The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline recommendations/help on 2-ton rear axle swap?

Good evening, all!

Thinking about swapping out the 2-speed axle on my 52 COE for something a little more user friendly for highway use.

Thoughts?

I have brand spanking new Accuride 10-lug wheels with brand spanking new Michelins on them, so I want to retain the 10-lug hub if possible.

Or maybe I'll just leave it alone if it is too hard to find a suitable swap candidate.

I have an expert fabricator buddy for the surgery.

Thank you in advance for your kindness and expertise.

Brian

What do you plan on doing with the truck? There are a few companies that are making 10 lug adaptors that allow for converting the 8 bolt 3/4 and 1 ton axles to the 10 lug truck wheels, so you could run a GM 14 bolt, Dana 60, 70, or 80 and have a great selection of gearing to choose from. Here is a link to the American Force site they have adapters,they are listed in sets but you could probably order the rear only. There are some other brands out there but I can't rember their sites.

http://www.americanforcewheels.com/index.php?route=adapters/index
Hope that this helps!

I used a Dana 70HD in my truck, same 10 lug on 7.25"circle.
There is also a Dana 80 with same.
Check the tech tips for P30 swap.
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/bigbolts/p30swap/

Grigg

Thank you both, very much.

To answer your question, I just want to be able to get down the highway without blocking traffic. I won't be going on road trips, but to attend some festivals, etc., I may have to drive for 2-3 hours, so going 45mph wouldn't be fun.

I'll start researching and snooping, thanks again.

I'm not sure what kind of COE you have, but we drove 60 back in the 50's all the time. There is a lot of fan noise, valve train noise and wind noise, but it doesn't hurt them. Just make sure you have a good radiator to keep it cool. If you calculate the rpm, your hp is probably rated at 55 or 60. I think if someone would develop a fan clutch for these old things, people wouldn't scared to drive them at highway speeds.

I have a 52, 2-speed rear.
I'm putting a 350/700R4 in it, so maybe with the overdrive it will be okay.

I obviously don't have any illusions about a speed demon, I don't want to go 'fast' on that old chassis, but I'd like to go 55 without it screaming.

I do plan to run an auxillary electric fan.

http://www.onlineconversion.com/bigger_tires.htm
that's a gear calculator so you can figure what RPM you'll run at what speed with what transmission, rear axle, and tire size combo.

Grigg

Thanks, Grigg.

Decisions, decisions... (time and money, lol...)