The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline direct swap

I have a 57 GMC with the original Spicer 45 rear end that's howling like a mutha.. Can anyone tell me if there is a direct swap available, and if not, what are my options. Thanks.

I had my 45 rebuilt in St. Louis, Mo. at MT Schiele. (http://schieletransmission.com/ or http://schieletransmission.com/affton-mo-differentials.html)

Mike did a terrific job rebuilding my limited slip.


Tim

Have a ?? About a frame swap . Can u swap a 45 chevy 1/2 to a truck ...To a 53 chevy car. ??? It seems to measure out right

anything is possible Runfast, if you have the needed skills and tools, certainly wouldn't be a "direct swap"

Bill

Runfast, forum etiquette- you need to start your own "new topic" if you have a question not pertaining to the original thread- and other members should know not to answer you in my thread either..

sorry Idaho, didn't mean to invade your personal space in this public garage

Bill

red58, I see you left a confused icon, let me see if I can help you understand the concept- Besides being just plain 'ol courtesy, it's Forum etiquette to stick to the original posters topic. That way the poster can get HIS question answered without someone else coming in with an off topic subject, and the thread suddenly takes a sudden left turn. It would be like you and a friend were discussing something and I step in between the two of you and start talking to yer buddy about something totally unrelated. Hope that helps.

OK, obviously you have trouble chatting in a crowd as large as is in this garage, I'll stay out of your way, hopefully you'll be around to help keep all the other newbies straight

Bill

I have no trouble chatting in a crowd, and I'm not interested in any continuing hassle or sarcasm from you either. Forum etiquette is for a reason, if you don't get it, just drop it..

When someone with 3 posts comes and posts a completely off-topic question in a topic it isn't out of line to tell him to post his own topic before it's answered. This topic is a great example of the reason why.

Let's get back to the topic, I hope someone else can answer Idaho's question?

Let's get back to point please.

Idaho, you could be hearing a pinion bearing coming apart. First it makes fine shavings, then something breaks. If you have fine mechanical work, it can be done at home. I've done a few. Or it could be a quick job at a local shop.

1955-1959 chevy 1/2 ton rears (Eaton HO33) are as close to a direct swap as possible. However the rear parking brake cables will not match up to the chevy rear. The good news is you can get new parking brake cables to fit the chevy rear. The spicer cables might even be able to fetch you a buck or 2 as these are not readily available in the aftermarket.

Just out of curiosity, what transmission are you running with the spicer? Reason I ask is the maintenance manual I have states the spicer has a 3.08 ratio when used behind a 3 speed transmission. I believe there is a 3.92 gear available when the spicer was used in a "posi" aplication. Anyway, chevy 1/2 rears mentioned above are usually a 3.90 ratio, so your truck might drive differently.

Other options include using a 12 bolt rear from a 4x4 from 1960 to about 1970 something, and possibly later. These rears are about 62 inches wide wheel mount to wheel mount, and use the same parking brake setup as the earlier 1955-1959 chevy 1/2 ton rear. The 12 bolt has many more gear ratios and posi-tractions choices than the spicer 45 rear or the eaton HO33 rear. The spring perches usually need to be cut off and rewelded for proper pinion angle on these rears.

Perfect, both of your responses tell me what I needed to know and how to proceed. SWEET- the first thing I will do is pull it apart and have a look at the pinion bearing, sounds like it will be obvious if it's damaged and failing. And, if it has trashed anything else inside- bigbadswingdaddy- now I know my options as far as what to replace it with. My Suburban has the 270 six with the 3 speed behind it. It cruises at a very reasonable rpm going down the road at 55-60 so I assume it's the 3:08 trans. I will get out there and do the spin test to determine what it is. I wouldn't want to jump up to a 3:90 if it is the 3:08. Thanks again to both of you.

If you're taking the diff apart anyways, just count the gears and do the calculation rather than doing the spin test. That way you'll know exactly what it is.