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| | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 5 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 5 | Just bought a 52 Chevy 2 ton 6500. Flat bed, dump bed. Runs and drives great, everything's there. Top speed is around 50, would like to get that up. Doubt we'll ever haul much with it, so that's not a big concern. I would like to shorten and narrow the aftermarket flat bed, maybe even go to single wheel rear end instead of duallies.
What are the easiest changes for speed? Tranny (currently 4 speed with 2 speed axle) or rear end? I'd like to keep the stock wheels.
I'm a novice mechanic, so the simpler the better.
Thanks! | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,995 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,995 | Welcome to the Bolt!
Be sure to check out the Big Bolt forum. Lots of info there on the 2 ton trucks. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | trevees7, welcome to the stovebolt. You'll find all the questions to your answers right here. Just be sure to ask them in the best forum for maximum results. As Rich says, visit the BIG BOLTS forum and those guys there can help you out. I can understand your need for speed, don't we all, but sometimes life is a lot better in the slow lane  Good luck. We're all here to help..... and be sure to plan to be at the 10th Stovebolt Reunion in Kansas City, Mo. the first weekend in Sept. Since we join up at the Midwest All Truck Nationals you can see trucks trucks trucks, all kinds, shapes and sizes. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 30 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 30 | Welcome to the Bolt!
I am sorry to say that what you are thinking of doing is more involved then you might think. Getting a faster top end would include swapping out the rear axle (Which iirc is like an 8. something ratio) and tossing in a more powerful engine are just two od the things which doesn't include brake work and steering upgrades. While the straight 6 is good enough for the current configuration, it simply does not have the grunt to spin higher gears.
Last edited by Vintage Farmer; 03/12/2014 2:37 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,217 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,217 | Welcome treeves7, sounds like you have a 2 ton but really prefer a half ton. Before you begin, give serious thought to trading the entire truck for a half ton, there's lots of them out there where you live. It's up to you, do whatever you want. Good luck.
Leo | | | | | Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 11 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 11 | Treeves, as far as shortening you can check out my pics and see how I did it. I shortened mine by 36" to lower the cost of decking it and cuz I wanted to. I decided against narrowing it. I will say this, tho. Either be sharp or get someone that is sharp with a torch. It has to be really straight when you weld it back. Have a durn good welder weld the rear back on. You don't want it to fall off going down the hiway. My '49
Last edited by ssgintx; 03/29/2014 8:58 PM.
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