Hello Gentlemen,
I have spent quite alot of time with the 'search' function to no avail. So, here is my question:
I am rebuilding/repairing my 1966 C-10 SWB toy. It started life as a 230ci - 3spd manual trans truck with no options. I bought it with a beat 305 and a more beat TH350. Now, I have a 'Universal 350' crate motor disguised as a 327 with TH700R-4 behind it. Through all of this, the original 12 bolt, HA code 3.73 open rear axle has been there.
I recently purchased the complete rear axle from fellow Bolter zenish. This axle is a 1964 1/2 ton 12 bolt, WC code 3.73 posi-traction axle. His 1964 C-10 originally started life with a 230ci and a 3spd manual.
In disecting both these axles, I have found that the 1964 axle uses 17 splines on the pinion shaft and both axleshafts, while the 1966 uses 30 spline on all.
Is there any advantage/disadvantage to either the 17 or the 30 spline parts?
My intentions are to have my machinist overhaul the 1964 posi-traction differential, then install the ring and pinion from the 1966 axle on that differential. The 1964 ring gear has a healthy coating of rust on several of the teeth, so I believe it is now unusable. Anyway, the 1964 posi-traction differential with 1966 ring and pinion will be installed into the 1966 axle housing with the matching 1964 17 spline axleshafts. To my understanding, the differential side gears are different between posi-traction and open differentials. So, I can't just swap side gears and keep the 1966 30 spline axleshafts with the 1966 housing.
Both sets of 1964 and 1966 axleshafts are in surprisingly good condition, in that there is no appreciable wear to the wheel bearing surfaces, nor any spline damage.
I want to keep the 1966 housing because of the track bar set up. My 1966 rear axle uses a stud mounted to an ear cast into the right upper side of the differential carrier to mount the track bar. The 1964 rear axle uses a bracket welded further out on the right axle tube. My real worry is that the track bar bracket on the 1964 axle housing positions that end of the track bar further rearward of the axle than the stud on my 1966 axle housing. This makes me think the frame mounted track bar bracket for a 1964 is positioned slightly angled as compared to the 1966 frame bracket...
Does any of this make sense to you guys?
Any opinions and/or input are welcomed.
