The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 3/4 and 1 ton gear sets

I have found a company called Art Housers Rear Ends that sells 3.90 and 4.11 gear sets for the 3/4 and 1 tons. Has anyone out there done business with them or heard anything about them? Also, let me ask you guys this. Will the ring and pinion from the 66-72 heavier duty rear ends fit the earlier 47-53 3/4 and 1 ton? And my last question, thanks for your patience. My rear end has a large bolt on the side that goes into the case right in line with the pinion. I assume that it adjusts the pinion somehow. Anyone know what it does? Thanks a lot! I have picked up so much from this site already. You guys are great.

From what I have read in the past on this site, 3/4 and 1 ton EATON differentials are interchangeable from 47 to 72. There are several threads that touch on this topic. HEre is one that might get you started . . .

Thank you Mr. Brown, I learned a lot from that thread.

I think it was Bubba that had a bad experience with houser. Houser was advertising that his gears would work in the older style pumpkins, Bubba bought one and found they wouldn't. He did get his money back. At the same time houser was stating on his website that he was the only one who was having the gears cut, he wasn't. Randy's Ring Pinion was making them too. Personally, I would not do business with houser beacause of this. My recommendation is to find a pumpkin with 4.10 gears or better if you're lucky, and make the swap. Best bang for your buck.

With the price of a new set of gears, you would be better investing your money in a late model differential and having it narrowed. There is a 3.5 inch difference in width, a 1.25 difference in setback and a 1.5 inch difference in wheel width, it adds up to a narrowing job of 2.5 inches to maintain the same centerline on your rear wheels.

I too have made this change. I bought a whole pumkin at a local pick and pull for $65. All you do is pull the axels and drop the whole unit in. Only took a couple of hours and really dropped my RPM's. Many 3/4 tons from '68-'72 with auto trans have 4:11 ratio's. Just make sure they are Eaton.

Here's a link to the swap for a 3/4 ton with pics.
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=002225
Murph
1949 3/4 ton GMC

53OneTon:

That large bolt in line w/ the pinion is for adjustment of a thrust pad inside the gear case, that is on the "back side" of the ring gear: it is supposed to limit the deflection(distortion) of the ring away from the pinion, when pulling under heavy load.
It should not be tampered with unless you are planning on "setting-up" the whole punkin; although the shop manual does discuss its adjustment.

How do you tell if a differential is an Eaton?
Thanks
David