The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 3.90 gear into a 53 1/2 ton

I’ve done some searching but haven’t found definitive answers to my questions.
Here are my thoughts:
Truck ‘53 1/2 GMC/Chevrolet with stock torque tube 4.10 rear

Donor gear. 62- 3.90 1/2 ton.

I will be installing a 261 with a T5 and wanted the open drivleine.

I’ve read that this will bolt right in, so no worries there. But I want to use the backing plates from the 62 as parts (from what I’ve seen) are cheaper.

The 53 is Bendix, so is the 62, correct?

Are the drums from 53 the same as 62?

Are the axles from 62 the same as 53? Spline count? Length? Etc? I have some broken lug studs and wonder what else I may find damaged on the 53’s axles.

I know I will have to weld the spring pivots, but has anyone built a “saddle block” instead and repositioned the rear to better center it? If so, how did you do it? That rear end being offset in the rear fenders drives me nuts in these trucks. And yes, I understand how the torque tube requires this offset but it still bugs me.

If I use the 62 backing plates, this may affect parking brake configurations (they are different). So if you’ve done this, or simply used a 62 rear, how did you overcome the park brake dilemma?

The reason why I didn’t simply bolt in my 62 rear end is because the main tubes were severely corroded to the point of making me nervous.

Thanks Bolters.