The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 54 Torque tube troubles, HELP!!

I purchased my 54 panel back in December and I have some torque tube/driveline noise. I have just about given up on keeping the original torque tube set up and have purchased a 56 chevy 3100 panel rear end that I know little about, my question is can I leave my rear end in place minus the torque tube assy, and replace it with the 56 rear end guts to make it an open driveline?
I also have access to a 49 chevy 3100 complete running gear with motor on the frame that I can purchase for $800.00, but I didn't want to wind up with similar problems, not sure which way to go

Original Poster: pedalpusher60
"My question is can I leave my rear end in place minus the torque tube assy,
and replace it with the 56 rear end guts to make it an open driveline?"

Read this POST
He says a 59 pumpkin will fit in the housing.
I'm not sure if a 56 pumpkin will also fit.
You can use the same spring but you have to flip them. Click here

But if I were you I would keep the original torque tube and axle.
Take the $800 bucks put a high speed 3.55 ring & pinion gear set $450.00 in it
and a complete rebuild kit $367.48 in the original torque tube and axle. Click here
The rebuild kit includes the Okie bushing Sleeve Assembly
You can buy it from these GUYS
That should fix any noise you have.
Unless your u-joint is the noise maker. but that's a easy fix.

One other thing the 3.55 ring gear will not work on the 1954 1/2 ton differential/spool case.
So that the ring gear bolt pattern lines up with the bolt pattern on the differential/spool case.
Correction: The 3.55 ring gear will bolt on to the 1954 differential/spool case,
but the 3.55 ring & pinion gears are larger. Because of the larger gear size,
there is not enough room for adjustment using the 1954 differential/spool case.
The 1954 differential/spool case was designed for the smaller size 3.90 ring & pinion gears.

You have to use the 4.11, 1940 to 1953 Chevy 1/2 ton differential/spool case. part number 3652336.
Master parts Cat picture. Group # 5.510 MPC Part #3652336
MPC also indicates the 55-57 1/2 ton O/D.

1955-62 1/2 ton center sections all fit.

How come the 3:55 ring gear set won't work with a 1954 housing??

John

A 3.55 gear set will work in a 54 housing if it is not bent, as his seems to be.
You can not use the 1954 3.9 diff case with the 3.55 though.

Best change I've made to my truck was lose the torque tube. Allows swaping tranmissions. Not to mention how much easier to work on.
Best of luck

One other thing the 3.55 ring gear will not work on the 1954 1/2 ton differential/spool case.
So that the ring gear bolt pattern lines up with the bolt pattern on the differential/spool case.
Correction: The 3.55 ring gear will bolt on to the 1954 differential/spool case,
but the 3.55 ring & pinion gears are larger. Because of the larger gear size,
there is not enough room for adjustment using the 1954 differential/spool case.
The 1954 differential/spool case was designed for the smaller size 3.90 ring & pinion gears.

You have to use the 4.11, 1940 to 1953 Chevy 1/2 ton differential/spool case. part number 3652336.
Master parts Cat picture. Group # 5.510 MPC Part #3652336
MPC also indicates the 55-57 1/2 ton O/D.

You retain the spider gears from inside the 1954 differential case
to use inside the 4.11, 1940 to 1953 Chevy 1/2 ton differential/spool case.

All you are using is the 4.11, 1940 to 1953 Chevy 1/2 ton differential/spool case.
Everything else gets transferred over.

I did talk to Patricks and he told me about the diff/spool case issue, if it is the original the s.n. will end in 370 and will not work with the new gears, it should end in 336 to be able to use the new gear set. You all have given me plenty of great advice, and I guess my dilemma is to go with open drive line or keep it 100% original and keep the torque tube, I have everything i need to go both ways, with the exception of the driveshaft if I use the 56 rear end. I will let you know which way I go as soon as I decide, and once again, thanks for all your help.

JiMerit Boltr#43,
What rearend did you use?

He has not checked the forums since 10/05/2014.

Try a PM?

Tim, surely you mean 10/05/13...just couldn't resist.

Back from the future, Alvin.

Thanks

I have had zero trouble with enclosed drive shaft on both my 54 3100 pickup and 54 Belair sedan. If you don't care about keeping the originality of your truck them move to something else. Please keep in mind that for the sake of maintaining to long term resale value of your vehicle you are better off stick with the original equipment. I have had my 54 Belair since I was 15 yo, 38 years. I have watched others customize and modify their 54 Chevy cars till they were all the rage and talk of the town. Several years later a couple of those guys offered sell me their cars. I turned them down. In these cases the cars didn't even make decent parts cars. My "Old Friend" continues to increase in value and invariably the customs end up as junk.

So please let me encourage you to pull the read differential gear assembly and rebuild it. You can install a 3.55:1 ring and pinion gears set from Patrick Truck Parts. Absolute Chevrolet Part in Nashville Ga. will also have all the parts you will need to get the job done.

Hope this helps
Walt Williams
La Verkin, UT