The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts '46 2-TON rear end 6.17 to 4.11 gear swap???

I recently purchased a 1946 2 ton flatbed. I really want to use this truck in my constuction business. There is nothing like an Art Deco Chevy to grab attention... BUT, 45 MPH on a California freeway is suicide! So... my question is, can I swap gears in the rearend of my truck?

I plan on swapping out the 235 for a small block chevy to handle the higher gearing. I would even go to a big block if necessary. Whatever it takes to get this baby up to 70!! Is a gear swap even possible? Is there another rear end I can swap in to make the gear change possible?

Thanks.

BTW... GREAT site, excellent Information, LOVE IT!

Some one on this board has put modern 1-ton IFS and rear axle and suspention under an Art Deco truck. I looked for the thread and link to pictures but couldn't find it. If he doesn't self-identify I'll post it later from home.

I have a 45 Chevy 2 ton, yup 45 mph is slow, but it gets attention
Getting it up to 70 is no problem,but brakes and handling at twice the speed it was designed to go may be a problem.
There is a 5.43 gear set, probably hard to find a good one.With the 6.17's, 60 mph is around 3400 rpm, no problem for a small block at that rpm.GM used low gears right up into the 70's on trucks of this size when V-8's were commonplace.

Quoting myself! At least I won't be saying this guy was wrong!

I didn't find the thread, but here are the pictures. 45 with C30 suspension

I did a rear and front swap on a 46 chevy 1 1/2 ton. used a 74 chevy cutaway 1 ton front and rear axle. narrowed the front ifs 5 1/2 inches and the rear was a bit wider, but we sent it out and had a car hauler bed on it so the wider rear worked good for that.350/700r4 tranny and it will handle any freeway.rides very nice
Phil

Welcome Big46. I see your questions are being answered so I'll just say howdy and tell you to be sure to check out the other areas of the site, like the Tech Tips and Features. Swap Meet is also a good place to look for stuff.

Thanks for stopping by!
John

Big46, I'll throw in with Tony (Truckedup) on this one. I am not intent upon raining on your parade, but make sure you have a safe, enjoyable parade.

California freeways are nuthin' to mess with--little bitty ricers goin' 80 mph flittin' around monster grocery carts (Hummers, Escalades, Excursions, and such preferred chariots for modern shoppers) doin' 75--in an old truck designed and outfitted (as Tony says) for 45 mph.

If you stick different gears in the rear end to increase angular momentum of the tire at the tire-road surface interface (that makes it go faster--sorta like a new paint job!), you necessarily change all the parameters viz. a viz. the acceleration (but more importantly, deceleration) equation, not to mention steering, mirrors, stop lights, ad nauseam.

I would highly recommend you do something before modifications that affect the coefficient of friction between the brake pads and the drums, to beef up the braking power delivery system (that Rube Goldberg bunch of pedal-levers-foot long cylinder-fluid tubes-wheel cylinders-expansive lever actuators-spring loaded pads). Else, it is but a matter of time until you will find yourself with a little fly in front of you that you could stomp on, or a unit transportation delivery vehicle larger than my Grandad's house, doing wierd things in front of you. Por supuesto you will stomp down on the brake pedal, maybe with both feet (who gives a #@%&@ about the clutch at a moment like this!), which will take up an inordinate amount of your 1 to 2 second reaction time before you factor in the reaction time of Rube's contraptions, and that miniscule delay at 70 per can easily account for 100 or more feet of roadway you just kissed "goodby" even before your precious truck begins turning angular tire momentum into dissipated heat energy.
Stand on the brakes too much, and you will literally "burn rubber" (or whatever synthetic concoction your tires purport to be) to transform the kinetic energy of a loaded single unit truck into expended waste.

Single unit trucks, loaded, are to be respected--both as objects of great admiration and for what they can do for us as well as to us.

Thanks for the input, advice and welcome. All are well received and appreciated.

No doubt... other factors need to be addressed, not just "GO FAST". Don't worry, I won't be throwin' in a big block and some higher gears and go tearing down the freeway!!

I'm just trying to get the truck "driveable". Don't get me wrong... the ol' girl is great fun just like it is, but not for use on a daily basis.

Any suggestions for modern 1-ton or even 2-ton drivetrain? This would address both the go fast and safety issues and retain the classic good looks of an art deco chevy.

Thanks again.

If you could find a newer Chevy/GMC big truck, that would make a better donor than a one ton. there should be plenty of them around in Kalifornia, then if you swap the axles and brake rigging, that may get you a bit more speed and better stopping as well. you mite even consider just swapping the older 46 on to the newer chassis, but to keep the stock looks.

if you have 10 hole rear wheels you can use the late model rear from an r.v. or 3500 series gm truck. wheel size on that rear end is 19.5 which is only a tad bigger than a 16 inch wheel, however the 20 inch stock wheels you have will bolt to them. there is a slight difference in wheels, but i have seen the late model diff with old wheels and it seems to work. you can also just install the late model diff and change the entire set of wheels to 19.5. on the late model diff is much wider brakes and better friction material for increased stopping ability, but remember the front brakes are very important to, so there's the weakest link. 70 mph with the bolt ought to be pretty easy to attain, with an improvement in stopping ability. maybe milage of about 10 or so. if you change the diff, i would sure switch to a dual master cylinder, as there is definitly a weak link in the ability to stop.

ought to be a pretty easy swap, and sure makes sense to me.

if youre realy gonna use it in your busness
it would be good to upgrade to bigger parts
most one tons are only rated at 10,000 lbs
so if your truck ways 7000 lbs with everything
that only leaves 3000lbs for load wich is allright but if your gonna hual dirt, gravel, and lumber you might need more. if you put metalic shoes on the front and had power brakes all the way around it should stop pretty good

i think he's got a 2 tonner.

somebody who lurks around here put a 454 big block in their '46 2 ton... they were still working on it... I can't recall their nick atm...

I think those '41-'46 2 tons are way cool.

-W