The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts no axles

New here,a buddy of mine just got a 1957 lcf gmc"350" series 2 ton with a 347 pontiac we pulled the third member and the axles are gone! NEED to know what factory 2 speed axle he has,any ideas. it looks like the drums are actually driven by outside cogs. I can't find anything on the differential that came factory with this truck TO FIND THE AXLES.It has a Eaton electric 2 speed,the truck is in pretty rough shape and a family of raccoons lived in it for who knows how long. The windshield is cracked and need rear drive shaft to third member,and the pinion gear is wasted as well as the bearing. What was left of the bearing was in the rear end housing. any information on this matter is appreciated. Just an afterthought,can he upgrade to another axle if these are unobtainable?

Hy bikeman77, welcome if I'm reading my parts book correctly, the V8 F350 series in 1957 (T) came with a Timken double reduction two speed. Check on the back of the glove box door there might be a data plate there which lists what the truck was originally equipped with. There will be a few choices for a replacement rear axle. Is the rear axle housing flattened on the top and bottom of the housing, or is it round? If you could post the serial number it might help us to identify which components were on the truck when it left the factory. Hope that helps.

If it is a tinkem double reduction, the identification will be cast on the passenger side of the middle casting.

The axles are full floating and the outer end of the axles mate with the cog shape in the hubs.

Hi shop shark,I appreciate your time and effort and yes it did help. We still haven't got the rear housing and third member cleaned up but soon as we do,I will post the numbers.
Lone Star Bike Rally going on right now!

You will probably be $ and brain damage ahead if you just search for a whole other complete axle with the same wheel bolt pattern, spring center line, etc. Might be able to get a higher ratio. Some have converted LCF's into pickup size trucks, lighter weight axles. Makes a nice looking rig.

Welcome,bikeman77! I'm with Ed. By the time you found/bought your axles,bearings,and other parts,you could've had a complete rear end installed.Then you'd still have to get your torque/pre-load spec's just right,or your "new" rear end wouldn't last too long.Hope this helps.

Of course, there is the chance that there is nothing wrong with the assembly and the axle shafts were scavenged for another truck.

Slide a pair in and it could be ready to run.

Hey,Jim-Did you read the part about the wasted pinion gear,and the bearing?? Probably just the "tip of the iceberg".You may be right,but...doesn't sound promising.I'd opt for a higher geared,(newer) rear,as Ed suggested.Easier to freshen-up the brakes,etc. before installation.

did actually.