torque tube diff conversion - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

HotRodJoe · 10-02-2007, 09:02 PM

Car guy here...

Question about the truck torque tube rear axles: can they be converted to non-torque tube applications?

The reason I ask is that I believe the rear axles used in these trucks from about '46 to '54 or so were the same housings as they used for Nascar cars, but they didn't have the torque tube.

Any info would be appreciated!

Thanks,

HRJ

HotRodJoe · 10-02-2007, 09:16 PM

Here's a pic of what I believe to be the earlier truck 10 bolt rear end in a '57 passenger car. The car rear ends had no bolt on rear cover - it was part of the housing. Any thoughts?

HotRodJoe · 10-02-2007, 10:44 PM

Maybe the better question to ask: is there a 50's Chevy truck rear end with the 10 bolt cover, but with regular driveshaft pig (non-torque tube style)?

tiggerstoy · 10-03-2007, 12:47 PM

hmmm... dam good guestion!

HotRodJoe · 10-03-2007, 06:45 PM

C'mon...I know you guys know these trucks!

HotRodJoe · 10-03-2007, 09:21 PM

Okay, got some response saying I need a '55-'59 half ton truck diff. Anybody got one to sell?

Joe

918733 · 10-04-2007, 10:32 AM

you can put a 55-59 diff. in but your rearend will rotate the torq tube is kind of like a ladder bar. I did this on a 52 and put a 3 speed from a Nova. We made some brackets to hold the rearend in place. I wasn't to crazy about the brackets but it got me back on the road.

LB181 · 10-04-2007, 03:07 PM

I hope I am answering some of your question and not confusing things too much. I believe advanced design chevy 1/2 ton trucks from 47-54 had the torque tube rearend. 55-62 they switched to open driveline. Since you mentioned nascar I wasn't sure if you are thinking of a rearend swap into another car, or converting a truck to open driveline. In my case, I have a 51, and I may try to find a 55-62 pumpkin to swap into my rearend to get the open driveline. In these trucks third member can be removed from the font of the rearend, like a 9 inch ford. Here are some pics where someone did this swap.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dodsonb...7600834633728/
What someone mentioned earlier is that if you used the torque tube housing, you would have to weld on leaf spring pads or some sort of bracket as the rearend pivots, with the torque tube. Sorry if thats not what you needed, just some torque tube swap info if anyone needs it.
Corey

solidaxel · 10-04-2007, 04:23 PM

Welcome from arizona,
Are you asking a question or are you trying to find out what rear gear will fit your your truck?

HotRodJoe · 10-04-2007, 07:07 PM

I'm wanting to put a truck rear end in a '57 passenger car, like they did in Nascar. My confusion was that I thought the trucks were all torque tube, but it looks like '55-'59 truck had open driveshaft, which if that's the case, all I need is to narrow one of them.

Anybody confused yet?

b.sharp · 10-04-2007, 08:39 PM

How soon do you need the rear end? I may have one in the near future to get rid of. I'm getting a '55 for parts but need to wait until it cools down a little more so I don't have to deal with the flying stingers. Let me know when you need it. I'm only about 30 min. from you.

Latr man,

Bryan

HotRodJoe · 10-05-2007, 06:05 PM

Awesome! Just let me know, I'll probably take it if $$$ is reasonable. It's a winter project, so not a big rush.

Joe

Igotachevyor2 · 10-05-2007, 06:14 PM

here is some pics of my 58. does this help?

HotRodJoe · 10-05-2007, 06:32 PM

Yep, that's the rear end! Would a '55 first series be narrower than the later ones?

**michael bustamante** · 10-17-2007, 02:27 PM

i just a 49 gmc 3/4 ton and everybody kept asking me if at had torque tube but it actallyhas a 2 piece drive line (longbed) but the rear axle looks origional so i guess it could take a drive shaft oh, and it is a ten bolt

10-02-2007, 09:02 PM	#1
HotRodJoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgetown, KY Posts: 8	torque tube diff conversion Car guy here... Question about the truck torque tube rear axles: can they be converted to non-torque tube applications? The reason I ask is that I believe the rear axles used in these trucks from about '46 to '54 or so were the same housings as they used for Nascar cars, but they didn't have the torque tube. Any info would be appreciated! Thanks, HRJ

10-02-2007, 09:16 PM	#2
HotRodJoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgetown, KY Posts: 8	Re: torque tube diff conversion Here's a pic of what I believe to be the earlier truck 10 bolt rear end in a '57 passenger car. The car rear ends had no bolt on rear cover - it was part of the housing. Any thoughts? Attached Images

10-02-2007, 10:44 PM	#3
HotRodJoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgetown, KY Posts: 8	Re: torque tube diff conversion Maybe the better question to ask: is there a 50's Chevy truck rear end with the 10 bolt cover, but with regular driveshaft pig (non-torque tube style)?

