Kirk:
Thanks for the advice, I'd forgotten about the driveshaft/tire rotations
method for determining the ratio.
I understand you like the 3.90 ratio, for a 3-speed that certainly makes
sense. However I'm not doing any pulling and being a 'flat-lander' in
Illinois doesn't present any problems starting-up or pulling hills. My '56
is a summertime vehicle I mostly drive back and forth to work (5 miles
roundtrip) and take it to parades and shows during the weekends so I don't
do any serious driving. I want to stay with an automatic trans and do some
light cruising.
>From what I can tell (bought the truck this summer) the rearend is fine.
Bearings, brakes are good and no excessive slop from driveshaft to the
wheels. I want to keep the OE suspension stock for now (although I may
replace the front springs with a monoleaf to lower the front end and improve
ride/handling). Friends keep telling me to go the IFS-route on the front
and put a 4-link rear suspension with a 9-inch Ford rear and disk brakes all
the way around but I'm not that serious a driver right now to drop the bucks
for this (only put 500 miles on my ride from June through September).
Thanks again,
Carl
'56 Stepside
>From: Kirk <kpierce@charter.net>
>Reply-To: Kirk <kpierce@charter.net>
>To: oletrucks@autox.team.net
>Subject: [Fwd: Re: [oletrucks] '56 Rear End/Tranny Change]
>Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 13:52:00 -0400
>
>-------- Original Message --------
>Subject: Re: [oletrucks] '56 Rear End/Tranny Change
>Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 13:37:59 -0400
>From: Kirk <kpierce@charter.net>
>To: Becky Ham <the_hams@hotmail.com>
>References: <F133bvQoG9Bvo93GhAU00010add@hotmail.com>
>
>Becky Ham wrote:
> >
> > Need advice on whether to swap trannys or rear end. Have a '56 1/2 ton
>step
> > side with OE front and rear suspension and axles, 283 V8 with TH350 auto
> > trans. Suspect the rear end ratio is 4.11 (you could get 3.90 or 4.11
>in
> > '56). At 60 MPH engine RPM is 3000-3200. I'm thinking about swapping
>the
> > 350 for a 700R4 with lockup converter. Anyone had experience or can
>furnish
> > advice? Would appreciate any help.
> >
> > Carl
> > '56 stepside
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
>I can not say about the 700R4. I do have a suggestion and a comment.
>You could jack up the rear of the truck using a floor jack under the
>rear end housing to lift both tires off the floor. Put safety blocks
>under the axle to avoid an accident. Then mark the driveshaft and one
>tire with chalk. Turn the drive shaft until the tire makes one complete
>round counting the drive shaft and tire rotations. If one tire turned
>one direction and the other went in the opposite direction (non posi
>rear) then you will notice one of the following situations:
>
>3.90 Your axle turned slightly less than 8 revolutions per 1 revolution
>of the tire
>
>4.11 Your axle turned slightly more than 8 revolutions per 1 revolution
>of the tire.
>
>This is because axle ratio = #revolutions of driveshaft / (2 times tire
>revolutions).
>
>Now for the comment. I have the 3.90 in my '57. I really like the 3.90
>for starting off on hills and for pulling loads. I have the manual 3
>speed on the column. I have added an overdrive to the muncie 3 speed by
>replacing the stock tailshaft with an overdrive from a 60's chevy car.
>The overdrive brought my rpm at 60 down from around 3000 to around
>2200. This results in much less noise and wear. I am very pleased with
>the results.
>
>I believe your choice boils down to 1 thing. How good is the rear end
>you currently run? Does it have worn shafts where the shaft runs
>against the outer bearing surface? Does it wallow out seals and leak at
>the wheels? Do you get lots of noise from the rear? How about the yoke
>area.. any leaks or slack?
>
>If the rear is solid I would replace the trans. If the rear is in need
>of lots of work, I would replace the rear. My rear needed lots of work
>and cost about 400.00 to fix. This amount does not include the cost of
>the "chunk"
> I got from a local salvage yard. I onlyy found one place in
>Birmingham, Al. where I live that would even touch the thing.
>
>Good luck with whatever you choose, and please post to the list what
>your methods and results are. Someone on the list will find the info
>valuable when they are making their decision.
>
>PS. You will probably get lots of replies to change the tire size. I
>don't think that will meet your objectives. Just my 2 cents.
>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
|