The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
Fixing the old truck

BUSY BOLTERS
Are you one?

Where is it?? The Shop Area

continues to pull in the most views on the Stovebolt. In August alone there were over 22,000 views in those 13 forums.

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 540 guests, and 1 robot.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics126,777
Posts1,039,270
Members48,100
Most Online2,175
Jul 21st, 2025
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 77
R
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
R Offline
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 77
Ok... I've read about counting the teeth in a rearend to tell the ratio, but I have no idea how to go about telling the ratio by counting the teeth. So, could someone here tell me that?

I obtained a '61 rearend today, but it's only the housing and the center gears. No axle shafts or brake drums.

Anyway, I would like to know the ratio.

Thanks very much!!

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,708
A
'Bolter
'Bolter
A Offline
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,708
Robbie,

I'm math challenged, but I think if you divide the large number..the ring gear count by the small number, the pinion count, you will get the ratio of the rear end. Give it a try!

Stuart


Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,061
3
3B Offline
'Bolter
'Bolter
3 Offline
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,061
Hy RobbieWright, a ratio is the relationship between two gears, in the case of a differential, it is the relationship between the pinion gear [ input at driveshaft ] and the crown gear [ output connected to axles ] if the pinion has 6 teeth and the crown has 36 teeth, divide the pinion number into the crown number in this case 6 into 36 equals a 6:1 ratio, hope that helps.

Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8,351
L
'Bolter
'Bolter
L Offline
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8,351
If you can get the code numbers off the face of the 3rd member, I can decode them for you. Stuarts method would be correct if you count the teeth.


Bill Burmeister
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,886
J
'Bolter
'Bolter
J Offline
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,886
Think of this way, all the ratio means is the drive shaft turns 6 times before the ring gear (tires) turns once, if its a 6:1 ratio. Is really easy once you know the secrets ! Joe

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 77
R
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
R Offline
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 77
Thanks for all the replies!!

Okay... I counted the teeth and there are 10 on the pinion gear and 39 on the ring gear... so that divided would be 3.9, so that means the ratio is 3.9:1? Or am I way off?

The reason I asked at all though was because with this rearend under a 1961 Chevy 1/2-ton with a 235/3-on-the-tree, the truck used to be able to go like 70 miles an hour up hill with ease and then would still be able to "push" the driver to the back of his seat. So I was wondering if these might not be stock gears, or could those trucks just do that?

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,597
W
Riding in the Passing Lane
Riding in the Passing Lane
W Offline
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,597
That is pretty much the standard ratio for these trucks from 55 to the late 60's. There was some variations & after 67 there were more available ratios. You are pushing a 235 pretty good at that rate but a good one will do it. Years ago Back when I worked for a truck line we had a 58 for a service truck. I drove it 200 miles on the Kansas Turnpike without hardly ever letting up on the gas. It would go 75 up hill & 80 downhill. It still ran good a long time after that.


They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing.
1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne Super
In the Gallery Forum
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 77
R
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
R Offline
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 77
Thanks for the info! Yeah, that 3.90:1 is exactly what the book says for what the truck has.

The 235 is a very good motor. It's the only thing that isn't/wasn't stock to the truck. The numbers say it came out of a car. Whenever my great-uncle used to drive the truck he would say, "Are you sure there ain't a V8 under there?"

Even now - 20 years later - that same 235 runs GREAT. Except for a darn small crack in the block!!

Again, thanks for all of the information.


Moderated by  Phak1, Woogeroo 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0
(Release build 20240826)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 8.3.11 Page Time: 0.104s Queries: 14 (0.101s) Memory: 0.6242 MB (Peak: 0.6962 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2025-09-22 08:21:10 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS