The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts '46 Chevy 2 ton rear axle replacement/swap

I have a '46 chevy 2 ton that I want to change the rear axle assembly. Right now, it has 6.17 gears. From information that I've researched, this rear end could fit 5.43 gears. However, information on another thread notes that the ring and pinion for this gear ratio are almost impossible to find. I've noted from the same thread that a Dana 80HD from a Chevy 3500 has a hub/lug pattern similar to the 20" wheels that I have.

Here's the rub: The rating for my 6000 series 2 ton is 12,500 lbs. The Dana 80HD is rated at 11,000 lbs. I don't plan on filling my bus up with "stuff" or over 16 passengers.

Question: Am I safe if the lower rated Dana 80 is used? I've researched Dana S110's, which are rated at 14,000 lbs, but they run about $1800, used.

Question: Am I better off going with the 110 over the 80?

Question: Can the hubs from a Dana with an 8 lug pattern be changed to a 10 lug pattern?

Question: My research suggests that the series 5000 (1.5T) and the series 6000 (2T) use the same rear end (Banjo, seamless tube). Is this correct? If so, is there any advantage to this?

Question: Would a rear end from a 1947 or newer Chevy AD work? Would internal parts work as replacements for my '46?

Question: What other pitfalls might I encounter?

I know, lots of questions and I have about 1000 more, but the more I read, the more I realize how much I don't know.

I responded to your question in the other thread you posted this in.

If you want to put a different axle in it you can do just about anything you want. I would imagine that there would be a lot more aftermarket parts available for the Dana 80 than the S110 - more gear ratios to choose from, etc.

You have to be careful though - if you're still running the original style stovebolt engine then gearing it up too much is really going to hurt the drivability. It won't have enough power to pull a tall gear.

I put a 5.43 in my '50 behind the original 235 and it pulls it just fine and allows me to go 55-60 - which is about as fast as I'd ever want to go in that truck anyway. I doubt it would pull well with a gear much taller than that though.

I was checking into putting a modern rear in my 47 coe chevy 3500hd has the same lug pattern but the center of the wheel has to be made larger. also ford rear from 88-97 has 10 lug in the fsuperduy and 450 but the center of the wheel has to be made larger also I think the studs are smaller. Several junk yards told me that the ford rear is a better rear that the chevy 3500hd. the spring hangers may have to be moved. I had a post close to your post a while back and there was alot of response so just click a couple pages and check it out