The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Ford differential in a 3600 or 3800?

I just got a 1949 3600 yesterday so that makes me as newbie as possible! I've been doing a ton of reading at this great site and I was planning to do the C20 differential swap.

I wrote to Patrick just in case to see if he had the ring and pinion (a man can dream)and Denese wrote back saying to use the Ford differential:

"We have not made the ones for the 3/4 ton. However, the Ring and pinion from a Ford 3/4 ton or 1 Ton Econo Van 87-93. The casting number is E5TW4210BJ. This information came from the Hollander Manual which is the bible of interchange. This will give you 3.55:1 ratio. It works beautifully. Danese Dykes"

I found two mentions of this in the old forums but no one seems to have done this so I'm wondering, will our axles mate up with the Ford? I.e., is it a straight swap like the 1968-1972 Chevy or is more involved.

Thanks and thanks for all the knowledge you have given me.

George

I'm curious too.

First figure out what axle that model van used. I'm guessing a Dana axle, and ring and pinion would not interchange with the Eaton axle. Or did they use the GM/Eaton axle, that would be strange. ?

Could the confusion be that the Ford Van did share the same model Dana axle with a later model GM truck, and incorrectly thinking that all GM 1 tons used the same axle it must therefore swap... Except our AD 3/4 and 1 tons have the Eaton axle.

I question it as well. I've worked on more of those E 250/350 vans than I care to count, and almost all of them have some form of a Dana 60 in them, usually the semi-float version with the 3.55:1 gear ratio. The same rear end can also be found in Dodge B250/350 vans. I do know that they are the correct width for swapping the entire rear, if that is what they meant.

I can't see parts from a Dana mixing with an Eaton HO52 rear end. It's been a long standing issue for better gearing for those rear ends with no quick fix. I swapped the entire Dana 60 rear end out of a 1969 F250 into my 49' 3600 that has 3.73 gearing. Had to weld on different perches and have the drive shaft shortened and a yoke put on to match the Dana 60. Works beautifully.

Thanks for the info. I guess I keep looking for that GM rear end.

George

I just saw this 1969 K10 on the local Craigslist https://spokane.craigslist.org/pts/5644134160.html. It is a 10 bolt but has leaf springs. From everything I've read here I assume it will have the 4.57 and not the 4.10. Correct?

Thanks,

George

It's really impossible to know without checking. Who knows what has been swapped in the past almost 50 years.

K10 is 1/2 ton though right?
I'd be looking in 3/4 and 1 ton, they'll have 8 lug wheels.

Thanks Grigg. I love your journal.

George