The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 52 3/4 chevy

Just bought a running 3/4 ton with, what I believe is the original straight 6. Has a four speed with a granny low. Looking to convert to a 350 or 4.3 and disc breaks up front. Having a lot of trouble finding parts for a 3/4 ton. What to lower front and rear also. Can u just use 1/2 ton parts on a 3/4 ton frame. New to the forum so I apologize if this has been discussed already. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Sounds like a great truck as-is, why mess with perfection?

Way to slow and undependable. Would like to drive somewhat reguarly.

You just bought it and you already determined it is undependable? I suggest you drive it a while. You might like it.

Welcome Jello
Your choices are more limited with a 3/4-ton. But it can be done. The V8 transplant has about the same level of difficulty whether it's a 1/2- or 3/4-ton. Look here:
http://www.speedprint.com/deves50/doc/v8stovebolt.pdf The narrow frame and clearance at the steering box are issues you have to address.
My first 50 Pickup was a 3/4-ton with a V8. http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/brown_franklin_1950.html

Whether 1/2- or 3/4-ton the final drive ratio is what keeps it slow. Search these forums for discussions about 4.10 gears for your 52. No lower (numerical) ratio gears are available for your axle. 3.55 gears are available for the original 1/2-ton axle, but you don't want that axle with a V8. So you will probably have to change the rear end.
Browse the 47-55 Gallery for V8 truck ideas, or other forums such as the HAMB.

Now, once you get it to go fast, can you steer and stop it??

Hear a lot about people using later rear ends out of a nova, camero, ect. Seems like the width would be right. Where I'm really stumped is the front end.

If you're swapping in a car rearend with the five lug pattern, your straight axle options for the front would be to swap in a 1/2 ton axle and get a 5 lug disc brake kit, or 5 lug drums/hubs with passenger car parts, or fit up 1/2 ton spindles to your 3/4 ton I-beam to use the 5 lug disc brake kit.

Drop Axle Sid has a scan of an old magazine article about Chevy spindles on his website http://droppedaxles.com/TECH_ARTICLES.html. There are a few paragraphs about Chevy car brakes fitting on 1/2-ton spindles that may be interesting to you... A 1/2-ton axle will bolt right up to your front springs - and they should; 52 1/2- and 3/4-tons have the same front springs.
There is nothing wrong with or unsafe about a straight axle. As long as the king pins/ bushings, spring pins and bushings and tie rod ends are in good repair. Anti-sway bars can be added... Radial tires. You're good to go.

Thanks for all the input. The 1/2 ton axel with the disc kit sounds exactly what I was looking for. Would a drop axel for a half ton work. They have one in the classic parts catalog but their people said it wouldn't work.

I don't know why it wouldn't. People have replaced their 3/4-ton axle for a 1/2-ton axle: Same springs, same U-bolt centers... what am I missing? Disclaimer: I have not done this myself. But a study of the literature seems to indicate it can be done.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1948_51truck/index.htm

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/52index.html

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/52129.html

Good luck.

Thanks again. Think I found a good 350. So this project is starting to take shape.

Thanks again. Think I found a good 350. So this project is starting to take shape.