The T5 Borg Warner Ford built 5 sp OD is almost a perfect bolt in. I have
done this and is as easy as installing to stock trans.
J Forbes wrote:
> Hi Jason, and congrats on getting such a nice oletruck (I'm partial to
> 59 fleetsides)!
>
> I don't know anything about the numbers, but I can usually tell what a
> rearend came out of by looking at it. If it's a 3/4 ton, it will have
> 8 lug wheels. If it's an original 59 Chevy 1/2 ton rearend, it could
> either be the non-posi type and have a removeable front section, and a
> round removeable rear cover plate, both held on with 10 nuts, or it
> could be a Dana 45 posi rearend, with a stop sign shaped rear cover held
> on by 10 bolts. If it's a later truck rearend, it would probably have
> 12 bolts holding on the cover. The ratios of the original 1/2 ton rears
> are almost always about 3.90, while the later rearends are usually 3.73
> if they are 6 lug, or possibly 3.07 or 3.40 if it's from a newer 4x4.
> You can check the ratio of a rearend by holding one wheel still, turning
> the other wheel two revolutions (exactly), and counting the turns of the
> pinion yoke (or driveshaft)...the number of turns is the ratio.
>
> You mentioned wanting to go to five lug wheels, are you going to make
> the front wheels five lug also? You can do this by going to disc
> brakes, or by using 51-54 car front hubs.
>
> The stock 4 speed, and any other non-overdrive tranny, will have a 1:1
> high gear ratio. There aren't really any simple 5 speed overdrive
> swaps, although you could visit a junkyard and look at late 80s-90s
> vintage Chevy trucks and see what's invlolved. The 700R4 is a good
> swap, if you get a good tranny, which may be expensive (or not,
> depending on your luck). If you do go with an automatic, or any tranny
> that does not have the bellhousing mount, you'll want to make sure the
> engine is properly supported with side mounts, not the factory front
> mounts.
>
> The rearend from a Camaro or Nova (70s vintage) may be what you want; if
> you don't get overdrive, then a 3.08 gear would probably be about
> right...measure first to make sure it's the right width, and you'll have
> to swap the spring perches, which involves welding and careful measuring
> (the angle is important).
>
> So many choices...
> Jim
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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