Ok, so I finally found a 14 bolt cab and chassis rear axle for my 1953 3800 dually. Figured this gets me away from the HO72's 5.14 gears and those brakes and possible discs down the road but not likely. It is roughly 40.5" from spring perch center to spring perch center and it has the inner duals wheels still on it, but looks to be the correct 63" WMS to WMS. It also has the long dually hubs, not the short SRW hubs so the housing looks to be the one I want. Here's the catch...It was listed as a 4.10, but I popped the cover and the ring has 12 45 stamped on it. Hmmm, oddball 3.75-1 ratio. Heard mention of a van ratio with odd gears like that but basically the same as a 3.73. The housing was out of a 74 model, but the ring gear is stamped 11 77 I think, so probably swapped out at some point. Will I be able to live with these gears?
Will be running stock 216/SM420 4 speed. 19.5 P30 dually wheels with 8R19.5 recaps. I have not measured how tall the drive tires are, but they ARE recaps so could be a little taller than standard.
What does the gang think, and would a 235 make a big difference with the 3.75's if I went that way later?
Thanks,
Larry W.
