The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 59 chevy vin# 8 lug ton axle?

I have recently purchaced a 59 chevy truck. At first I thought the body had been swapped. but after futher investigation i learned the frame and body # match. Vin #3A 59J103296 frame #59J103296. The thing that has be confused are the axles. The "Front axle and rear axle are 8 bolt. Did any of the 3100 apaches have different axles? I would notice if it was on ly the rear axle and someone changed it but I'm supprized if someone would change both. Please help

Thanks in advance

I have seen many through out the years that have been changed. Someone wanted heavier duty suspension parts under a short wheel base truck. I don't think you will find any factor supporting data on this, but dealers at that time would do many individual things for a paying customer.

Pobably 3/4 ton parts, which easily swap with 1/2 ton. The spring hangers are the same, so swapping the complete suspensions isn't too difficult. The 3200 was built doing exactly that, only reversed. It uses the 3/4 ton chassis with 1/2 ton axles and springs, unless the HD rear spring option (RPO 254) was installed. Then it got the base 3/4 ton springs in the rear. IIRC, 1 tons use different hangers for the rear springs due to the different shackle design.

Hey jfrazer22,
First of all welcome to the Bolt, we are glad to have you and hope you enjoy it. I also have a 1959 Chevy Apache 3600. I bought the Truck Operators manual for it. In the manual it says the following for the 1/2 Ton rear axle:
1/2 Ton- The 1/2 ton rear axle is of the semi-floating hypoid gear Hotchkiss drive type. The rear universal joint rear yoke is splined and locked to the pinion shaft. The hypoid drive pinion is mounted on pre-loaded taper roller bearings. The hypoid design ring gear is bolted to the differential case which is mounted on pre-loaded roller bearings. These units together with the 2 differential side and pinion gears are mounted in a differential carrier containing lubrication channels for the pinion bearings. The axle sahfts are splined to the differential side gears. The outer ends of the axle shafts support the weight of the vehicle on roller bearings.
I hope that this information will help you to determine if that rear axle is from a 1959 1/2 Apache, and if you ever need any help with your '59, you can just send me a PM.
Good luck with your truck.

I have cleaned up the rear axle on the 8 lug axle today. i found some casting numbers on the front diff. numbers are 3699535 and below that was 100.

Front diff? Is this truck four-wheel-drive?

The more I learn about your truck the more certain I am that it was modified after leaving the factory.

sorry, not front diff. i ment rear diff. It is 2wd

i have a 59/36 and checked the diff it has the same casting numbers you found.as far as i know mine has the orig rear on it.

If the rear end is a 59 then maybe it was most likely be factory. This is good news. Did GM keep records on what they sold back then, like they do today? How can I research this?