The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop open driveline

I know this has been discussed before, but I still need help. Afer searchingthe post archives, I'm having trouble piecing together what I need to know. Is there a center section which will bolt into a 47 AD rear to convert to open driveline? I really don't want to change my axle, just my engine/trans. Thanks,

jay

It is believed that the center section of a Task Force series rear axle is a bolt in. I might be trying it in the next year. Just remember to weld the pivot pins on the spring shackles so the axle doesn't twist.

A 1955-62 1/2 ton center section will bolt into a 1940 and later 1/2 ton axle housing, same axle splines also.

Beside's cost, does anyone have opinions on the gears from Patrick's?

jay

I installed the ring gear and pinion from Patrick's (3:55) in my 53 am very pleased with it. I can now run 60 to 65 on the highway without the 235 screaming at me.

There was an article in one of the magazines talking about the downside of the installation. One being that although you can cruise at highway speeds, getting up there takes longer. It also mentions having to down shift for most hills. I don't know if it is all true as I don't have the gears in my truck. Those who do can offer a better answer on these two points.

olblu49, go to www.1010tires.com or www.randy\'sringand pinion.com to play with gear and tire ratios. they both have calculators on their sites. hope this helps i think the sites are fun anyway. ron

I have a '56 center section for sale in the swap meet area. I was going to run it in my '52 rear housing - I had it bolted in and all - but I came across a free 10 bolt of the right width with 3.08 gears so I'm going to run that instead.

I put a 3.38 set in a 56 one time. It worked great. It would probably be sluggish with a 216 but a 235 pulls good.

i have a 79 nova rearend great but the 2.73 gears are not the best. no problem here in the midwest flat land but not the greatest on hills. i also have upgraded the engine with duals and dual carbs and electronic distributor. and 15" tires. ron

I'm running 3:08 rear in my 46 with the S-10 T-5. With the low first gear in the T-5 it drives just great. 5th gear overdrive gets little use until I'm on a long flat road. Best thing to do with the old truck, that's not hauling big loads is to gear up that rear end. My 47 and 216 loves the 3:55 rear end.

I am running a set of Patrick's 3:55 in my 41 1/2 ton with stock 41 4-speed, 55 235 runs 65-75 on the freeway, don't down shift for hills, infact I tend to pass late model trucks on most of the grades. Just my 2cents.

question pre68 dave - will the 55-62 centers bolt into a 54 pickup without changing the axles?

papa ed: You will have to remove the axles to make the change, but the 54 axles will work in the later model rear end just fine.

Papa ed, yes, I have 20k on a '49 axle with a '57 center section. I burned off the articulating closed drive rear spring perches and replaced them with mounts from Buffalo Engineering. Buffalo is a one man operation in the NW who does super quality stuff (bomb-proof).

Cosmo, The 54 I bought (project) already has the later center section change, but the guy who did it just welded up the old torque tube spring perches. Well the welds broke just loading the truck on the trailer. The whole rearend rotated downward, and won`t roll at all! I see Chevy
Duty sells a kit. U bolts,perches, and plates. Does Buffalo Eng. have a web site? Also will flipping the rear springs end to end center the wheel in the fender? Thanks for any help JD

No website for Buffalo. Call him at 360-652-7684. Like Cosmo said, it's a one man show so you'll probably get the answering machine but he will call you back. A good man to deal with.

thanks guys - i will go ahead and ask this one while i am at it - will the whole rear end from a 62 chevy work under there if the spring perches are modified? (under a 54) my 235 is out of a 62 chevy pu and i have the transmisson as well. if so, that appears to be a cheaper way of getting a higher rearend ratio.

JD, Buffalo knows that and makes provision for centering the rear in the wheelwells. Mind you folks, we're only going from 4.11 to 3.90 here but open driveline means you open the door to a whole host of transmissions. I am running a '62 3sp+od, od=.70, .70x3.90=2.73 highway cruising.