The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Stuff you never expected

I have a 52 1/2 ton Chevy. 5 window with, a 53 title. So I just figured it was a late season sale and the State listed it as a 53. No problem. When I got it home It had no brake fluid in it at all. But the MC and the wheel cylinders cleaned up nice with a hone. Kit parts in a box came with the truck and, it works fine. Brakes are good solid and reliable. Daily driver for the last 2 years. It started with a vibration in the drive shaft. So I ordered an "Okie" bushing. For a 52 truck. It was too big to fit in the torque tube. Like an idiot, I turned it down and made it fit. Replaced the trunion while I was in there and, smooth quiet running truck again. 2000 miles later I have a noise, click, click, right from the ball and u-joint area. What have I done wrong? Got it home and the weather warmed up so under the truck I go. Pulled the ball back and, every thing looked good. Nothing cracked, nothing loose, and every thing was lubed up and clean. I was under there so I looked around to see if any thing was in the wheels, nope. It was road speed related. No change with the clutch in or out. No change with the engine RPM. So I start thinking, great now I have a problem in the diff. Put the truck on jack stands start it up and let it idle in neutral. The driver side wheel turns. The passenger side, no. Stop the driver side with my boot and still the passenger side is stopped. So I try to turn it. Sticky and just not right. Shut the truck off, pulled the drum off, and, the seal has let go. Greasy, black, sticky ,and greasy. It would stick the shoe to the drum, and then let go. That is the clicking noise. The best part? Huck brakes in there. Should have noticed it before but I was just fixing stuff and the brake shoes were new. So I never really looked at every thing. Now I know why the bushing had to be turned down. and, now I get to put new shoes in there. So I have a 47-50 rear end in a 52 truck with a 53 title.I need more coffee, or more Rum...or just need to pay better attention. By the way, NAPA has a sale on the brake parts this week. Enjoy.

In 60 years of life these old trucks have had a long time to have parts replaced or modified. My 58 is showing 213000 miles and the old 270 must have worn out and the owner replaced it with a 235. It almost looked right in there but just wasn't a good fit.Larry

....ain't this stuff fun

Jus' courious Larry, how do you get a reading of 213k out of a 5 digit odometer?
dg

I have used tally marks on the glove box door. 1 mark for each 100,000 miles. My old Jeep had 4 before it pushed oil out the dipstick. More blow by than PCV valve. Was time for rings

Denny, I'll take a picture and see if I can send it to you. GMC's were also expected to be used and last longer, just my best guess there. PM me your EM address. Hell I might even send you a pic of my truck. Never mind I see it in your profile. If you have no objections I'll just send it to you sometime today. Larry

My truck was a Heinz 57 when I got it.... car rear end, 5 bolt wheels on the back, 6 bolt on the front with Huck brakes, cab tag shows '53 model as did title.
I guess whatever it took to keep them running....

I believe the GMC 1/2 ton frame I seen had slightly heavier thickness to the frame rails than a Chevy and of course had the a little bigger engine than Chevy of the same year.

John