Shortest factory 12 bolt axle?

[zooboy]

What is the length of the shortest factory 12 bolt axle? Thanks.

[carguy502]

Best guess would be one out of a 66-67 Nova L79. Those suckers go for big bucks have the following dimensions:

Leaf Spring perches center to center
43 1/2"

Backing plate to backing plate
50 3/4"

Over all width
57 3/4"

Good Luck!

Don

[wiedemab]

I don't think that it had to be an L79 to have a 12 bolt, but I would agree, I think I've heard that the 66, 67 Chevy II is the narrowest factory width 12 bolt. I think the 12 bolt was an option, but standard on the L79. Dad has a factory 12 bolt in his '67 SS car - - and I believe the are fairly valuable

[zooboy]

Thanks for the information. I am having evil thoughts about norrowing my truck 12 bolt down to the shortest factory axle length. My car is mini-tubbed, I wanted to use the 12-bolt that I already have in place of my 10-bolt that is in the car. It will never have killer HP just wanted a little more dish in the rear wheel. I could use a stock length axle instead of aftermarket custom cut. Might not make much sense to most, I'm just looking into it. Any thoughts.

[astroracer]

Narrow it to whatever width you need and use Moser's "cut to fit" axles. You still need to buy axles whether they're stock length or not so you aren't saving any money by limiting yourself to a "stock width" housing.
EDIT:
I see the Moser "stock" length axles ARE cheaper then the custom alloys by a little over a hundred bucks. My bad. I had never really looked at them and just figured they were same price as the custom lengths I ordered.

[TnBlkC230WZ]

IRC, the truck 12 bolt isn't much better than a car 10.2 ten bolt. They both have the small pinion shaft. The gear sets are not the same as car 12 bolt gear sets