The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Dif change to 3.55 ?

I have added some part numbers in a post above. If anyone sees errors and/or has additional parts numbers or information, please post them and I will edit the list above.

Need Fel-Pro and Best Gasket part numbers for gaskets (differential case, u-joint set, ??)
Need part numbers for two styles of Okie Bushings
I will post part numbers from one or more of: Classic Parts, Jim Carter, and Chevs of 40s, American Classic

A co called classic parts sells a rear end rebuild kit with all the bearings and seals they also sell the gear set as well. All the guys that answer the phones are very helpful.

As I understand it, most of the parts places we buy stuff from get those bearing kits from Patricks... Those are made in Eastern Europe and So. America. You might call Classic Parts back and ask..

Dogface is correct. Mothertrucker is not supplied by Patrick's but almost everybody else is (unless they are now being supplied by Mothertrucker).

Before Mothertrucker was supplying the R&P set, I bought directly from Patrick's (R&P and installation kit/parts) - you could ask for a discount and he was quite accommodating.

Mother trucker has the best price by far on the RP sets. Just an FYI for those who are considering this upgrade.

Does anyone have experience with okie bushing failure after the gear change? I found NOS torque tube bushings for mine and have put on miles at high speed but wonder how far the stock trans, u joint, and bushings are being pushed beyond design speed? FWIW the old guy who set mine up was very impressed with the gear quality and asked me the source (Patrick's).

There is nothing wrong with stock bushings as long as the surfaces they are running on are not worn.
You mention high speeds but the drive shaft is not turning any faster with 3.55 gears just the rear axles.

I have 15,000 miles on my rebuild. Not a single issue. Take your time, have a keen sense of detail, and ask questions along the way. I have a technical write up in progress including photos. If there is something that hangs you up, just ask!!!

Duh! Thanks Dave, you're right that only the axle bearings will spin faster. When I inspected the NOS torque tube bushings I noticed they had a very complex (and I believe specially hardened ) inside diameter consisting of many dimples and helical grooves not easy to duplicate. As I have never inspected an okie bushing first hand I have no idea how these features contribute to longevity.

Certainly the dimples help hold oil.
Some Okie bushings mimic the original design, some are smooth with a spiral groove. It depends on who made it.

Tim,
I see that (at least) Jim Carter has all those parts in his catalog. I just don't know where he gets them and if they are the same as Patricks. May be nothing wrong with Patricks, but they are made all over creation... who knows, maybe they all are these days...

JC wrote back and said they do NOT get their parts from Patricks but they are, in fact, foreign made.

I am preparing to do this 3.55 conversion in the fall and as I am reading the how to posts, I cant say that I am intimidated
but know it will be a challenge.

Couple of questions, I really dont want to invest in a hydrolic press even though I would love to have one, what particular
bearings require the press, some or all.

This fork tool that goes in behind the pinion gear to provide space when installing the pinion assy. Dont quite understand this tool.
Don't the shims at the front bearing provide the appropriate spacing? What am I missing on what this tool is doing?

Thanks for the insights. Todd

As I posted above: "Mothertrucker is not supplied by Patrick's but almost everybody else is/was (unless they are now being supplied by Mothertrucker)."


MT imported many of them, and, he has sold many of them. I have never seen a complaint.

Not really asking about who supplies the gears just what is the purpose of the fork alignment tool and is a press used on a removing and installing a specific gear.. Thanks

The alignment tool keeps the pinion gear from falling too far into the prop shaft assembly tube. It helps seat the shims. Installing a 6' long pinion shaft is a challenge. What I have found that works is a 2x10 with a 3" hole in the center. Place the board on top of a 5 gallon bucket. Place the tube in this vertically then lower the shaft into the tube.

I have had to do this several times on occasion when the pinion bearing won't seat on the shims.

Guess I will need to experience it to understand it. So which bearings do I have to have a press? The wife wont go for one more tool.
I am barely getting away with buying the conversion parts.

Sweet,

You would happen to have an image of this bucket and board fixture you created, I'm lost. Was this thing standing 6 feet or so straight up supported by some ladders or something?

Thanks

Posey your thought is exactly right. Step the rear if the tube to the top of the ladder and lower the shaft so it’s in the shins.

The alignment fork is just a spacer when the three bearing retainer bolts are tightened.
The fork can be home made from sheet metal using the DEVE pattern.

See the attached training pictures.

Sweet,

One other dumb question, in a few posts back we were talking axle assy and T Tube assy stood straight up for aligning things when putting back together supported buy some tall ladders.
Why would you need the bucket and the wood. Would one suffice? Image would be great!

Thanks

In the old Patrick’s manual, the instruction was to stand the TT housing up, place the pinion assembly into it and when the gear is about 2 feet from its home, let the assembly go and allow gravity to do the rest.

The first time I did this, I used the bed of my truck. Well, when my first attempt didn’t go well, I placed a 5 gallon bucket next to a ladder in the center on its “footprint”. Lay a 2x8,10,12 across the bucket and drill a hole larger than the smaller end of the TT.

Place the TT in the hole and strap it to the side of the ladder making sure not to create a trip hazard on the rungs.

If I get a chance I’ll see if I can get a picture. However if the ceiling height of your shop is 8’, you have to find a higher ceiling.

Thanks