The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Rear Diff 1951 GMC 3-Ton

Hi, I just bought a 1951 GMC 3-Ton but its missing the rear gears. Does anyone have any info an what they could be. Any help would be great, Thanks

Verschuren,
I'm assuming yours is a 450 series GMC. There were a couple different rears available. Single speed, two speed in a couple different weigh ratings. Are you looking just for ratios or parts numbers and swap info?
If it is a 450 there should be a data plate inside the glove box door that tells what equipment the truck was born with. If you post what it says we should be able to dig into this a little deeper.
Scott

Specifically, what do you mean by 'rear gears'?

Jeff

I checked the glove box, but theres no data plate. Im guessing a 450 series is a 3-Ton but it doesn't say any 400 series anywhere on the truck. But it does say have 2 "3-Ton" emblems under the GMC emblem on the side of the hood. Its a Canandian built truck.

Basically all I have is the axle housing. Its a 12 bolt with 8 bolt axles. The differential cover, housing and differential is all missing.

Thanks for the help

Hy Verschuren, welcome, could you post the trucks serial number, and tell us how many bolts/studs hold your wheels on? I think seeing as how you're a fellow Canadian that your truck may be a 9700 series, so if your truck is a 1951 model your serial number would be something like 197....., hope that helps.

Its a five bolt wheel. And you're right the first digits of the serial is a 097. And it does have the Bendix Hydrovac Brakes is that helps

Thanks for the help

I just posted some pictures of the the truck with the axle housing and axles. And also my '38 GMC.

http://s1312.photobucket.com/user/V...mp;_suid=1366822393359042539252475612754

Hy Verschuren, if your serial number starts with a zero then your truck is a 1950 model. Is there a rectangular box at the bottom of the dash with a flip knob at the bottom of it that says "Park in low" ?

What is the gvw rating on the ID plate in the driver door jamb? Canadian built 3 ton trucks were the same as 2 ton American built trucks. The Canadian built trucks were rated higher, for some reason.

Its rated at 16,000

Canadian conversion?

U.S. built GMC with 16000lb. gvw is a 350 series 2 ton. A U.S. built GMC 450 series 3 ton is rated at 19500lb. gvw. As mentioned, Canadian built trucks had higher gvw ratings, for some reason.

Hey 3B, No I dont see that flip knob. I've checked all the local junk yards, nothing comes close to this rear end, Im probably going to have to do a swap instead.

Hy Verschuren, your truck could have a round two speed control next to the steering column, or it might have had a manual cable shift, or it could have been an electric shift Eaton. Or it might have been a single speed, hard to say, good luck finding a replacement.

Its been tough trying to find one with the same housing and axles in the salvage yards. Thanks for the help but I think my best bet is to buy a different rear end and change the spring mounts and driveshafts.


Thanks