The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop axle I.D.

We just replaced the rear axle of my 1 ton, problem is, we don't know what it is. We thought we got a 3:73 rear end from an '89 3/4 ton Ford passenger van from the local wrecker. Turns out it is a 4:11 GM we think from the number on the ring gear that it is a '91 something. Kind of difficult to get parts when we don't know what it is. We can't find any numbers on the axle (tho, I'm going to look once again). Anyway, the numbers on the ring gear are T or 1 GM 2601(598)21041(5)91. Is there a way to figure out what axle this is by the ring gear number?

Sounds like you are trying to put Ford axles in a GM differential. You seem to be confusing the axle with the differential. Or are you really trying to put Ford axles in a GM differential? Other than that I can't help you ID the parts.

Any numbers cast or stamped into the diff housing or on the axle tubes? 4.11 gears aren't real rare, could be from just about anything and I believe the ring & pinions weren't specific to a year/model. If those numbers are all you can find you could try contacting a rear end shop in your area and see what they have for references.

Clafication. We thought we were buying a Ford rearend, diff,axels, 3:73, the whole package. Turns out we received a GM rearend, diff, axels, 4:11, the whole package, that I am now trying to identify.

Post up some photos of the rearend in question. The numbers 10 and 41 on the ring gear likely means 4.10 to 1 ratio.
Are the hubs full or semi floating? It's probably a 14 bolt or a Dana 60. Do a google image search for 14 bolt rear and Dana 60 rear and compare the results to what you have.

Eureka!!! The numbers have been found: PJJ 01574,on the top right axle.

The rear end, PJJ 01574, is from a 1991 3/4 ton Chev. conventional cab, 4 w/d, p/u, non locker, with a 9.5" ring gear, according to the wrecking yard I bought it from. I called Patrick's who suggested calling the wrecking yard because they have ALL the info on parts. And, I figured if they gave me the wrong info the first time, they could help me out. They were happy to look up the info. Yeh, now I know what I'm buying parts for.

I forgot to thank Ghostrider for the help. Do you know how well this might work with the S10 T5 tranny that's behind a '60-'61 235 with hydrolic lifters in the 1 ton panel?

4.10 gears would work nice behind a T5. An S10 T5 is too light duty for a one ton in my opinion though.

Have you compared the width of the new rear to the old one?
(axle flange to axle flange) That '91 axle may be as much as 5" wider than your stock axle width and can give you tire/fender clearance problems depending on what you use.

Thanks for coming back Ghostrider. Back plate to back plate on the original rear is 52" the new one is 52.25". It's actually a pretty neat package and an easy conversion. The only thing we had to get was new spring purches because they had to be relocated and the drive line had to be shortened 1.25". I think I may have come up with something as good or better than I was looking for. It won't be used as 1 ton (load wise anyway), I'm hoping to use it to pull a Tear Drop Tailer and and carry camping gear.
We also have a '54 1/2 ton short bed and a '56 3/4 ton long bed.
My partner is going to do some changes, fixing etc. now that he is retired. The S10 T5 might go into the 1/2 ton. Then again we might just run it and see what happens. We can always change it later. We have a 270 that might go into the 1 ton or the 3/4 ton.
He does the physical mechanics work and I do the research, find and order stuff, then of course I'm the wrench fetcher, flash light holder etc. I'm learning a lot and absolutely LOVE my 1 ton.

Bettyann