The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 3 speed sedan matched to a 54 four speed bellhousing in a 1938 1/2

Please don't chastise me on making a search, IT IS NOT user friendly.
Now !I have a 38 1/2 with a 235 and a 50's four speed, yes I engineered(rubed)the pedal arrangement and the alignment and strength was fine. Due to the fact I have a 50 sedan rear and wanting to center the wheels in the opening I find the 4 speed is too long. The driveline was shortened previously. I have a 38 sedan 3 speed,and bell which would allow the rear to move far enough forward, but the bellhousing is not compatible.
Is there a way to adopt the sedan bellhousing, by(engineering) new rear motor mounts? If I were 75 miles closer to civilization there are lots of options. Would a 38 truck 3 speed be as long as the 4 speed synchro? Or I suppose I could reinstall the 37 4 speed I still have. 4th gear is direct at any rate.
Suggestions, Directions, Prescriptions.

You got a lot of questions there!

Is a 38 3 speed shorter than a 50s 4 speed? I would say yes off the top of my head, but I would have to measure to be sure. By 50s 4 speed I believe you are referring to the sm420 with the granny low. I am cornfused as to weather or not is is an open driveline or a torque tube setup.

In my 1940 GMC I will use the original bellhousing so I don't have to "rube" the pedals. I made an adapter plate so I could put a NV4500 5 speed transmission. I will have to use an open drive rear end.

Suggestions... A T5 5 speed is pretty eazy to adapt in our old trucks... there is a tech tip on installing a T5 in an art decco truck. Your prewar truck is virtually identicle to the art deco trucks. If you already figured out how to mount your pedals on the later 50s bellhousing, the T5 will nearly bolt right up without an adapter plate. But you will have to extend the splines, and possibly have to cut a little bit off the snout to make the clutch work.

Find a suitable rear axle... a lot of people use camaro rear ends, and then match the front with disc brakes. If you still want to keep the 6 lug bolt pattern, you could probably use a 55-59 chevy or gmc 1/2 ton rear. I know they sell 5 lug front disc brake conversions for your truck. 6 lug is doable, but you have to do a little more work. You would have to locate a 41-54 1/2 ton front axle and swap that into your 38, and then you could get a 6 lug kit for that axle.

You have a lot more options if you go with an open driveline over a torque tube.

Thanks BIGbad dad.
Well I have a 50 sedan closed driveline machined and shortened. I have 50's backing plates on the front with 50's 5 lug 15s all around. I ran it that way for 15 years. It was just a little odd that the rear tires did not center in the fender. For that odd reason i am attempting to remedy the centerline. After sliding it forward about an inch it bottomed out in the Ujoint
It is no longer my daily transportation and I have no need for the 4 speed, nor even synchro. I have plenty of alternate transportation with speed, power and economy.
I was interested in using the 38 sedan bell, transmission to attain some length to slide the rear forward.
I appreciate some prefer a more modified version with all the bells and whistles, I would prefer to make it look drive and appear original with hidden modifications.

Well, I can certainly respect that route. Keep us posted on the progress. I find the torque tubes hard to work with, and with my built up 302 that I intend to drive very fast with... I just didn't think it would last. Driving at the speeds the truck was intended for is another story, and pretty cool to have the stock mechanicals. If it drives like a truck, it'll probably keep the wife away from it.