BUSY BOLTERS Are you one?  The Shop Area
continues to pull in the most views on the Stovebolt. In August alone there were over 22,000 views in those 13 forums.
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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 8 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 8 | hello i need help i want to upgrade the rear end to get rid of close tube i want to retain the 6 lug im keeping the original 235 and 4 on the floor. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,576 back yard wrench turner | | back yard wrench turner Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,576 | I bought a '58 axle with 6 lugs for my '38 to do the same thing.
Wayne1938 1-Ton Farm Truck-30- Stovebolt Gallery ForumsWhen I die, I hope she doesn't sell everything for what I told her I paid for it! | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 873 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 873 | You can either convert your existing axle housing to open drive by swapping in a '55-'62 1/2 ton third member, it does require welding up the spring pivots. Or just swap in a whole different axle as Wayne suggested. 1/2 ton rear ends up to about '69 will be the right width for your truck. '63 and up had better ratio selections.
Last edited by Ghostrider; 10/06/2011 5:48 PM. Reason: Typo
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,285 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,285 | I think you will be changing the transmission also if you are ditching the torque tube in favor of a transmission with U-joint yoke. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 |
Greg is correct. However, if you have an original 4-speed, it is possible to replace the rear cover with an open driveshaft rear cover (from a later SM420).
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 348 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 348 | i used a 77 chevelle 62 inches wide and redrilled the axles to 6 lug | | | | | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,400 ODSS Lawman | | ODSS Lawman Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,400 | By upgrading the rear, what do you hope to accomplish? I upgraded my torque tube to 3:55 gear and can drive at high speeds all day long.
SWEET Sergeant At Arms: Old Dominion Stovebolt Society BUNS?!?!?!Where we're going, we don't need no buns.....1950 GMC 450 1951 Chevy 1/2-TonThe GreenMachineIn the Stovebolt Gallery | | | | | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,363 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,363 | By upgrading the rear, what do you hope to accomplish? I upgraded my torque tube to 3:55 gear and can drive at high speeds all day long. I'd agree here, unless you were changing to some other transmission why would you want to ditch the torque tube axle?
BC
1960 Chevy C10 driver 261 T5 4.10 dana 44 power loc
1949 GMC 250 project in waiting
1960 C60 pasture art
Retired GM dealer tech. 1980 - 2022
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 331 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2005 Posts: 331 | The 54 3100 rear end has a 3.90 ratio instead of the 4.11 ratio of earlier years, so it is somewhat better on the highway than earlier trucks. The torque tube is certainly a robust system.
Samantha | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | The '54 torque tub is not compatable with the 3.55 gearset. In order to install that gearset in the '54, the 3rd member and toque tube has to be swapped out for the '53 and earlier.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,440 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,440 | I think just the carrier needs to be swapped into the '54 housing. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 |
Cletis is correct. Just get a 47-53 ring-gear carrier and put it in your original 1954 1/2 ton rear end with the 3.55 R&P gear set. Then, drive as described by SWEET.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,410 ODSS President | | ODSS President Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,410 | hello i need help i want to upgrade the rear end to get rid of close tube i want to retain the 6 lug im keeping the original 235 and 4 on the floor. Welcome to the Stovebolt universe. You could state your objective speed/distance wise for us to keep us from wild speculation. Some bullets... -you don't need an 'upgrade' if the axle is in good working order and all your truck activity won't involve the interstate -Patrick's 355 gear set is $450 + $60 for their speedometer correction device. For half of that money I threw away the tt (which had imploded), put in a 3.90 pumpkin, got a driveshaft cut and balanced, bought and rebuilt a '62 3sp+od, and am in the 11th year of daily driver only vehicle status running down the interstate @2000-2100 rpm's at 70 mph. -I don't call what I did an 'upgrade', I call it a change to fulfill the need I had/have for my truck. Keep us posted of your decision and progress, we are all happy that you found the Stovebolt and are eagerly awaiting the results of your journey. A fellow traveler, Cosmo
~ Cosmo
1949 Chevy Half Ton
Rocinante, like Don Quixote, he is awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task beyond his capacities.
"...my good horse Rocinante, mine eternal and inseparable companion in all my journeys and courses." ...Don Quixote, Cervantes
"If you come to a fork in the road, take it."...Yogi Berra
"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." ...Eric Hoffer
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