The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Question for you fellas!!

I was underneath my truck the other day looking at my cracked tranny casing and obliterated u-joint assembly(3 speed on 1954 Chevy 1/2 ton), and I wondered how in the SAM HELL!!! it broke. This happened 5 years ago and at the time I was a senior in high school getting ready to go to college so I could give a sh**, but now I do and this what I think, I think that I am missing a crossmember that the u-ball assembly or driveline sat on to support the weight of the driveline. Is that right? I was looking at my shop manual and the only good picture of the entire chasis is a lubrication maintance diagramfor the 1/2 ton 54' and that picture shows a cross member running in the areas I mentioned above. Any input, I really need it, also some suggestions if I should put one there if one doesn't go there. Also what is a good quality reasonably priced two barrel carburetor. I have a rebuilt 261 in my 54' but the tranny is bad. I am going to have the carb I took off the truck looked at and rebuilt if I can figure out what type of carb it is, it was added with the 261-235 swap out. If I can't get someone to tell me what type of carb I have I need a different one, any help there?

ever in search of knowledge

rje

There is a rear transmission mount on the three speed tranny, uses two of the lower bolts that hold ring on ball joint at rear of tranny.
I don't know if your 54 still uses bolt together u-joint or not. If it does they only used 1/4 inch bolts to hold it together. With extra power of 261 it might have come apart. Mine did one summer afternoon. Scored up ball housing pretty good.
How did water pump work out?

So there is a crossmember, I knew it!! That would explain why the darn ujoint was destroyed like it is, I have the mount pad, I guess now I just need the crossmember. The water pump worked like a jiffy, no problems and a good fix, thanx for askin'!!