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#37529 10/22/2003 3:36 AM | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 194 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 194 | Will a center pumpkin out of a 58 chevy car work in an AD axle housing? Will the AD axles work in the car center pumpkin?
What would the gear ratio be in a 58 chevy car differential be?
Looking for another way to raise the gear ratio in my 52 without changing out the complete rear axle housing.
Thanks for the help. | | |
#37530 10/22/2003 4:32 PM | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | 1955-62 PU center sections are the only open drive units that will fit right in, same axle splines also. They came in 4.11, 3.9(standard), 3.7, 3.38(auto).
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#37531 10/22/2003 6:31 PM | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,424 ODSS President | | ODSS President Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,424 | I'm using a '57 3.90 pumpkin out of a truck into my '49 axle, fits like it was meant to be there and now I'm open drive (shaft). I have a '62 3sp+od, the od=.7, so, .7 x 3.90=2.73, 3rd overdrive, @2100 rpms. I go 70 mph all day long, completed a 1600 mile trip this summer, a breeze.
~ Cosmo 1949 Chevy Half Ton Rocinante, like Don Quixote, he is awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task beyond his capacities. "...my good horse Rocinante, mine eternal and inseparable companion in all my journeys and courses." ...Don Quixote, Cervantes "If you come to a fork in the road, take it."...Yogi Berra "Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." ...Eric Hoffer
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#37532 10/22/2003 9:13 PM | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,096 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,096 | This is great info guys .
So a '55-'62 pickup diffhead will fit into the earlier torque tube axle casing . GREAT !
My question is ,, just how much earlier can this be done ??
Will I be able to fit the '55 diffhead into a '46 pickup axle casing ?? | | |
#37533 10/22/2003 10:20 PM | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,897 Member | | Member Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,897 | Guys,,, be sure to remember that the torque-tube rear end gets some of its mounting strength from the tube itself. SOME modification will be needed to hold the rear end to the leaf springs aws they mount differently.
There is enough good in the worst of us and enough bad in the best of us that it does not behoove any of us to criticize the rest of us. - - Be yourself. If you are ever lost, It will be much easier to find yourself if you know who you are!
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#37534 10/23/2003 1:25 AM | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,424 ODSS President | | ODSS President Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,424 | Oops, I forgot, got my mounts from Buffalo Ent. The axle is re-centered in the wheelwell with Buffalo mounts. You have to burn off the old Torque tube mounts with a torch.
BUFFALO ENTERPRISES
25625 Dahl Road, Arlington, WA, 98223 (360) 652-7684
~ Cosmo 1949 Chevy Half Ton Rocinante, like Don Quixote, he is awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task beyond his capacities. "...my good horse Rocinante, mine eternal and inseparable companion in all my journeys and courses." ...Don Quixote, Cervantes "If you come to a fork in the road, take it."...Yogi Berra "Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." ...Eric Hoffer
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#37535 10/23/2003 2:08 AM | Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 481 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 481 | I'm confused. If I put A 55-62 pumpkin in my torque tube 46, I need to change my spring perches ?? | | |
#37536 10/23/2003 2:12 AM | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 194 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 194 | I already have converted to an open drive shaft setup. I took the center pumpkin out of a 55 1st series and put it in the 52 torque tube housing. This gave me an open drive shaft. To be able to use the old housing, I welded the mounts solid. There is a rubber bushing inside the mount that attaches to the axle housing and the spring. I just welded this pivot point together and didn't have to change any mounts. May be a photo will explain what I am having trouble saying. http://community.webshots.com/album/94991719ZcaSLu http://community.webshots.com/photo/94991719/94993264tuafcF http://community.webshots.com/photo/58753176/58835235DxgtTe Seems to working very well, a couple of hard burnouts didn't brake anything. Can you do a hard burnout with a 228 GMC engine? I have access to a 58 Chevy car and thought the center section would work in this housing. I might be able to raise my gear ratio easily. Thanks for the input. Arlyn | | |
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