The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1949 Rearend swap

I know it's in here somewhere but I can't seem to find it. What year model third member will replace the one in my truck? I believe someone said I could just change out the "chunk" instead of the whole affair. Thanks for any input.

'55-'62. You will have to weld up the pivots where the axle housing bolts up to the springs.

Thanks so much. I'm not sure about the pivot joints but I'll try and locate them. Again, thank you, Steven

I just picked up 49 suburban can i do the same thing and any will a 55 chevy car 3rd member fit in the truck rear end houseing so i can run a regular driveline??

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I just picked up 49 suburban can i do the same thing and any will a 55 chevy car 3rd member fit in the truck rear end houseing so i can run a regular driveline?? [/quote
Car won't fit but one from a truck will. ]

This is a picture of the pivot areas that need welded up on both sides of the rearend.Be sure to remove as much of the rubber grommets as possible,it will burn and drip out on you.Make sure you set the pivot angle of the rearend before welding.

use 1955 to 1962 1/2 ton truck 3rd member.

I used a 3rd member of a 1958 1/2 ton truck 3:90 gears in my 1951 suburban.

Do a search on the subject,there is plenty to read.

pivot areas

Good luck,
Tim

Thanks for the info guys

One of the bolters actually had a series of photos on this topic at one point. Could still be there.

What is gained by this swap?

If the truck will be used for in-town and highway driving would it be better to 'bite the bullet' and buy the gears from Patrick's?

I'm guessing the gain is the 'open' driveline and lower gearing.

Open driveline, slightly higher gears, depending on which 3rd member is used, flexability in transmission choices, such as overdrive.

Read my by line below, 55K miles on a daily driver only vehicle with this set-up.

Thanks for the info. By the way, you have a very nice looking 1951 1/2 ton. Really Nice.

Hey Bowtietim, I have a question. What kind of rims are on your suburban? Long time ago, like when I was a teenager, I'm 60 now. My father let me date in his 1953 1/2 ton shortbed pickup. I put new seat covers on it and keep it clean. He used it to go to work in also. Granny 4-speed, heater. That's it. To make thi shorter I found some rims just about like that on your burb. They were supposed to be off a 1939 chevy. 6 lug. Just wondering if you might have heard of that. Thanks for lisening. Steven- Red 49 Truck

Those are called artillery wheels. They were fairly common 50-75 years ago. Today they are quite rare. There is a repoped version available. Not sure what's on that burp, but they look darn good.

The original artillery wheels are hard to put modern tires on. The repops aren't real expensive as wheels go, and allow using modern tires. Check places like Chevs of the 40's for the repops.

Why are they hard to put modern tires on???

Red 49 truck,The wheels are reproduction artillery wheels from wheel smith company.These wheels were actually cheaper than finding originals.This was the best route for me to go.


Thanks,Tim

Those look nice do you know if they will clear disk brakes?

bigtony55,I really don't know if they will work with disc brakes.My wheels are 15",you might call wheel smith and ask.

Thanks,Tim

These guys right?
http://www.thewheelsmith.net/artillery_wheels.html

That's them,USA made !!!!!!

cool thanks for the info! I'm lookin for wheel options.

If i put the whole 59 rear end in my 49 suburban i wont need to weld up the pivot points since it was open driveline already will i?

That is correct. The pivot points are part of the original torque tube axle tube. Only need to weld them if you are swapping gears into an original axle.

Correct,but you will still need to make sure the pinion angle is correct.You may have to relocate the perches,I don't know if it's a direct bolt in.


Tim

I was at the local swap meet today and was about to buy a se of lowering blocks from a guy that wodl have been correct for my 49 rear end i told him i was swaping my 49 rear end with a 59 cameo rear edn he toldme the blocks wouldn't work because the 59 has round top u bolts isntead of square top u bolts and the leafs are 2" wide not 1.5" wide does that soudn correct ?? if so am i going to need to use the cameo leafs and shcakles etc in my suburban?

Incorrect! You will be using your stock springs, but you will need new perches. Since the 49 is an axle over spring setup, the blocks will work to lower it. The Task Force trucks are axle under spring, so using blocks will actually lift the truck.

Si i need to get new pearches and move them on the bottom if i want to use 59 houseings?? can i just gut my 49 housing and put all the guts axles and all in it??

Mopar perches will work on a 59 chevrolet cameo rear end housing?

So if im going the run the 59 cameo rear end in my suburban can i use 55 suburban rear springs?? im not going to use my original springs they are to old and nasty LOL