The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Tranny change

53 half ton ,3 sped in floor,411 rear end 6 banger..I want to change tranny to get a better cruising speed. I am wound out about 50 now..I have read a t5 is good..is this a simple out and in ,or what will I run in to?

you'll run into needing to change to an open drive rear end, there's no simple bolt in replacement for the torque tube trans, might be as well to go with Patricks 3.38 rear gears

Bill

You'll need to convert it to an open driveline rearend if you want to go to any type of overdrive transmission. To do this, you'll either need to find a later rearend that's the proper width and bolt pattern, or you can swap a '55-'62 3rd member into the existing rear end housing and weld up the axle pivots.

1953 1/2 ton?

3.38 conversion is not available, unless you change the whole rear end (and transmission)

A change of ring and pinion to 3.55 would cost about $800. This allows you to keep the rear end and transmission.

There is an odd overdrive transmission for the torque-tube, but it was made for a car, it is uncommon, and you have to cut the torque-tube and driveshaft.

Drive shaft is open,must have been changed at some time.knowing this , what will I run into?

How did you determine you have a 4.11 rear end?

What transmission do you have?

You will have to ID the rear end to determine if the 3.38 conversion that Bill referred-to would work in it.

I will ck that out thanks

If you already have an open drive shaft the hard part is done. The T-5 will be a realitively easy swap.

Sounds to me like you might have a 3/4 ton. I think they had the open drive shaft and and lower rear end than the 411. If you have the 1/2 ton, you should be able to do 60 no problem.

How many lug bolts do you have? Eight would be the 3/4 ton. 6 the 1/2 ton.

Kurt

late 80's s-10 t-5 tranny and rear make a good combo for the half ton, just finished my 46 1/2 ton with these parts, mine was a little more involved but I believe the 53 bellhousing has the same bolt pattern as the t-5, the mounting holes on the tranny just have to be drilled out...(metric) and you would need a different size clutch disc, It really wasnt that hard to do, it was harder to take apart that torque tube setup than it was to put the open driveline in, and I kept the original motor and the foot starter in mine http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu14/kurtdh519/ maybe some of the pics in my album can help, i have a lot with the tranny/rear, installation

I noticed an aluminum plate between the trans and bell housing, what is the reason for that?

what clutch plate is needed

thats a transmission adapter to mate the late model transmission to the 1946 bellhousing i got the adapter and the clutch disc from a company called bendtsens, they set me up with the adapter and the clutch disc and everything I needed to put a t-5 into my truck, guys name is bob, heres his website address www.transmissionadapters.com, this guys knows what he's talking about, tell him what you have and he'll set you up with all the parts you need, mine slid right together with no problems

Thanks for the info.. I have a 56 panel truck 235 3 speed and would like the overdrive 5 speed

you may not need the adapter plate for your truck, certain years have the same bolt pattern on the bell housing as the t-5 trans

As far as changing the rear end to a 3.38:1 I called stovebolt engine company and and was ready to purchase a cam and lifters from him. Explained to me that I had my priorities all wrong. He told me to start with the t5 transmission and depending on the budget pick a transmission from a 83 to 87 S10 with v-6 overdrive because of the shifter position, lowering the rpms, getting better gas mileage, and being able to use the mechanical speedometer. If my budget allowed I could use a v-8 gear box but the s10 shifter housing. The issue is 3.38:1 gear was it only added 10% to the gain at a cost of 800 to 1000 dollars for the ring kit axle rebuild and labor. He said that money would be off better in a trans with over drive. He also could have sold me a cam but talked me out of it after knowing what I wanted for my 235 he stated to put in a cam from a 261. This is what I am doing however if anyone can correct me if I am wrong please do so. He basically said everything will bolt on good with minor modifications. I still have not gotten all my questions answered still looking at the minor details but I think its easier than I think.