The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1946 1.5 ton wheel bearing swap to rollers

just bought this truck and owner said the passenger front inner bearing was shot. He said i could convert it to tapered roller bearings for a 1/4 of the cost of the old ball bearings. I searched and cannot find anyone selling these bearing. Is this possible and should I do this.I'm going thru the brakes and bearings first and than i want to rebuild carb (single Rochester)and distributor. should I keep same dist or change to HEI. I just found out after I bought truck that the engine is a 235 from a 1959 truck. Its also been converted to a 12 volt alternator system.Trying to make it a safe driver first than i'll slowly move into a complete restore over the years. Thanks for any and all advice. Happy Bolting

I would pull the bearing and race and take it to a Napa or bearing supply house. Measure the spindle diameter before you go.

I have been running the standard ignition with points for a couple of years now. Nothing wrong with them, just have to adjust them every once in a while. I run a Bosch Blue coil on all my old stuff including tractors. If the parts store ask the coils came on a 1970 VW beetle. They don' require an external resistor. Just wire them up to 12V, adjust the points and your good to go. FYI the Pertronix lasted a whopping 2 miles before it burned up!

Thanks Shop Shark for your reply. I never have liked the pertronics but I thought the hei was an improvement.All the cars I started with back in the 60s ran fine on points though.Saw your pics on photobucket your truck is like mine with the painted grill, they don't seam very common. I like you color skeem.I was hoping someone had some #s for 1.5 ton wheel bearings and seal.What kind of bed are you putting on it? Except for engine this truck is so original, complete and straight I should just restore as is and not think about any changes.

Ya...I'm looking for some current numbers for inner & outer 1.5 ton front wheel bearings myself. The numbers on mine are unreadable. However...

I have a parts book that indicates the following OEM/Hyatt numbers for 1946 1.5 & 2 Ton front axles. Have not been able to find a crossover anywhere...so far.

Inner......Hy. 173241, barrel roller
Outer......Hy. 173238, barrel roller

I see the inner on eBay quite often. The outer every once in a while.

Hy guys,GM 173238 = KA11020Z the components of which are 15574A and 15522A
GM 173241 = KA11410Z the components of which are 17883 and 17830,
good luck with your search, hope that helps.

Hey 3B --- Many thanks. Who makes/sells the "KA" numbers?

Hy Tango and guys. Hyatt was GMs bearing supplier of choice Hyatts bearings were barrel shaped, many other bearing suppliers made tapered replacements for Hyatts barrel shaped bearings. The tapered replacements used the same part numbers as the Hyatt bearings. Hyatt eventually became New Departure/Hyatt, but low demand products were not continued, hope that helps.

Well...I finally pulled & cleaned the inner & outer bearings on my front axle and here is what I found.

Inner (larger)...Hyatt-2 numbers...468...&...A11410

Outer (smaller)...Timkin - 15574A

NAPA was able to cross reference both but here is the shocker...

Over $800.00 Bucks for four bearings!!! (pair each side)

They were listed as SK bearings but I still don't have the actual numbers. Have to order them tomorrow before I can see the paperwork and didn't have that much in the "Build" account.

This is just NUTS!

There are probably bearings on the Space Shuttle that don't cost as freakin' much!

Read the other thread first.

When I was looking for them (barrel rollers) for the 48 2 ton, I found the same thing. There is only 1 manufacturer still making them.

I was lucky and found NOS inners and outers (different sellers) 0n Ebay for about $250.

I have these on my 1947 1.5 ton: Note 1947 Advance design- but this may help, or may be the same:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/chevrolet/steering/auction-860418638.htm
I bought bearings from this seller a few years back, cannot remember if it was these same types. I recall a different description that didnt match my truck, having to check the sizes and they were correct.
The ad states 909046, I will ask for sizes.

The bearings from my 1947 AD inner front:
Outer (hub) diameter 3.15", New Departure 909626
Inner (Spindle) diamter 1.5" New departure 909526
balls and cage new departure 909526

I have checked my auction purchase history and these are the same bearings I bought and fitted to my 47 AD 1.5 ton.

Like Jim...I lucked out on the inners and found a pair of NOS on Ebay but for for only about $25 bucks each. Had to bite the bullet in the outers at $250 each via NAPA. But compared to the other prices I found, they were the "bargains". One machinery company had the exact same Timkins listed for $675 apiece!

Hmmmm...Kinda confused after going back and reading some of the posts again. A few folks have stated their trucks had "ball" bearings that they found replacements for. All 1.5 & 2 ton trucks from '42 - early '47 came from the factory with "barrel roller" bearings...not the ball type (?).

Thanks for all the part #s. I decided to go with the old style ball bearing style wheel bearings. I will post #s later. the tapered roller bearings seemed like a hard fit especially the inner bearing.The grease seal is not normally done like this on a tapered roller bearing. I paid $55 for the inner bearing and $45 for the outer bearing and $14 for the seal.Like the bearing man said it worked in 1946 for at least 35 years and one side looks original so maybe 68 years, so they can't be to bad a design.Any more ideas about converting to HEI BOB