The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1941 Chevy Axel 1/2 or 3/4 ton?

I purchased a rear end from a 1941 Chev pickup to put in my 41 GMC. I need to replace the outer bearings and seals but can't determine if it is a 1/2 or 3/4 ton rear end. The bearing is a cylindrical roller bearing: outside diameter of 2 1/4", inside diameter (bore) of 1 7/8" and the width is 1". Does anyone know what I've got?

open or closed driveline?

Here is the specs for an AD 1/2 ton bearing, I think they are the same.

Chev of the 40s lists the same bearing for 1/2T 37 through 54 and 37-42 3/4 & 1T

I wish I knew what that meant! I only have the rear end and no idea of what it came off of other than it was a 41 chev. It had shocks if that helps.

They are different in width and outside diameter. I might have an oddball. I have since found a bearing supplier to match the bearing by number. They pulled out an old manual with yellowed pages that appeared to be as old as my truck. Replacements were priced accordingly!

Thanks for the input.

John,

Are you sure the axle is out of a Chevy truck? Are you measuring with a dial caliper or a tape measure? I am not discounting your measuring accuracy, but 2 1/4 od minus 1 7/8 id divided by two gives just 3/16 of an inch for the roller bearings and the race. I think you should measure again.

I know for a fact that 1/2 ton Chevy trucks have an axle dia. of 1.875.

Open driveline would look like a modern rear end and use a driveshaft. A closed driveline would have a torque tube with a solid moving driveshaft in side. If the rear end truly is from a 41 chevy, and has 6 lug axels, you could tell if it was 1/2 or 3/4 ton by the driveshaft or torque tube. The 1/2 ton would have a torque tube and the 3/4 ton would be open and use a modern driveshaft.

I remeasured both the axel and the od of the bearing. The axel is 1.875 (1 7/8") and the od of the bearing is 2 1/4" The rollers from the bearing are in direct contact with the axel. There is no race used in the assembly.

The driveline is closed.

From your comments about the axel dimension and comments from others about the driveline, it seems I have a 1/2 ton axel. The rear end came with 6 bolt artillary wheels.