'53, reread your post, it is confusing. Yes your neighbor's '57 trans will bolt up to your present bellhousing. You then have to convert your rear axle, meaning take away the closed driveshaft and install either a whole axle axle assembly that will accept an open driveshaft or find a 3rd member 3.90 to convert your present 4.11 torque-tube axle to a 3.90 open differential. Next you will have to measure and search for a driveshaft to fit between your 'new' '57 transmission and your 'new' open rear end at a bone yard.
I found a '57 rear to plug into my old '49 axle and added a '62 3sp+od and found an open driveshaft to fit (see description of my set-up below).
~ Cosmo
1949 Chevy Half Ton
Rocinante, like Don Quixote, he is awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task beyond his capacities.
"...my good horse Rocinante, mine eternal and inseparable companion in all my journeys and courses." ...Don Quixote, Cervantes
"If you come to a fork in the road, take it."...Yogi Berra
"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." ...Eric Hoffer
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