The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk This last weekend.

Hi All, I finally had a day to work on my 48 - 3/4 ton daily driver. One of my front tires is to the point that it needs replacing. I bought some new tires at the local tire shop and set to installing them. I decided to go ahead and clean and paint the wheels so this slowed the process down. I have been running 205-15's on the front and 235-15,s on the back. I bought 215-15's to replace the front tires and thats where I started. I got one completely sandblasted and painted and just got part way through the other due to a compressor leak. Since I only had one new tire mounted and its bigger than the other side, I still didnt get the probelm fixed. I did try an experiment with the rear wheels. I had a pair of mounted 9.50 - 16.5, 8-hole wheels on my welder trailer and I have always been curious if they would work on my truck. They do. They are a lot bigger than the tires I took off and they look funny, but I was encouraged enough to go ahead and add the hubcap clips so I could mount my original hubcaps. These taller and wider tires really improved my top speed (4.57:1 gears) and I am getting used to the look. I still need to finish painting and mounting the other front tire, but for the meantime, I am still driving her.
Ralph

Thats the most important thing. Whenever I'm doing small jobs on mine, I'll sometimes go to the junkyard, buy a used piece I already have on the truck and clean and paint it so I don't have any down time. Then I swap the old one for something new I need. Works great.

It might be worth it to hit the local junkyards and find a 4.11 rear end - not as big of an improvement as if you were driving a 1-ton with the 5.14 gears, but it should give a bit of help.

Hey GMC Panel, We dont have any local junkyards anymore. I have to go to Amarillo. Phil 1953GMC said if he had time he would do some looking around for me. I hear that those rear ends are getting scarce. Shipwright, I have a complete 3/4 ton rolling chassis from a 51 that I will use for parts and also 2 half tons without engines. My next project is to blast and paint one of the 1/2 ton chassis, do brakes, new rear end, 292 and T-5, and then move my 3/4 ton body over to the 1/2 ton chassis. I have everything I need except the T-5, a shop, and the time.
Ralph

Ralph,
My dad has a T-5 in his shop in Midland. I am going there Thursday. Let me know if I need to bring it back.

Phil

I went to the oldest tranny shop in town and bought a rebuilt T5 with V8 gears. (out of a Camaro) He installed the s-10 tailshaft on it for me too. I was expensive ($550) but worth it. Having to wrangle all the right parts togather just makes for more down time. IMHO
Sounds like its gonna be a sweet setup. Good Luck

Hey Phil, Thanks for the offer, but I dont have the money or a place to put it right now. I am still trying to get some of the local bolters to take a road trip for the next cruise night. It would be nice to have 3 stovebolts going at once, my original, Jr's 50's style and Shelly's restored truck. I will keep you updated as I hear something.
Ralph