The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network - View Single Post - 47-55.1 Changing Rear End Gears 1950

raycow · 09-11-2010, 03:39 PM

If you are dead set on keeping the torque tube, the Patricks gears are pretty much your only choice. However, for what the gears cost, plus set-up, if you have to pay someone to do it, you can convert to open drive for a lot less money. This gives you two advantages: a wide range of gear ratios, and the freedom to use almost any transmission you might care to run.

The easiest open drive conversion is to replace the center section with one from a 55-62 1/2 ton. This is almost a bolt-in, the "almost" part being that you have to weld or otherwise secure the pivots on the spring mounts. If you don't do this, the axle housing is free to flop around on the springs. The 55-62 rears don't give you a great improvement in gearing, because most of them are 3.90. However, this is an ideal setup if you want to run an overdrive transmission. One of these center sections and a T-5 would be just about perfect. Or, go with an overdrive 3 speed if you want to keep a column shift.

Ray

09-11-2010, 03:39 PM	#7
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: Changing Rear End Gears 1950 If you are dead set on keeping the torque tube, the Patricks gears are pretty much your only choice. However, for what the gears cost, plus set-up, if you have to pay someone to do it, you can convert to open drive for a lot less money. This gives you two advantages: a wide range of gear ratios, and the freedom to use almost any transmission you might care to run. The easiest open drive conversion is to replace the center section with one from a 55-62 1/2 ton. This is almost a bolt-in, the "almost" part being that you have to weld or otherwise secure the pivots on the spring mounts. If you don't do this, the axle housing is free to flop around on the springs. The 55-62 rears don't give you a great improvement in gearing, because most of them are 3.90. However, this is an ideal setup if you want to run an overdrive transmission. One of these center sections and a T-5 would be just about perfect. Or, go with an overdrive 3 speed if you want to keep a column shift. Ray Last edited by raycow; 09-11-2010 at 03:51 PM.