The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline lowering a 49 3/4ton

hello evreyone, I have a 1949 3600. I plan on finding a different rearend like a nova or camaro, something 5 lug. And doing the s10 t5 swap. As for the front Ive read that you need to have a 1/2 ton axle and spindles to be able to use the disc brake kits and all the lowering leaf springs are only for 1/2 ton axles. for the rear swaping out the old tt and mounting the axle on top of the factory leafs will lower the back of the truck and I can add blocks and remove some leafs to get the right ride hight Im going for...

soooooo, I just picked up a complete 1951 1/2 ton front suspension, everything is there from his truck he just removed the leaf springs and rolled the whole assembly out. I only paid $125 for everything instead of speedways expensive drop axle without the spindles.

So I think now i need to swap out my 3/4 ton axle and put the half ton in its place then I can order speedways disk brake kit and try removing some leafs to get it sitting lower before order lowering leaf springs.

Can someone please confirm that this will work and that Im on the right track please and thank you

Also whats the difference between the 47-53 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks?

I think your front suspension should swap easily. IIRC, the front springs are the same, but the 3/4T has a beefier axle. The rear part of the 3/4T frame is parallel, unlike the 1/2T which is tapered from front to back. Since you are using a different axle, you'll have to mod the perches to fit your truck anyway.

The 1/2 ton axle will be a torque tube also. Need to find a later model center section.

thanks guys, the half ton straight axle from the 51 is for the front, sorry for the confusion. I just picked up a 68 nova rear end that will work great, Im hopeing acording to my measurements. I think all I need to do is put the half ton straight axle up front and I will be able to use a bolt on disk brake kit with matching 5 lug as the novas 5x4.75 and lowering leafs. Im first going to remove some leafs to see how low it will get. Is there a way a guy culd heat up the front straight axle to modify it to be like speadways drop axle?

more help and suggestions would greatly be appreciated, thank you

Then all I need is to find a 85-89 s10 T-5 5speed and Ill have this thing getting close to being on the road and sitting lower.

Bending the axle is an old-timer's trick, and should be properly fixtured to maintain geometry. Plus, any amount of bending will effectively shorten the axle. Could be done, has been done, but...

cm

The 1/2 ton axle and the 3/4 ton axle are the same measurments in every way but the king pin dia. 1/2 ton kin pins are .866 dia 3/4 ton are .920 dia. The 1/2 ton will bolt right in the 3/4 ton. You can even use the 3/4 ton steering arms. I've also addaped 1/2 ton spindles to a 3/4 ton axle by boring out the 1/2 to spindles and using 3/4 ton king pins.

Thanks everyone. and drapel, did you you lower your front by removing leafs or drop leafs. and if so how low did it go? And anyone know if you have change/modify steering arm or anything else when you lower it 3-6 inches?

When using a dropped axle you need to modify the steering arms. When using just the springs to lower your truck you may have to bend your steering arm for the drag link. You want the drag link to be as level and parallel to the frame so you don't have bump steer. If you are installing a dropped axle I have a tech article on my web site on us installing a dropped axle an installing the modified steering arms. Here is the link http://www.droppedaxles.com/TECH_ARTICLES.html#TXTOBJ7D9416E352E1C51

Perfect link thanks!!!!!!!!