The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 1950 3600 rear and swap

Greetings, I am new to the forum as well as being new to truck restoration. I have a 1950 3600 wooden dump-bed truck and I am looking to update the rear end to something easier to find parts for. I plan to swap the front axle with one from a 1/2ton truck and upgrade to 5 lug disk brakes. What would be the best replacement for the rear axle? I would like to get about 3.42 ratio and have 5 lug wheels disk or drum brakes - dose not matter. I would also like something that is fairly easy to bolt right in (shock & spring mounts). I was thinking about a mid 80s 1/2ton chev rear. What will fit?

I would like to keep the 8 lug stuff too, it just seems that wheel cyl. and drums are very difficult to find and for the orig. rear. I want to keep it as orig. as possible, but I want a reliable driver. I intend to pull a trailer with it and I will be adding and overdrive transmission. So I really need the stopping power that comes with modern brakes do deal with todays crazy drivers. I have also considered 6 lug wheels as well and I will continue weighing my options. Thanks!

Do a search for some of my posts. The Eaton rear end was used from 1946-1970. The dropout carrier until 1972. I updated mine with Bendix brakes. I did all the hard work/research. Now all you need to do is copy me.

Mine has 13" brakes on the back. ALL parts are 100% NEW, not rebuilt. I got a 4:11 carrier out of a 68 Chev 4x4. It bolted straight in.

Keep the Eaton rear axle. It is full floating and a real monster. Very tough.

I will help you in anyway I can answering questions. Please ask.
PLease see link below:

http://s859.photobucket.com/albums/ab158/Duntov85/1952Chev3608/

Astro vans all have 5 lugs.

Actually, the last 3 years of Astro/Safari van production used 6 lug.

Thanks Bill, my brother has had a bunch of them and his newest is an '01 and it has 5 bolt wheels. Don