The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Ok need some help in building my 56

hi new to all of this so i want to do it somwhat right and i see no better place than here to start. ok i have a 56 3600 that will be getting a 400hp and 350 to 390 torque so my truck will need to put the right stuff on it so i do not mess it all up like what rearend can i use (like one out of a car but what car will work? nova, camaro or what) also drive shaft. i will start with that and go from their i do not want just buy some millon $ rearend out of some catalog any help would be great.

Some description of intended usage and what other modifications you intend to make would be useful. Why do you want to swap rears at all?

The stock rear is plenty strong to handle that much power.

ok good i just did not want to put the motor in and go down the road and have to be pulled back because the rearend is gone. and it is intended to be a street rod. no drag racing just nice crusing in town and some fast stuff but not racing. i want to have it lowered with some bigger wheels disk brakes to start dont want it all that wild keep the stock look just lower and big wheels w/ power

I agree, stick with the stock rear if you are okay with 8-lug wheels. It will survive that kind of usage.

Yeah, that rear axle is quite heavy. Much more than a 12 or 10 bolt or even a Dana 44. It should handle 400hp in my opinion.

ok nice i will keep the rear end that save some money and everybody likes that. and idea on gears? and where can i get them? thanx for all the help!

That's what I mean by other changes.... You have very limited ratio options with the original axle, but since you made no mention of changing the ratio or related issues it wasn't part of the response.

While you can certainly make changes one system at a time, you'll find it easier to make complimentary changes if you start with a comprehensive statement of intended use.

The cruiser statement you've already made doesn't say to me that the gears need to change. But if you intend to run highway speeds all day you may want something different.

The first step in building a truck is to think clearly about how you will use it.

i thought i did that here but it looks like you might want a book written for you so ok. like i said (A HOT ROD) but no racing at the track but i live in MT the closest town is 35 miles away and the big town (bozeman) is over 60 so yes i will need hiway speeds this truck was a farm truck top speed 45 50mph. and the speed limit when their is one is 75mph. i have a pic of the truck when it is complete so you can see and get a better idea of what i am building i do not know how to post it up so if someome will do it that would be great so all can see. i think it will help for you to under stand where i am going with this. sorry for being a [censored] but i hate when people just beat around the bush and not answer a question. i am not building so show car i am building something me and my new wife can cruz and have fun with. and i am building the drive train first ( motor, trans, and rear end) then the body, and in side. i do not what to take ten years doing this while the truck sits. if i can get the truck driving down the road then i can go back and do the big money work like brand new stuff like front clips @ $4k but at least i can drive it around now that to me is the whole point to this is have fun and drive the wheels off of it! not have it sitting and worrying on how much that part is. so again i ask what rearend can i use out of a junk yard car that wouldnt be to much moding to get it to work and what gear so far i think 3.73 might be it but you guys know better than i do. and that is why i am on here so i dont make a big $$$ mistake. again sorry for being an [censored] but their was a better way to make your point than the way you did. but point was loud and clear.

I'm done with this thread. If you aren't willing to dialog about the questions I'm not going to waste my time thinking about them!

see that is just wrong i said sorry for being an [censored] but you did not need to bust my balls. you could of gone about it another way and so could i. but if you just give up than i am sorry at least i know and say i was in the wrong.

what's "just wrong" is barging in here cold and being an [censored], apologies or not, you are the one bustin your balls, the knowledgeable folks responding have given you answers to your fuzzy questions, step back and think it over
so you have no idea what you're doing or what's possible, can't clearly state it so knowledgeable folks can understand, yet already have a "picture" of the finished job, want us to hand you a design on a platter, can't move forward with the answers you get, and get [censored] off because we're not interested in wasting time educating you?

start here: a TF 3/4T rear isn't going to be replaced with anything out of a car, and short of major work and money, you won't be cruising at 75 with a 3/4T truck

