The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Differential, when do I call it quits?

I have a 1953 GMC, 5 window 1/2 ton pickup that I am slowly working away at. I have removed the box and began body work on it. I have also removed the torque tube and rear end out of the truck for tear down and rebuild. One I opened the rear cover I was greeted with rusty slime and water. Any thing in the slime was ok but anything above is got some rust on it. All this from a broken vent cap. Also the 17T axle splines are almost worn right out.

So when is pitting on the gears bad enough to cause fatal damage to the differential?
I have spent countless hours searching this forum with little answers to my next questions. What is the easiest way to save this rear end, either with a different 3rd member, another 53 torque tube rear end (hard to find a good one in canada), or a complete axle swap?

I would like to keep the truck as original as possible but i am open to modifications if original parts aren't available.

Any 48-53 1/2 ton GMC/Chevrolet-truck rear-end should be a match.

Torque tubes are easy to find In Alberta but do you really want to save it as original and not be able to keep up on the highway? A 3:55 gearset can solve that though and although not the least expensive I'm happy I went that route.

Hmmm... ...guess i haven't looked int the right places then.

Problem is all my gears are rust pitted to a certain degree. I was thinking of doing the 3.55 gear set till I saw the rest of the gears

If your side gears are pitted, I would definately start looking for another center section. I also see that you have some concerns about your axle splines too. I think the best way to go, is a whole other axle. There's always guy out there that are getting rid of the torque tube and going to an open driveline. Shouldn't be that hard to find.

You could convert to an open driveling also. You'll need an open driveline rearend. 55 on up trucks had open drivelines. Also 4x4 1/2 ton trucks from the 80's used 6 lug axles. You'll have to get an open driveline transmission and driveshaft to fit the new axle though.

Well Curt B. was right. I just bought a complete chassis that was rebuilt from a 1950 GMC Pickup for way less than what it would have cost me in money and time searching for parts and rebuilding it all. Now just body work remains on my '53.

Thanks for all the help!