The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop swapping torque tube for open drive

I have a 1953 1/2 ton and I was thinking about swapping the torque tube for a open driveline. What's the simplest way. Can I simple swap the center carrier section from a '55 into my current torque tube rearend? Should I just get a whole '55 rearend. Are the leaf springs the same width as my '53? Is a panhard bar necessary since you lose the stabilization of the torque tube? Or are the leafspings sufficient? I am currently running a stock 3 speed but am considering the Saginaw conversion. These are just some of the questions I have. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Craig

This is from the Tech Tips pages on this site under Axles. It's a good place to start.


http://50chevy.freeservers.com/Suspension_Widths.html#Suspension

going on the advice of one of the senior members here, i'm swapping the open carrier section of a '55 into my '50, and then swapping an open trans. the rest of your questions would be better answered by a senior

that's where that chart was! i started to think i saw it in a dream. it's now in me favs list. thanks

I have replaced my original trans in 1954 Chevy 1/2 ton with a 1992, Chevy S-10 five speed. I have a new speedometer to accommodate the electronic drive in the transmission. I went to Mongo's garage for some of my information. I shortened the imput shaft 3/8 inches and put the correct bearing in the engine for the imput bought at NAPA. I have a 10 inch clutch plate, stock size, with the stock pressure plate. I am having some problem with getting it in and out of gear. I read an article on Inliners about using a custom clutch plate from a 77 Vega that has a pushed out bearing to relieve such a problem for the 261 and this transmission. Do I need to put in a different plate with the Vega front bushing?