Bill

ok so you are saying a 5klbs or 6klbs truck with 400hp and 350 torque and a 70's camaro w/ 3.73 rear end a tko600 (old school) trany (5 speed w/ over drive) and 20 in wheels wont do 75 mph?!?! i found a guy today by me that has a 55 with that set up so i got alot of help full info but i dod under stand that i was face to face w/ him and not online so we can see what we are talking about. and i love when people tell me something cant be done that just tell me they do not like to push the envelope. just like people told me i would never be a pro AMA (motorcycle not dirt bikes. road racing) or win the championship. well I DID! and when they said i would never be a chef and own a successful restaurant. well that i did as well. and when they said i will never have a darn good horse and cattle ranch that make me just enough money that i can start a family and do things like this truck at the age of 27! yes i might be young and dumb but NO ONE can say something cant be done! and the pic is not of my truck it is close to what i want to do it is for people to see the same thing that is in my young spinning mind. i will send you the pic if you can put it up?

what I'm saying is what I said, "short of major work and money, you won't be cruising at 75 with a 3/4T truck" and what you're saying is you already know how to .... so get'er done!!

linking pictures here, surely a go-getter like yerself can handle it

Bill

http://www.mcginleymotorsports.com/Home_Page.html

copy and past this url to see the truck.

thank you for the links.

http://www.mcginleymotorsports.com/Portfolio_3.html

here are more

nice, as all TF trucks are .... but that's a short 1/2T and has likely been sub-framed - no one is saying you can't turn your long 3/4T into that, you could even turn it into this, but it won't be cheap, or as simple as putting different wheels and gears in it - might spend some time studying up in the HiPo forum to see how folks achieve that much change .... or you could give that shop a call and ask what's involved and what that one cost

Bill

i am to meet the guy with that truck tomarrow to see what all was done. but i do know he has a 327 sbc 73 caramo rear end (he said it took 2hr of labor to put it in) and a th400 trans but i want to see have he did the front. i will let you know what i find. and how much he spent. the shop is not to far (in MT miles) meaning it is 70 miles away nice place nice people and the labor rate is $65 an hour can beat that and i saw some of their stuff and it is good work so now i am excited! hey i mean what i say i am sorry for being a jerk just dont like smart [censored]'s but i guess it is better than being a dumb [censored].

As a previous owner of a 57 3/4 ton, and a current owner of a 59 3/4 ton, I don't think you will get your desired results using your current chassis. It's heavier than a 1/2 ton chassis, and most aftermarket modifications are designed for the 1/2 ton chassis not your 3/4 ton. If it were my project, and I was looking for your desired results, I would search locally, and watch ebay and craigslist for a 1/2 ton chassis to start with. A bare chassis probably won't cost more than a couple of hundred dollars, and most likely less. Take a look on chicago craigslist, there is a complete chassis ready to go with new wheels and tires, fuel cell, subframed, axle swap, etc... for $2000.00. Kinda steep up front, but less money than you could duplicate it for. Bolt in your motor, add your body, and you're on the road. Just some thoughts.

John

Lets just keep this friendly now! There are ways to convert if thats what you want to do. TCI has a 3/4 ton four link kit and there are plenty of axle options out there, maybe a Dana 60 or 70. You could always put a ford 9" under there with almost any gear combo. Also, a great place to look for gears is Randy's Ring and Pinion. Besides, nothing is impossible, some things just take a little longer to accomplish. 75mph with a 3/4 ton, why not? Hey I got a 63 Chevy 2 with a Big Block Chevy in it. It took a lot of cutting and fitting with a shoe horn. So, yeah your project can be what you want it to be. But remember if it sounds to good to be true, it probly is. Chevy 10 or 12 bolt rears wouldn't be heavy enough and even a 9" would be a stretch.

good stuff guys thanx alot i am finale getting my head out of my butt and starting to listen and i did not know how big of a difference their was to the frame on the 3600 to the 3100 i thought it was just drive line, gears, suspension, and wheels well now i know.

Back then it did mean something. Now days not so much. Just compare the frames on a 1/2 and 3/4 from back then. Not to mention a half ton was still a truck not a glorified grocery getter.