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| | | | Joined: Aug 2022 Posts: 100 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2022 Posts: 100 | Can you change a stock 1946 1/2 ton enclosed drive center chunk / pumpkin with a 1955 1st series differential chunk / pumpkin…..and use the open drive shaft? I thought I had read that some where. Using the original 1946 axle / differential housing?
Last edited by Gdads51; 09/16/2026 1:17 PM. Reason: add detail to title
Care taker of a 1946 1/2 ton. Pretty much period correct original. Danny T, from B’ham, Al
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 278 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 278 | Yes. I'm using one from a 57 in a 40. Good up through 62? if memory serves me.
Last edited by Donf; 06/15/2024 3:13 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2022 Posts: 100 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2022 Posts: 100 | Yes. I'm using one from a 57 in a 40. Good up through 62? if memory serves me. So you’re using just the ‘57 pumpkin and drive shaft, and retaining the original differential housing and axles, is that correct……to eliminate the torque tube. Correct??
Care taker of a 1946 1/2 ton. Pretty much period correct original. Danny T, from B’ham, Al
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,117 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,117 | If you put an open driveline on a torque tube axle housing, you need to do something to eliminate the pivot mounts on the axle housing. Either cut them off and weld on spring pads, paying attention to driveline angles, or set the driveline angle and weld the pivots solid, which might be a little messy when the rubber in it starts melting. With the torque tube gone, you need something to resist the torque (springs or so-called traction bars.)
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 278 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 278 | "So you’re using just the ‘57 pumpkin and drive shaft, and retaining the original differential housing and axles, is that correct……to eliminate the torque tube. Correct??"
Correct, except for the drive shaft. You are now entering the world of custom made or modified driveshafts (length).
Klhansen is correct about setting the driveline angle and welding the pivots solid, except I don't believe the pivots on your 46 contain rubber. No mess, set the angle and weld. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 21 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 21 | Cool thread. glad i found it. Can this be done with a 38 passenger car??
Vendor and manufacturer of the No name, No fin, No logo cast aluminum 216/235/261 Valve cover and Hold Down Knobs
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 5,980 Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT | | Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 5,980 | Cool thread. glad i found it. Can this be done with a 38 passenger car?? Honestly no idea if the later truck pumpkin would bolt up to a '38 car axle housing. The 1929-46 Chevy Master Parts Book I have says the 1938-40 passenger cars and same year 1/2 ton trucks shared the same axle housing part number, but used different torque tube/differential units. Your "passenger car" question would be better asked in a forum outside of Stovebolt that talks "passenger cars". 
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100Follow this story in the DITY Gallery"My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine"1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,838 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,838 | Instead of trying to weld those rubber-bushing spring perches, it's pretty simple to fabricate some radius rods from the axle tubes to the frame rails, using heim joints and steel tubing. That makes the pinion angle adjustable, if you use right and left hand threaded joints on the radius rods. www.ebay.com/itm/303546213723?Jerry
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