The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts '46 1 1/2 Ton Front Axle Swap to '46 3/4 Ton Axle

Tried this over in the Driveline Section and I thought I'd try over here as well.

Wondering if I can unbolt the entire front axle assembly and bolt one from a 1946 3/4 ton in it place?
I want to swap out that 1 1/2 ton Rear Axle as well. Any suggestions on a Chevy Dually Axle Setup that will work on the back? 70's, 80's or 90's ?

I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks

Here are some pics.
http://s419.photobucket.com/albums/pp280...%20Stake%20Bed/

I believe you can do that, I suppose you're doing that to put on disk brakes?

If it's a flatbed you can pick just about any rear end. I don't think you will find anything that matches the spring perches, so you'll have to cut off the stock ones and weld on new ones.

The truck needs brakes, a vacuum booster and tires before I can put it on the road. I'll have alot more wheel and tire options and available parts by swapping out these 1.5 ton axles. I can also get a complete '46 3/4 ton front axle for free, so that helps with the budget.

Hey Dyno --- if you are planning on swapping your rear axle, I'd be real intere$ted in the ring & pinion if it happens to be a 5.43!

Dyno - keep us posted on how this goes. My current project (46 1.5T) involves replacing the rear diff / axle with an 87 Ford F-250 rear end (sorry for the foul language, Chev-o-philes) and I am open to whatever front axle comes my way. I am looking at two in a local junkyard, one on an old International and one on a Dodge (wow, I am a junkyard floozie) - I want all four wheels to match (8 x 6.5 stud pattern, 16" rims so it looks nice with existing front fenders). Tango, if I am correct, the ONLY gearing available in 1946 on a 1.5T was the lower (6.-- something??), so -again, IF I am correct- you will never find a 1946 rear end with a 5.43 diff. they were not offered that year. Trying to save energy after the war I can only surmise.

Hey JohnTon --- I'm beginning to believe that may well be true in the real world but the Chevy books indicate that the 5.43 was "standard" factory issue while the 6.17 was an "option" from at least '41 to '52.

Still on the hunt and still willing to pay top dollar a 5.43 set...if there really is such a thing.

You might want to think about the fender opening being larger on the 1.5 tons. The factory 20" wheel fills them nicely, If you go with 3/4 ton stuff, I would start researching later GMs that came with 8 lug 19.5 rims. Just would'nt look right with a 16" wheel in them openings IMO.

You are exactly right about the wheel size. I found a 3/4 ton front axle of of another '46. I just need to open up the holes for the u-bolts for the spring pads a little bit. I'm going to keep the 2" wide front leaf springs for now. The springs off the 3/4 ton are 1 3/4" wide but they are shorter anyway, so I'd have to move the spring hangers.