10-03-2007, 12:47 PM	#4
tiggerstoy tiggerstoy Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: camrose Alberta Canada Posts: 416	Re: torque tube diff conversion hmmm... dam good guestion!

10-03-2007, 06:45 PM	#5
HotRodJoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgetown, KY Posts: 8	Re: torque tube diff conversion C'mon...I know you guys know these trucks!

10-03-2007, 09:21 PM	#6
HotRodJoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgetown, KY Posts: 8	Re: torque tube diff conversion Okay, got some response saying I need a '55-'59 half ton truck diff. Anybody got one to sell? Joe

10-04-2007, 10:32 AM	#7
918733 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lufkin Texas Posts: 213	Re: torque tube diff conversion you can put a 55-59 diff. in but your rearend will rotate the torq tube is kind of like a ladder bar. I did this on a 52 and put a 3 speed from a Nova. We made some brackets to hold the rearend in place. I wasn't to crazy about the brackets but it got me back on the road.

10-04-2007, 03:07 PM	#8
LB181 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 4	Re: torque tube diff conversion I hope I am answering some of your question and not confusing things too much. I believe advanced design chevy 1/2 ton trucks from 47-54 had the torque tube rearend. 55-62 they switched to open driveline. Since you mentioned nascar I wasn't sure if you are thinking of a rearend swap into another car, or converting a truck to open driveline. In my case, I have a 51, and I may try to find a 55-62 pumpkin to swap into my rearend to get the open driveline. In these trucks third member can be removed from the font of the rearend, like a 9 inch ford. Here are some pics where someone did this swap. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dodsonb...7600834633728/ What someone mentioned earlier is that if you used the torque tube housing, you would have to weld on leaf spring pads or some sort of bracket as the rearend pivots, with the torque tube. Sorry if thats not what you needed, just some torque tube swap info if anyone needs it. Corey

10-04-2007, 04:23 PM	#9
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: torque tube diff conversion Welcome from arizona, Are you asking a question or are you trying to find out what rear gear will fit your your truck? __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

10-04-2007, 07:07 PM	#10
HotRodJoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgetown, KY Posts: 8	Re: torque tube diff conversion I'm wanting to put a truck rear end in a '57 passenger car, like they did in Nascar. My confusion was that I thought the trucks were all torque tube, but it looks like '55-'59 truck had open driveshaft, which if that's the case, all I need is to narrow one of them. Anybody confused yet?

10-04-2007, 08:39 PM	#11
b.sharp Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky Posts: 508	Re: torque tube diff conversion How soon do you need the rear end? I may have one in the near future to get rid of. I'm getting a '55 for parts but need to wait until it cools down a little more so I don't have to deal with the flying stingers. Let me know when you need it. I'm only about 30 min. from you. Latr man, Bryan

10-05-2007, 06:05 PM	#12
HotRodJoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgetown, KY Posts: 8	Re: torque tube diff conversion Awesome! Just let me know, I'll probably take it if $$$ is reasonable. It's a winter project, so not a big rush. Joe

10-05-2007, 06:14 PM	#13
Igotachevyor2 Apache Club Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Goodlettsville,Tn. Posts: 1,294	Re: torque tube diff conversion here is some pics of my 58. does this help? __________________ 58 CHEVY APACHE I 74 CHEVY C-10 I 78 K-10 donor truck I 89 SONOMA My Trucks Apache Sitting Idle MySpace Project Dad's Truck (74 C-10 to K-10 conversion) . Last edited by Igotachevyor2; 10-10-2007 at 08:34 PM.

10-05-2007, 06:32 PM	#14
HotRodJoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgetown, KY Posts: 8	Re: torque tube diff conversion Yep, that's the rear end! Would a '55 first series be narrower than the later ones?

10-17-2007, 02:27 PM	#15
michael bustamante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 7,862	Re: torque tube diff conversion i just a 49 gmc 3/4 ton and everybody kept asking me if at had torque tube but it actallyhas a 2 piece drive line (longbed) but the rear axle looks origional so i guess it could take a drive shaft oh, and it is a ten bolt __________________ 1967custom Last edited by michael bustamante; 10-17-2007 at 02:28 PM.



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