The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop drive line in my '49

HELP!!... hey guys, I'm new here... need some suggestions or advice... I finished restoring (well...are we ever REALLY finished?) my '49 chev PU last year. I was at the end of my reassembly budget, so she got her original tranny (rebuilt) and closed tube, and pumpkin put back in. my pumpkin has started singing to me if I let off the gas and/or downshift down a hill, or just coast. I wanna replace all from the bell back. I'm looking for more modern. is there a particular maodel year chevy (60's or 70's) that will bolt up to my 261 (not 216) as a fairly simple retro? One that will give me more modern gearing, and an open driveline? any suggestions greatly appreciated...thanks feel free to email me.

If you want to keep your original transmission you need to find a closed tube from a 3/4 ton which only goes half way back,and open from there on back.You would have to have the back half shortened to fit,and the rear joint changed to fit the rearend.You would have to add a cross member to support the midshaft bearing,a piece of 2 inch channel will work for this.A rear from a 55-59 truck is ideal but a newer one with 6 lugs will do also.You will need to dismantled your rear springs and turn them around to keep the wheel aligned in the fender hole.

Hoping to do the same conversion on my 49. I was fortunate enough to be given a rear axle from a Task Force series truck as well as a drive shaft and a 3 speed transmission from the same era.

olblu49.. can u give me more detail as to your plans re ur 49 rear end conversion? return email: [email protected]

For my '48 I kept the original bell housing and clutch and added a late 60's 3 speed (fully syncronized) which fit nicely-I did have to grind off the top ear of the trans mount for clearance. then put an 85 blazer rear with a 2.73 ratio so I can get on the freeway and keep up with my son's 53 half ton. An 89 s-10 driveshaft fit with not modification! I am putting in a trans. crossmember and bought a rear axle conversion kit from chevy duty-made friends with a welder. To keep the column shifter I asked our local High School welding shop to fabricate a bracket to link the '48 linkage with the late 60's transmission and it worked... still a work in progress- got disk brakes to add when they get here in a few weeks... things are coming together though.

I did the conversion on my 51, 3100.using a 87 full size blazer rear and a saginaw 4spd trans out of a camaro,and a drive shaft out of a camaro, I am running a 1954 ,235. truck runs sixty mph at 2000 rpms worth the effort. old navy 51............