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#39181 10/04/2003 4:34 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 3 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 3 | I am putting a V-8 and 700R in my '46 1/2 ton. Is there any way to convert the rear end to an open drive? Also curious if the rear end would hold up to the extra torque. I only plan on driving it around town, so I'm not worried about gas milage or extra wear on drivetrain. Is this possible, or should I go with my original plan of swapping a newer rearend? | | |
#39182 10/04/2003 3:03 PM | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 140 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 140 | You need to sawp out axles, etc to go open driveline. The springs are different on open drivelines, because they carry the torque from the axle. Close drivelines transmit the torque thru the torque tube. (Doh!)
1/2 ton rear ends are a bit light for a V-8. I ran one a while back, if you drive gently it'll hold, probably, but it's on the edge. No pwer shifts, no shift kit.
George | | |
#39183 10/04/2003 9:38 PM | Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 523 Member | | Member Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 523 | I'll try to get this in before the 'putor crashes
You need the dropout section from a 55+ truck RE
and the upper and lower bolts for the housing
You take out all the old stuff and put in the new dropout along withj the OLD Spider Gears Put the old axels in
Now the tricky part:
Select a driveshaft angle that looks good and stitch weld the housing into the pillow blocks
The trick is the tubes are steel and the blocks iron...A mess but works
Boy it's not easy to type fast
GOOD LUCK
My 39 with this setup takes a pretty good 302's torque....V-8's no problem | | |
#39184 10/04/2003 9:42 PM | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,096 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,096 | The '55 to '59 trucks were optioned with the V8 , so their diffs must be strong enough for average use . I have a '55 rear in my '40 and it works real well (3.9:1 gears) Check what brakes you are using in the front , they need to match the rears in efficiency. http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/55rear.htm | | |
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