The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline replacing my 54 torque tube rear axle

Well i'm installing a SBC V8 with a T5 tranny into my 54 3100 truck. in the process of pulling the original on the column 3 speed tranny i discover i have a torque tube rear axle... oh well now i have to replace the rear axle so i can have a regular driveline. didn't plan on this. i am in need of advise... please

It gets worse.
Need a open drive shaft in a length that will fit.
Need to determine the rear axle ratio that will work well with the T5.
If you have a stock front straight axle it will have 6 lug spindles. You will want a rear axle that is 6 lugs which means a truck rear axle (or carry 2 spares).
Starting 1955 second series, the rear axle is wider than your truck which could cause the rear wheels to rub the fenders.
Attaching leaf spring saddles to your donor axle.
Reworking the emergency brake cables.

There are solutions but don't depend solely on what others think or tell you what you need to do. You won't be happy with the results.
Start searching this forum for what others have done in the past. Learn from their mistakes. Study and do research.

I like to use the "Advanced Forum Search". I just now typed-in "rear axle width". It came up with several pages.
One of them is:
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/948718
We are more that glad to teach anyone who wants to learn how to use the search function.

Just as info....on my 52 panel I used the same rear housing and axles. I pulled the torque tube assembly out and used one from a 59 pickup....and I think up to 62 the "pumpkin" will fit right in place of the torque tube assembly. I ran a V8 with a 700R4. Yes, I had to find a driveshaft and have it cut to length. Had a couple guys give me driveshafts and I opted to use an aluminum one that was give to me and lighter.
I drove the panel all over country including K.C. reunion and the Homecoming.

..and it allowed me to keep all 6 lugs.

Find a rear end from a 1969 Chevy 1/2 ton truck and it will fit in there just fine. Possibly earlier years (66, 67, 68) would also work. Wasn't until sometime in the 70s the width changed and then they went to 5 lug wheels. I have a 1969 in mine and unless you do something like use too large of wheels/tires, all will be jake and you'll have a 6 lug rear end. Be really careful to study the rear end ratios v the ratios in your T5 transmission. You can do something neat there or you can create a little over-geared or under-geared nightmare. Lots and lots has been written on that topic here. Let us know if you need help.

thanks 2wd or 4wd does it matter?

I think my old 69 had a 373 ratio with the six cylinder .

2wd is what I used. I have no idea about the 4wd, but you could check it out on the GM Heritage pages. You are familiar with those, yes?

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/do...hevrolet-Trucks/1969-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf

Finding a pre 62 center section would be the way to go. They're probably all going to be 3.90 or 4.10 rearends. The trick is finding them.

Go to car-part.com and look for 95-2004 Toyota Tacoma or 2003-2012 Chevy Colorado. You'll want Toyota 4wd or Prerunner. They 're 60 3/4 wide and 6 lug. They have ratios from 4.80 to 3.15. The Colorado 4wd and Z85 is what you want, they're 62" wide and 6 lug. They have ratios from 4.10 to 3.42.

I used a different assy out of a 79 suburban 4x4. Don't recall the wdth measurements, it is a little wider. Gives you the 6 stud axles. Been running that for the last 30 yrs..truck is also a 54...

jon g thanks for the link

Might make this a post it note. If using the factory leaf springs drill a new 1/2" hole in the spring saddle mount that is 1.5" forward of the factory for spring center bolt. This will center tire in fender opening.

If you're installing the open driveline center carrier, be aware that the pivoting axle tube attaching points to the springs must be changed, or locked into position in some way. Welding the rubber-bushed pivots is difficult, if not impossible.
Jerry

i find several Colorado 2wd 6 lug on ebay but no 4wd what is the difference?

moeman59 The first truck I done in 1967 used a 55,56,57 car rear end ,cut spring perches off re-positioned for width,set pinion angle,welded, bolted-up. Then used 51 car hubs on the front to get same 5 lug pattern. Make a driveshaft you've got it. Today there are a lot of ways to do it with offshore stuff !!

I was under under the impression there was a difference in the zq8 and z85 2wd axles. It looks as though they were both 61" wide. The 4wd axles are 63.5 " wide

I sourced a 1955 3100 pumpkin which is an open drive shaft to replace the torque tune and original pumpkin. It looks like it will bolt right in. Any advice on whether I am on the right track?

frank 53 chev3100, good for you where did you find that??? any more available???

Frank, i put a 55 pumpkin in my 52 panel. No problem and used my axles.

Didn’t you have to remove the pivots and weld on spring pads to the old rear?

Yes i did. I bought the clamps that i welded to the rear housing once i set the pinion angle. I used a two inch lowering block with hole drilled for the spring bolt and offset the hole to perfectly center the wheels in center of wheel well. If i rember correctly it was 1 1/2 inches......on my panel.

It was just luck. I checked on Car-Part.com and found one only. It was in California. When I called the guy laughed at first. Then asked if I had a stock number
Have that and after 10 minutes on hold he came back to the phone and said "you know my inventory better than me". He shot a few pictures of it, very clean, no rust and turns easily. Haven't checked the ratio yet but will likely need a gear change.
Now, if I can get a few pain free hours from the arthritis I'll get the torque tune and original rear out. Then comes time to figure out what needs done for traction bars or other ways to stabilize it. Then gotta figure out a drive shaft and tranny to go behind the 350.
Long way to go

Thanks for letting me know. I'm glad someone has done this successfully.
As with so many other things one step leads to another. Now I have 5 lug 4 3/4" lug pattern on the front and original 6 lug on the rear
I have to find a solution to convert to the Chevy 5 lug pattern on the rear.
More research and a lot more searching on this great forum.

that cool, i think i found a 54 rear not to far from me... keeping my fingers crossed