit, any car specific rear end kit is available with-or-without the housing. The suspension kits come with brackets, however all components are available separately. The best idea is to buy the housing with the brackets tig welded in their correct locations. All housings come with Dutchman alloy axles to fit the width you order. The antisway bar is also optional.
	(2) Most Jim Meyer rear end kits can be installed with the body on the chassis, since you will be installing just under the body floor pan. Like this ’58 Chevy chassis, it’s a lot easier with body off to see what you are doing.
	(3) You’ll need to cut the forward control arm hanger away from the frame bracket to accept the new 4-link bracket as shown.
	(4) The new forward 4-link bracket simply slides into the rear of the existing frame bracket until it seats all the way inside.
	(5) Lift the new 4-link bracket to the top of the frame bracket opening and weld it in as shown. Weld as many places as you can to attach the new bracket securely to the stock forward control-arm bracket.
	(6) For additional strength, Jim Meyer recommends welding a small plate (3/16-inch thick) over the front of the stock frame bracket opening as shown.
	(7) Looking at the upper coil spring pocket, you’ll see the two existing holes. Enlarge the inner hole to 3/4-inch on both upper coil spring pockets. The larger hole will accept the new upper coilover shock stud style mount.

	(8) After the forward 4-link brackets are welded in position and the upper coilover shock hole has been drilled out, installing the rear end housing with urethane-bushed 4-link control arms and coilovers is next. Jim Meyer set the pinion angle for you in the assembly jig so there is nothing to do but install the bolts in the holes and tighten them. Grade-8 bolts and Nylock nuts are the only way to go.
	(9) The 1-inch diameter x .156-inch wall 4-link bars should be adjusted so they are all the same length (with 4-threads showing) and greased. You’ll also notice, they offer two different styles of rear suspension brackets. The street rod style is shown on the ’58-64 installation, while the multi-hole drag racing style is shown separately. The multi-hole drag racing version also offers more adjustment and features additional tube supports between the bracket and housing for lots of torque.

	(10) The upper coilover mount receives a urethane bushing, washer and an extra nut to lock it down, while the lower 5/8-inch coilover mount bolt installs into the housing bracket with a steel bushing and Nylock nut. (Shown with optional single adjustable shock upgrade.)

	(11) The forward lip of the coil spring pocket, where it meets the chassis rails, needs to be trimmed vertically about 3-inches for extra 4-link clearance.
	(12) This is what your installation should look like from the front side with the 17 ½-inch long 4-link bars installed. Next, the antisway bar and Panhard bar can be installed at the rear. This ’58 kit installs rather quickly after the forward 4-link brackets have been welded into position.
	(13) The Panhard bar uses an existing inside frame hole that has a larger outside frame hole to install the nut in the socket through the rails.

	(14) Attaching the 7/8-inch diameter antisway bar to the back of the housing’s predrilled 4-link bracket goes quick. A little grease around the urethane bushings is recommended. The outer ends of the bar with links and bracket installed weld to the middle of the rails.

	(15) This installation can be easily done in one day, and if your engine and trans are in the original locations, you can use the stock driveshaft and stock U-joint with their new thirdmembers or a U-joint with two different cup sizes.
	(16) Most Jim Meyer any-width rear end kits are very complete, and can usually be installed at home and take only a weekend to install with time left over. For most car’s with a complete chassis, Jim Meyer also offers trans crossmember kits that include multi-hole frame brackets to accept all the popular GM transmissions and Tremec manual transmissions as well. They are very adjustable.