The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 3.55 Ring and Pinion install help

Has anyone done a breakdown of part numbers for installing the 3.55 R&P in a 1946 1/2 ton? I have a part number breakdown for an Advance Design truck but some parts are different. I know Jim Carter and other sell the install kits but they are pricey and I may not need all the bearings, seals, etc. since the rearend was rebuilt less than 3,000 miles ago. Thanks!

A parts list is discussed in this thread. They are for 47-55st trucks - I do not know if the same installation parts work for 1946.

If you buy the 3.55 R&P set from Mothertrucker (best price, and he has them in stock), he might provide a parts list?

Thanks man! I actually did buy the R&P from Mothertrucker but there was no parts list.

I don't believe the R&P for the 47 up will fit the 46 back. They use the 3:55 from 50-54 powerglide cars. Someone correct it if I am wrong.
George

Thank you very much! I've saved this before but I believe the 1946 rearend has differences.

Looking for opinions. Doing the 3:55 R&P swap on my '46 and I see that folks are suggesting to add a .010 pinion shim for starters to see where the pinion gears ride. The 2 shims that came out of mine add up to .039" already. Also looks like folks are saying I should end up around .028". Another question: Neither of the made-in-China pinion bearings I received have the "loading slots" shown in the overhaul manual, so is there a wrong vs right way to install them? They were shipped in plastic bags--no box w/ info.

Where to get pinion shims? Other than Patrick's, who doesn't appear to be a reliable source anymore. Deve's site hasn't worked for me the past couple days, he says something about shims, forget what it was.

It's a royal pain in the butt to do so, but stainless steel shim stock is available in various thicknesses on Ebay, and some time spent with a small, very sharp set of tin snips can result in some home-brewed shims. Cutting out the inside diameter is the tricky part!
Jerry

Seems there'd be shims from other makes/models that would work? A good NAPA store oughta be able to come up with an equivalent that'd work better than what I could cut from stock.

I think the instructions call for using your old shims plus another .010 if I recall correctly. You may consider taking you old shims to the parts counter to try and match up.

I have an assortment of GM shims. I could put a small quantity in the parts for sale section if there is a need ?

Thanks for the replies. My question as to pinion shims was whether to add a .010" shim to my original 2 shims which already add up to .039". I got my hands on the GM Rear Axle Overhaul Manual and it says that my '46 would have room for .024"--.042". The Manual also says if replacing the pinion to start with .033" of shims so I guess I'll start there. Having some fun now.

Showkey, thanks for the offer on the shims. I called Chevs of the 40s and told them that shims should be in the R&P install kit and they were kind enough to send shims to me in the mail.

A friend of mine that did quit a few ring & pinion set ups took a new pinion bearing to a machine shop and had it honed out for slip fit on the pinion shaft. We used this bearing for set ups. It made changing the pinion shim a non issue. Once the whole set up was dialed in, we took the pinion out and replaced the honed bearing with the press fit one.
This won't help you now, but it might save some set up time for someone down the road.