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hello i have a chevy 6400 with 235 ci motor with 33000 miles on it. truck is mint for never being restored


here is my problem. last fall i was backing up with a load of stone in a wet yard and broke the rear end. it has a 2 speed rear.

i havent pulled anything apart yet but wondering what you guys might think have happened?? also i have 2 4100's would the rear end from the 4100 bolt right in? or where can i get parts for the rear end?


my 6400 is 16000 gvw my 4100's are 11000 and 14000

i also need a gas tank for my 4100 does anyone make one?

thanks

joe in detroit

Detroit,What year is your truck. More than likely you broke an axle.If your truck is a '49, or later, it has the floating axles. Just remove the axle cover from each side, & pop the end of each axle with a large hammer.The axles will pop out, & you can inspect them. The 4100, & 4400 trucks,are 1 1/2 ton trucks,& would have come originally, with a single speed rear axle.They won't interchange, with a 2 speed axle.

the truck is a 1951 and the 4100's are 1949 and 1950.

i was hoping it would just be a broke axle. but where can i get an axle if i broke one?


any tips on gastanks? or sources?

thanks

Joe, welcome to the Stovebolt.

If you don't get the answers to your questions here in the Big Bolts part of the garage, go ahead and ask your question in Engine and Driveline.

Somebody out there will just jump at the chance to tell you everything they know (whether you need to know everything they know, or not!)

But it all comes in handy, and you make some good friends.

Hey Detroit,
Find out whats wrong with your truck for sure and let us all know. Most of us will bend over backwards to help you keep the old girl going. As far as the axle goes, there should be plenty in salvage yards or right here in the swapmeet. That rear diff probably has the same axles from the 40's well into the 80's. Depending where it broke, it may even be repairable.

The Gas tank is another story. Where is it mounted? If it's in the cab, start ordering catalogs out of old truck magazines, almost everyone carries one. If it's a side mount, I took one from a 75 GMC pick-up and mounted the brackets and all to the side of my frame. Either way, if there's a will, there's a way,
Scott

Are you sure your not stuck between gears? Have you checked the linkage?

Just a thought...

You might be stuck between Hi and Lo in the differential. You can check if you have vacuum at the differential. If you have vacuum then the diaphram in the power unit could be defective. Remove the power unit and see if you can move the gear with a lever. I was stuck between gears at a major intersection during the summer in Phoenix. I crawled under the truck and used the handle of a hammer to pry the gears into place. This is probably where you need to start. Redcoat

i got the truck figured out i need an axle for the right side. sheared it off at the splines.

i pulled both axles whats the best way to pull the center section out? looks heavy.


anyone have an axle?

thanks joe in detroit

I am not sure you have to take the center section out? Try a wire with a loop, or magnent on a stick, or something to get the broken stub end out and slide in a new shaft from a scrap yard, put the covers on the end of the hubs and drive.
Although it may be hard to get that broken piece out if the splines were worn much. I broke an axle in my 1928 chevy and had to pull the cover off so I could get at the other end with a punch and hammer to drive out the broken piece.
Good luck,

Detroit,

Rears aren't that hard to work with. HEAVY !!! Anyway, the best and safest way to remove the differential is to remove the bolts on the inside of the axle.(Opposite of the cover or back). If you have a cover,remove the cover this gives you some more light on the subject. We like to use a transmission jack to pull them out. Leave two bolts in up top. Place the trans jack underneath and secure down with the chains. Once secure, remove two bolts and pull her out. We see broken axles here at the shop all the time. It usually happens when the driver pops the clutch or rolls back on an incline and pops the clutch. You do want to remove the pumpkin(hogshead). If any metal got lodged or stuck you can then remove them. Also, you want to clean out the housing. To re-install, reverse process. Hogshead, axles, etc... Any questions, just fire me an e-mail or give me a call 410-939-4433.


Jason

Not so. There were many changes to these axle shafts over the years--different lengths, diameters, and splines. For the '51 2-speed rear, I believe the '46-'51 shafts should work (for right side), according to the '54 parts manual. The '46 and '47 ones must be for the splined-type, rather than the bolted-type, hub.

As far as swapping the entire 4100 rear into the 6400, I think it would work. The springs are the same size and the spring centers are the same. The 6400 2-speed driveshaft may be too short, though. It would also reduce the weight rating of the truck, of course.

You can take a long bar or pipe & drive the stub out from the other side.

well the axle has 20 teeth on the wheel end and 16 splines on the carrier end and measures 37 inches up to the splines where it sheared off.

i believe the total length would be around 40inches from measuring the splines portion of the opposite side axle.

i know spanky is looking for an axle for me but i figured i would post also in case someone else might have one.

later joe

detroit did you get the stub out if not just as wrenchbender said you can push out the piece from the opp side, i,ve had sucess with a broom handle. regards steve sr.

well i have got it out of the carrier but not out of the axle yet brother inlaw bringing a long magnet home tonight.

everything else looks great and this truck is a 1950 thought it was a 1951 but i was wrong had to look at the title.

looks like spanky might have an axle or 2 that might work.

thanks everyone for the help almost ready to get her back in service.

did a tune up, going to get new battery and cables.

just need the axle and next will be rebuild the hyd cylinder for the dump and back in business.

i will post picks sometime the truck only has 33,xxx miles.

well i got her running again last nite new battery and negative cable and she fired right up.

just need and axle and rebuild the hyd cylinder and off to the quary for stone we go again.

later joe

Hey Joe, I emailed you some pictures of the axles Wednesday. Did you get them.

If it is onyl the axle - if ya can't find one - u can prolyl get a off road to get ya one /make ya one/find a machien shop that deals with off road vehicles mods.

-W