The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 46 chevy rear-end gear ratio

I am working on a 46 chevy pickup restoration that includes replacing the 216 engine with a 235. I'd like to speed up the 4.11 rear end to the commonly upgraded 3.55(or faster)ring and pinion but I really don't want to spend up to $700 for parts to do it. I have acccess to one or more rear-ends of the 49, 50, 51 generation but I haven't been able to learn much about them other than that they still seem to use the torque tube driveshaft configuration in the half-ton model we're dealing with.

Does that 48-53 group have a higher rear end ratio then the 4.11? If so, are the ring and pinion items of the same parts number as the 46 so they would be interchangeable? If so, that would be super as I think I can get whole drivetrains for a small amount. And, maybe I could bolt up the whole drivetrain including a three speed tranny from such a (newer) truck?

Does the Chilton series have comprehensive specifications in them? I found a 48-53 chevrolet truck specifications book in the library just like the one I have for the 41-46 series but it does not have the nice rear end gear ratio tables that the 41-46 publication has.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Lee Boland (715-962-4010)

Best thing I EVER did to make my 46 fun to drive was install an overdrive trans. For that you'll need an open drive rear end.

You can make the later torque tube rear ends work in your truck but the mounting arrangement to the springs is different and it's a bit of work for minimal gain. Think about going open drive line with an S-10 trans, can be done for much less than the $700 gears.

There are how to's all over this web site.

Lee,

The Torque Tube 1/2 tons from 46-53.1 all had the same differential with the 4.11:1 gears.

To get lower gears without buying the kit from Patrick's or one of the other usual suspects, you will have to gank the drivetrain from the transmission back and replace it with something newer off of a later truck (or car).

If you are trying to keep your truck stock looking, I'd go for the gears, or keep the 4.11:1. You mentioned swapping the 216 out for a 235... That would let you go quite a bit faster, as you can wind the 235 out further without blowing it up.

Personally, I like being able to change the rotation of the Earth in first gear...

There is a low buck 3.55 gear option listed in
Tech Tips.

Thanks very much. This is all very useful information.

Lee

Can you get what you want with 16" wheels and taller tires?
Cavebull