The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop overdrive for 59 1 ton

A question for the River of Knowledge!

There is a 3 speed and overdrive in the swap meet and I was wondering if I could use the overdrive on the 4 speed on my truck? I would like to have highway speed for the thing. A good bud of mine has a Pherd 350 box van and we just put an overdrive (gearvendors) on it and it works great.

Thanks.

I have heard of this being done, although it is not trivial. You need to contact Patrick's (see link section) for the parts needed.

thanks, as the thing comes with a 3 speed, I would think if I used that box, then it would bolt up and I could just go with overdrive and 3 speed, or I could maybe go gearvendors....

something to think about....

Or change the rear end gears,which is a simple 1 to 3 hour job with the parts on hand.Everything is bolt in and available

Mechanic, the final drive is a good way to go, most of the time. I have a 4 sp overdrive that is great out on the road. But the 1st and reverse gears are really fast. It can be hard to get started, with with out slipping the clutch, with a load or on a grade. I am thinking of using my straight 4 speed with the grannie low, and using a 2 sp OD box behind it. I know that will hurt the fuel efficency some, but it will save the clutch. Mike

Pardon my ignorance, but who has the parts?

This truck has the 1 ton rear end which has the big 8 lug drums and is of the 'full floating type' with 5.14 to 1 gearing according to my 1959 chevy truck operators manual.

I have seen patrick's gears, etc, for a 1/2 ton, but that series has a different diff. and I didn't see any gears available for my truck.

The OD from the three speed will not bolt up to your 4 speed. If you want a HD overdrive I would suggest the gear vendors as long as you have some $$$ hanging around. Think they start around 1K.

howziit guys!

at www.gearvendors.com prices start at $2195.

Cheapest swap is to go with a 14 bolt full floater from a late model 3/4 or 1 ton. You can easily find one with 3.73 gears. There are even a few with 3.42 gears. You will have to be careful with the width if you have a pickup bed, with a flat bed it's no big deal. Also, some late model wheels have deeper setback.

Thanks Fred, that's a good idea. I can check the local boneyards for a newer rear end. Today I was hacking the box up with the blue flame speed wrench. I should have it apart in next couple of daze. I have a bud with a gearvendors on his Pherd 350 17 ft box van and its quite nice, but dunno if I want an overdrive worth more than the truck! I think even with the lower gearing out back, the granny should still get any load moving, and with the bed gone, I can do what I like. :rolleyes:

One thing I forgot to ask, Fred, can you tell me how to identify the rear end and what markings to look for to see what gears are in the rear?

I know someone who has a 4.11 ratio rear end that will swap into your present rear end housing.
All a person has to do is drop the drive-line,pull the axle shafts outa little ways to clear the differential when it comes out.Drop in the differential unit and bolt it up.bolt the axles back in,fill it with gear oil(85-90W) and re-connect the driveline.
You will have to live with the speedo being off or locate a gear reduction for the speedo cable at the transmission.

Irwin, to check your rear axle gear ratio, try this:

"Jack up one tire if you have an open diff, or both tires
if you have a working posi or locking differential. Rotate the
tire one full revolution for posis and lockers and 2 full
revolutions for open diffs. Carefully count the number of full
revolutions the driveshaft makes. This is your gear ratio. In
other words, if the drive shaft turns 3 & 3/4 turns, you
probably have a 3.73 gear ratio. Turning the tire for twice the
number of full revolutions and dividing the drive shaft
revolutions by two will give you a more accurate
reading." (quoted from West Coast Differentials)

You may have 5.14's or 4.57's. A 4.11 pumpkin should swap in and be much smoother on the highway without sacrificing your load carring ability too much . I think 3.42's might be too tall, but if matched to the appropriate trans; no problem.

Thanks guys, great info, what would I do without ya!

I am 90% certain that I have 5.14 original equipment in this thing. I hope to finish slice and dice on the bed in the next couple of daze.

Then I can look at rear ends. The engine is going from a 235 to a 292, so the 40 hp increase (135 to 175 (maybe - used motor - but runs)) ought to make the difference. I don't think I will be hauling any huge loads with this - probably go to a flatbed, maybe try to find one of those 3.73 rears. Although, 4.11 is a decent option too. I have already had one of the axle shafts out of it, so I know that's no big.

In fact, the nice thing about this truck is that everything is 'no big'. Unlike my previous techno showboat - 90 Mark VII with supercharger, where I had to unbolt the blower just to get to the plugs.

Today I slapped some 0-rust on the bumper, grill, and other bits (white).

So whaddyer think? Paint the wheels red, black, or white to go with red cab?

Irwin-what about one of those NV 4500 O.D.'s from a newer big truck? Might work-I seem to remember someone here did this swap.

Just my $.02, I'd go with red wheels-white would be "too much," while black would make 'em "dissappear" into the tires.

Regards,
Wannabe

Irwin, here is some info on the NV-4500 .

I think they go for $1500 or so,; they are a very hot item.

It's hard to beat the SM-420 or the SM-465. You can try, though!! :p .
Very tough trannies. Since you are going with a newer engine, you can get a B'house for it with the 5-1/8" bearing retainer opening. Then you can run an SM-465 .

I think Chief has one in his truck; 502 BBC in the front of the -465 and a Gear Vendors unit on the back! If money was no object, I would get a Gear Vendors unit for my truck. I have 6.13 gears (in high range) and 8.10 in low.

Wow more choices, yer corn-fusin me!

Great info though, I didn't know squat about the other transmissions available. For free truck this old bird's really getting the treatment.

I just read oldkarkook's bit on getting 4.11 gears for my rear, and so I might scout about and see if I can do that, then go from there.

I'll probably run it about the block to see how it does with original gears when I get there just out of curiosity.

While the NV4500 is a great tranny, it has one major drawback, the speedo setup is electronic.

Looking at Lukes suggestion about dropping in a 4.10 pumpkin, I went back and saw that your truck is a 59 model. Luke's right about a pumpkin swap being your easiest and cheapest upgrade. combine the 4.10 gears and tall tires will give you decent rpm's on the highway. I would also go with the SM420 or SM465 tranny, go to Nowak tranny page for more info on these gearboxes.

Sounds like we both have similar plans for driveline. Mine (hopefully) will have a 292, tranny will be either a SM465 or 700R4, with a 14 bolt rear, gears either 3.42 or 3.73, depending on which tranny I opt for. good luck.