The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Where do i go from here?

Hi B's & G's I don't know where to ask this question so here it is. I have been working on a 1954 3100 that someone restored 7 or 8 years ago. He doesn't drive very often so the brakes have leaking issues I intend to repair. When he first got this truck I noticed that the rear axle sets 3 or 4 inches further back than is should. It looked like someone installed a short bed on a long frame. And this is what we have been telling everyone. As it turns out someone installed a GMC rear diff and drive shaft for a long box on to this short box truck. I now know this because when I bought the rear wheel cylinders I had to get ones for a GMC. What I am having questions over is are the rear springs different? The axle seems to be rear of center point on the leaf springs. Is this normal? I don't see a locating boss where the axle should be (in the center) Does it have a locating boss for the axle? Or will I have to replace the rear diff,drive shaft, and rear springs?

If the brake parts are different the rear end must be a Spicer from the later '50s or early '60s. There's no telling how it was rigged. I would expect to change everything to get it right.

If you want to keep the open drive shaft look for the rear end and springs from a '55 first series.

While I have plenty of input which I could offer, without pictures, I don't feel comfortable sharing it with you due to safety concerns.
I need to know what rear end you have, and what kind of spring perches are on it.
Carl

Ok guys ill add some pictures. cletis the drive shaft is a closed shaft now and the truck is way to clean to change the original design.

If it is a closed driveshaft it should use the same brake parts whether it came from a Chevy or GMC. They used the same differential in the closed driveline years.

Hummmm! Well the wheel cyl's on the rear have the adjusters built on the cylinder. the ones on the front have a separate adjuster at the bottom. The backing plates have 2 slots on the rear and only one on the front. According to the part numbers we matched up the rears come off a GMC and the fronts were Chevrolet. I don't know the year models they matched. HUMMMMM!!! I will get pictures and see if the diff. has id or numbers.

Sounds like the rear brakes are early Huck and the fronts are later Bendix. The fronts are the right ones for that truck,where the rear end came from is anyone's guess.If there is someone in the area with a 52 to 55 1st you could look at the rear and see how it should be.Start looking for a rear end from a 52 to 55 1st and you should be OK.Look at the Parts for sale here.


Pete

Thanks Pete I am moving to the drivetrain room with pictures and my idea of what has happened.