The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Axle replacement

Thinking of replacing my stock rear end in order to gain some more top-end. I currently have 235 inline, 3 speed, and a one piece driveshaft with out a carrier.
What year of Chevy axle and ratio would be the one to keep an eye out for at the junk yard?
Am I gonna need the 3" axle conversion kit offered by Classic auto parts?
I looked into the Patrick set-up and it looks super nice and the way I would rather do this, but at $700 for the gears & install kit. Thats out of my budget.

If $700 is out of your budget, I think you are going to have to be content with what you have. If you have a 235, it will run 60 all day long with the 3.90 you have. GMC and probably Chev also offered a faster ratio for some automatics. But they are rare and expensive if you find them. Chev pickups ran 60 and 70 all day long 50 years ago and they will still do it. You just have to get used to the noise.

Best bet would be to consider an overdrive. A 3 speed overdrive from a '55-'57 Passenger car or '55-'59 Truck is a direct bolt in. You should be able to find a good used one in the $100-$200 range. I've ran mine (235, od trans, 3.90 gears, 30" tires) at 75+ mph, no problems at all.

I'll check into that, got a buddy that owns a small older yard. How does that work with column shift? Kinda like a semi truck 2 speed with an extra knob?

In a way, it does work like a semi with a dual range trans, but not in how the controls work. The "main" transmission (the overdrive takes the place of the tailshaft rather than being separate) works just like the standard 3 speed. The stock shifter mounts right up. The overdrive unit is controlled in part mechanically (Freewheel clutch/overdrive lockout cable), and partially electrically (overdrive negagement/kickdown solenoid). Here's a full explaination on how it works.

The Muncie with a 4 Bolt shift cover will fit right in and and shift from the column. In fact it was an option with Chev of those years. And the 3.90 is the best ratio there is for an OD. However, after you do everything, expect to be out around $700 unless you stumble into someone with the whole works that doesn't know what its worth. The Saginaw OD will also fit with shift linkage modification. They are a tough, sweet fully synchronized transmission, but they are rare and seldom cheap.

Going to stop down to the yard tomorrow (if it's not rainning)and see if Larrry has a 3 speed overdrive that will fit my truck.
Is there any other associated parts I need to also grab?
Will my stock 3 speed bell housing work with the OD tranny?

If he has them, the kickdown switch, throttle rod, and relay would be beneficial, though not 100% necessary. The trans will bolt up fine to the stock bellhousing, though if you get a Passenger version, you will need to use bolts and nuts to attach it, as the lower bolt holes on the Passenger transmission are not tapped like the Truck version is. That's not really a major issue to take care of.

Scored a 3 speed overdrive transmission complete with wiring harness and drop out cable.
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Got all the sorry orange paint cleaned off and a fresh coat of gray in it's place.