The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Confession/Rear end Info for a 1949 Chevy Truck

Start with the confession. Some of you might remember a few months back me talking about Corvette IFS and stuff like that as I was planning on going a resto-mod with a v8 route, disc brakes, air ride suspension. Well the last few weeks I have changed my mind and just doing a plain restoration and going back all original or all 1949. (I can hear all the true original stovebolt people cheering now, LOL). I think it's mainly that I do have a fairly original truck. I have the original frame, 216 engine (that I ran for a few second when I first got it), transmission, and I haven't done anything other than the tear down.

The rearend I know isn’t original. I think a few people on here though the rear end I had was from a 60+ truck especially since it’s a 12 bolt Chevy rear end. Due to this and also since I’m going back to an all original or all 1949 truck, how can I tell a 1949 rear end. Is there certain number stamped on a 1949 Chevy truck rear end that I can use as reference. I feel like the drive shaft will be easy as if they get ride of the rear end they SHOULD still have the drive shaft.

Also if any of you 1949 Chevy Truck v8 guys that aren’t using your rear end live in the south east let me know through PM or whatever and we might try to work out a deal.

Thanks for the info and also allow me to confession. LOL

Carson

..... I think a mild modification to a T-5 tranny with late model rear end would be exceptable to the original guys? I won't tell if you don't

I'm glad you decided to keep it original. Mine was not a good candidate for that....sorry to say the rearend out of the panel is gone.

EDIT: place an ad in the Parts Wanted forum and I'll bet someone will offer one up to the stovebolt gods.

I have a bare frame with a closed driveline setup out of a 1950 GMC. The rear end isn't in very good shape, but the springs, axle housing pivots, and the other bits & pieces necessary to put yours back to original are there. Come get it, and you can have it for free. I'm near the Tennessee/Alabama state line, just off I-65.
Jerry

If it comes down to it I might have to change it. I have a 9 inch ford out of a 73 grand torino parts car that I can use but I lose the lever shocks which is going to be my next chore.........


I am planning on doing that but want to be certain of some type of number(s) to verify that I am truly getting a 49 Chevy truck rear end. For that reason and also if I place an ad elsewhere and somebody claims they have a 49. Especially since the guy I got the truck from though the truck was a 51.........

Jerry,

I'll keep you in mind if I head up that way. The only problem is that in 1950 they changed from the lever style shock (1949 and earlier) to a tube style shock. I have all 4-lever style shocks and did a search on here and saw there is a company in Cali that rebuilds them. But I defiantly will keep you in mind in case I find I can't get a 1949 rear end.

How to identify a 1949 Rear Axle

Oilrag... thanks I saw that while searching and just took a glance at it.... Just now took a better look at it and found my info... Thanks. I am going to be ordering the Chevrolet Truck Restoration Pack tomorrow. I'm hopping that when I get it I can read it easier. Again thanks for pointing it out to me again.

Ok i got a question. I went down to Fl this past weekend to look at a rear end. The guy claimed the truck was a 49 3100. However it had coil springs on the rear instead of the lever style shocks. It was my understanding from what I've read that they didn't use coil springs on the trucks back then. However I did find another picture online of a truck where they said it was a 1949 3100 that had coil springs on the rear end. So my questions is a stock 1949 3100 rear end have a coil springs on there or not?

The factory rear suspension on a '49 3100 is leaf springs. Any coil springs you saw are not original.

But you are comparing lever style shocks to coil springs.

Are you sure you are looking at the right things? The earliest AD trucks had lever action shocks with a migration to tube shocks happening about 1949. I'm a little unsure on that date, but could it be tube shocks you are looking at and not coil springs?

Oldsub,

That is what i was thinking. The last year for the lever style shock was in 1949, LMC Reference . So in 1950 would be the first year for the tube style shock. But look at this Photo Album If you look at the third photo on the 2nd row you will see the coil springs but in the sixth photo on the 2nd row, the serial number, it's 21GP (GP = 1949) so that is why i was starting to wounder. Thanks for the clarification.

Those look like some kind of overload spring. Probably just something to take off. I also see tube shocks under there so it looks like someone had changed things somewhere along the way.

Hello, I have a 1949 Chevy 3100 as well, and I presently have the lever arm shocks on mine. I was curious if anyone has any experiences with converting the lever arm or knee action shocks over to conventional tube shocks. How was the overal ride quality improved? Was it worth it? I've seen the kits available at Jim Carter and Classicparts.com and I am contemplating doing the conversion.

Josh,

I haven't done it as I am going to TRY to stay all stock. This isn't going to be a daily driver so the qaulity of ride isn't really what I am looking for.

Hi, My 49, I am happy to here that you are going the stock route as that is what I am doing with the 49 that I have. I looked at your pics and it is a very nice looking truck.I did notice that your front springs are flat lined like mine were (only about 1 1/2" clearance to the frame) so re-ark or get new front springs. The rear end that you are looking is a torque tube type and you will need a matching transmission for that type of rear end. I lucked out and found someone removing stock parts to hot rod the truck.

The biggest ride improvement for me was putting on modern radial tires (LT 235/85 R16). After that, I could take a cup of coffee with me in the morning.

I am trying to reconnect the lever action shocks on my '49 3600. Are there any pictures of how these should be. I have most of it done but I'm not sure of what the final connection point to the axles should be. thanks

You should have a steel plate held on by the U-bolts, thru which the shock arm attaches with bushings. Here's a picture of one of my front shocks. I don't have any pictures of that plate removed, but I can get you a picture from the bottom if you want it.

Those plates are very similar to the ones for the tubular shocks used on the later trucks, except for being flat rather than angled forward to match the shock that's angled toward the front of the truck. The Filling Station has the later ones, which could probably be heated and flattened to work with the older shocks. Link
Or you could fabricate a pair from flat steel plate. The ones from the Filling Station look like they're cast steel, as were the originals on my '51.