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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 36 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 36 | Hi,
I'm a proud new owner of a '49 5 window 3100/ '54 hybrid (the box is a '54). I am learning so much so quickly - like how to be a mechanic. Please don't laugh to loudly but there are a lot of terms used in the stovebolt world that I am unfamilier with. Could someone kindly explain what a 10 bolt axle is and what the difference between that and others? Also, what is a pumpkin?
Dumb, I know. But if you never ask..... | | | | | Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,682 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,682 | A pumpkin is an orange gourd generally asociated with fall.  Actually a pumpkin is the slang term used to describe the rear axl differential.. cause its big and kinda round.. like a pumpkin. I never was 100% sure what the "bolt" rating on rear ends meant.. I always kinda figured it meant how many bolts were holding the cover on. Refer to the following crude illustration: [img] http://www.oldtruckstuff.com/punkin.gif[/img]
an idea is only stupid if you think about it rationally.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 158 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 158 | Fumblin is right. "10 bolt" is a descriptive name of a GM axle that has 10 bolts holding the differential cover. It's NOT a rating. A GM 12 bolt, for instance, isn't stronger than a 10 bolt by virtue of the 2 extra bolts -- except if you're trying to rip the differential cover off with a crowbar And Fumblin, I hope you're not considering a career in graphic design! Brian | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,029 Member | | Member Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,029 | A pumpkin is actually the removable differential assembly on front loaded rear ends. It includes the ring and pinion, carrier assembly including the differential gears(spiders etc.) and the front cover. Techically the rear access only rear ends don't have pumpkins.
Baldy | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 36 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 36 | Thanks everyone! You guys (& gals) are all so helpful. It is an honor to become a member of the Stovebolt community.
Aloha,
Rich | | | | | Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 454 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 454 | Geeze, Rich. Keep saying things like that and these guys are going to be impossible to live with :p
Welcome to the 'bolt. Are you aware that our fearless leaders, Peg & John Milliman, lived in the Aloha state for several years?
Jeff Nelson
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin
"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." - Mark Twain
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 102 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 102 | On 10 and 12 bolt Chevy rearends, that actually refers to the number of bolts that hold the ring gear to the carrier. Yes a 10 bolt and a 12 bolt Chevy do have 10 and 12 bolts holding the cover on.
Ron Thompson
51 Chevy 1/2 ton
36 F@rd coupe
65 Riviera
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 153 Member | | Member Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 153 | so then wouldn't a 12 bolt actually be stronger than a 10 bolt if that describes the number of bolts holding the rings gear to the carrier?
i always thought it did anyway. when you see 69 camaros for sale, the 12 bolts are the SS and 10 bolts are the SS wannabes.
Overland Blue, 1953 GMC 1/2T, 100-22, 228/1bbl, 4sp/4.10 6v, shortbed/fender side/5-window.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 1995 Posts: 1,159 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 1995 Posts: 1,159 | Rich,
Aloha! Just checking in real quick at the end of the day!
Yes, we were in Kaneohe Bay from 7/95 to 6/98. AAMOF, The Stovebolt Page was "birthed" in Base Housing at MCB K-Bay.
Still have many friend there.
Welcome to the site. We've got great folks here.
Peg
~ One of many.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 36 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 36 | What a great discussion started from such a seemingly silly question. I'm glad I asked as I am now that much better informed. Thanks to all.
Peg, nice to hear from a former Windward neighbor. As you may well know, vintage trucks on our O'ahu roads are a fairly rare site. It's great to see all the smiles it brings when I drive my '49 around Kahalu'u and Kaneohe - not to mention the grin on my own face!
And thanks for the nice welcome.
A Hui Hou,
Rich | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,987 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,987 | Greetings, Rich, and welcome- from another Rich!! You'll learn a lot here. I know I have! And by the way, Fumblin, I kind of like your art work! This is the second thread we've seen it on-Maybe you'll have to produce an illustrated handbook for us dummies!  | | | | | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 | On GM rear axles there is a relationship between the number of bolts holding the cover on and the strength of the axle.
But the number of bolts holding the cover on is not what gives it more strength.
The strength comes from the increased size of the ring gear and the related parts. More bolts are used to hold the ring gear in place which probably does contribute to the strength. You commonly hear Ford axles called eight-inch or nine-inch and that measure relates to the size of the ring gear.
On the GM 10-bolt axles there are several size dimensions that I've seen, so its a little more complicated to know exactly what you have. A 12-bolt is generally stronger than a 10-bolt and the 14-bolt is stronger yet.
1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more...
It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble... | | | | | Joined: Nov 1995 Posts: 1,159 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 1995 Posts: 1,159 | Rich,
Ya wanna know sometin dat was pretty strange ya? We had a big old black Dodge while we were there. On the island, man, Dodgezilla looked even bigga with all those little cars -- especially the old VW's. Loved those old VW's!
Aloha,
Peg
~ One of many.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | what can you tell us about a 9 inch Ford?
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 | Originally posted by joker:
what can you tell us about a 9 inch Ford? They were original equipment on many Fords starting in the 50's and continuing into the 70's or maybe 80's, and are now hard to find and becoming somewhat expensive. They are an easy choice for the same reasons a small block Chevy is popular; good design and lots of aftermarket support. I have GM axles under everything except my wife's Subaru.
1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more...
It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble... | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 | What kind of Subaru do you have Steve? I work for a Nissan/Subaru dealer here in Cedar Rapids. Do you like it?
Scott | | |
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