The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 'new' rear end in my 3/4 ton 49

i am installing chevy 350 \ 700r4 \ 3.42 - 5 bolt rear end on a 49 3\4 ton and I have a couple of questions that I am hoping you guys have a ready answer for. the rear end is about 2.5 inches wider than the original any suggestion on dealing with this? Is it even an issue. I have noticed that on most 1/2 ton rear suspension the axel is mounted above the springs. the axel was mounted below the springs. I am thinking that the new rear end should be installed below? any thoughts \ advice?

I am working on a 53 3/4 ton truck. The wider rear may or may not fit depending on the wheels you plan to use. 2.5" is not too much to overcome with a reversed wheel, or deeper backspacing. Another solution, if you need to replace the fenders, is to use the 3" wider fenders that are available for these trucks.

For mounting, the 1/2 ton frames have a significant kick-up right above the axle, this allows adequate travel between the top of the axle and the bottom of the frame. It also lowers the truck's rear. I 'flipped' the 12 bolt GM truck rear end I put under my 53 to the top of the springs to lower the truck. This also means that I had to notch the frame to provide adequate travel.

I put a 3.73 from an '86 suburban in my '47 1ton panel. 16" rims and the tires are close to the fenders, but not a problem.

Arizona,

That 6 cyl engine under the hood is not a Chevy with that rounded valve cover, it looks like a GMC, is it a 270 or a 302ci?

I agree that looks like a GMC valve cover - but he wrote that he's working on a 49 3/4-ton, not the 50 1-ton that is in his signature.
Ron, tell us more about this project.

His 49 is a 3/4 ton not a 1/2 ton. He has a different frame and does not have the same degree of arch at the axle. Also his frame is 11" more narrow than the 3100. And his springs are located outside the frame. A bunch of difference between the two.

All,

sorry for the confusion... i had to abondon the 49 one ton .... just too much modificaiton needed to the frame to make it work. and when I found a 3/4 ton 5 window (i assume a 3/4 ton because of the floating axle that came with) i jumped on it. I will be updating my profile with photos and narrative of how I got to where I am today on this projet ..... possibly even including major marriage 'suprises' that came to light the weekend i brought the one ton home about two years ago ... na, i had better stick to the project ....

anyway thanks for the feedback on the width ... I have since found out that you can purchase wheels that can pull the tire in to avoid contact with fenders....