The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1947 - 1959 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-23-2010, 02:02 AM   #1
billo92
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Des Plaines, Illinois
Posts: 10
stock 58 apache rear end question

okay so i got a 58 apache 3100 for $500 delivered. pretty sweet except it was rotted out all over. this was about 6 months ago and after getting 99% of the body work done its time to start mach-up and building the motor, so my question is will the stock rear end out of these trucks handle decent power? this isn't going on the strip or anything but i want to be able to get on it once in a while- i'm throwing in a low compression 350 out of a monte carlo that i'm gonna put a semi aggressive cam in, high rise intake, holly built to 750 cfm, and full length headers. all i really need to know are two things- will the rear end handle this at full throttle (im hoping for around 350-375 hp) and what is the ratio in these things? i've been looking online and haven't had much luck finding specs or anything. ill keep trying though and thanks in advance for any help you guys give me.


-Bill
billo92 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2010, 06:01 AM   #2
raycow
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Posts: 2,454
Re: stock 58 apache rear end question

This rear is quite strong and will handle a decent amount of power. In fact, if you take it apart you will find that the ring gear is larger than on the 12 bolt which replaced it. When Chevy had a factory race team in the 50s they used the 1/2 ton rear in their race cars.

I have had my 60 C-10, with the same rear as yours, for about 10 years now. I tore it down when I got it, put in new seals, and it hasn't needed any other work since.

Its main drawback is that it was last used in 62, and most parts other than bearings, seals and gaskets are getting hard to find. The most common ratio is 3.90, with 3.38 and 4.10 as options. The 3.38 is quite scarce.

If you are building on a budget and can live with the ratio, go ahead and keep it for now. It may never break, but if it does, you will probably have to replace it with something newer because of the parts situation.

Ray
raycow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2010, 11:24 AM   #3
OrrieG
Registered User
 
OrrieG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Idaho
Posts: 8,800
Re: stock 58 apache rear end question

Ray is right, some guys in the 60's ran 3/4 ton truck rear ends with 4:56 ratios too. Others ran Old's which if I remember right had larger ring gear bolts. Those old Chevy rear ends will take alot of abuse, I field tested them in 55, 57, 60 and 63 Chevys! Weak link were the universal joints, especially the center carrier in the 63. Never blew a rearend but carried spare universal joints and tools to replace them all the time.
__________________
1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread
1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver)
Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project
OrrieG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2010, 01:06 PM   #4
billo92
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Des Plaines, Illinois
Posts: 10
Re: stock 58 apache rear end question

awesome thank you guys and i just found a chart to match up the serial numbers to find out my exact ratio. thanks again, once this thing starts going together ill put some pictures up
billo92 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2010, 07:42 PM   #5
dwcsr
Hollister Road Co.
 
dwcsr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 6,134
Re: stock 58 apache rear end question

Quote:
Originally Posted by billo92 View Post
awesome thank you guys and i just found a chart to match up the serial numbers to find out my exact ratio. thanks again, once this thing starts going together ill put some pictures up
The ratio is stamped on the ring gear. It would appear similar to 41-10 for a 4:10 ratio. It most likely is a 4:56, rarely a 3:90
dwcsr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2010, 03:08 AM   #6
billo92
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Des Plaines, Illinois
Posts: 10
Re: stock 58 apache rear end question

well if anyones curious according to the serial number and the chart i found it should be a 3.55 ? heres the link to the chart i used-http://www.348-409.com/differential.html#1958 - the code on the dif was AA. im thinking this chart could be for cars only? but my rear end did have AA before a 4 number code which i dont remember now
billo92 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2010, 03:20 AM   #7
raycow
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Posts: 2,454
Re: stock 58 apache rear end question

Yes, that chart is only for car rears.

Here is a quick way to find the ratio, and you won't have to take anything apart.

Put matching marks on the pinion yoke and differential housing. Jack one rear wheel off the ground, put the transmission in neutral, and the parking brake off. Turn the wheel exactly TWO revolutions and count how many times the driveshaft turns, estimating any fractional turn as closely as possible. That number is your axle ratio.

If the wheel is difficult or impossible to turn, you may have posi. In that case, jack both rear wheels off the ground and turn either of them only ONE revolution. Count the driveshaft turns the same way as for an open rear.

Ray
raycow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2010, 04:41 AM   #8
billo92
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Des Plaines, Illinois
Posts: 10
Re: stock 58 apache rear end question

its definetly not a posi, i had both wheels up and they turn free of each other so i know its an open dif. and theres no motor/trans/driveshaft so that test should be pretty easy. ill see what i come up with tmo, thanks
billo92 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2010, 05:28 PM   #9
soupernova
Registered User
 
soupernova's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Reno, Nevada
Posts: 25
Re: stock 58 apache rear end question

if you are going to inspect the gears prior to installing divide the number of teeth on the ring gear by the number of teeth on the pinion and that will give the ratio. ex 41/15=2.73 this is the gear ratio in my72 nova

Last edited by soupernova; 06-24-2010 at 05:28 PM.
soupernova is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2010, 12:54 AM   #10
billo92
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Des Plaines, Illinois
Posts: 10
Re: stock 58 apache rear end question

Quote:
Originally Posted by soupernova View Post
if you are going to inspect the gears prior to installing divide the number of teeth on the ring gear by the number of teeth on the pinion and that will give the ratio. ex 41/15=2.73 this is the gear ratio in my72 nova
ill keep that in mind, cause i definetly want to open it up and check stuff out in there before i run it. thanks for the help everyone
billo92 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2010, 12:59 AM   #11
billo92
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Des Plaines, Illinois
Posts: 10
Re: stock 58 apache rear end question

also im considering flipping the rear axle to save money (i wanted to do mono springs but im just out of highschool and moneys tight) ive heard strong opinions that its not safe, since the u bolts are then going to carry all that weight. however i wanted to hear some of your opinions and tips on what to look out for if i go that route
billo92 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2010, 01:16 AM   #12
raycow
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Posts: 2,454
Re: stock 58 apache rear end question

Quote:
Originally Posted by billo92 View Post
ive heard strong opinions that its not safe, since the u bolts are then going to carry all that weight. however i wanted to hear some of your opinions and tips on what to look out for if i go that route
That's the stock setup used on leaf spring cars. The U-bolts are more than strong enough to carry the weight.

As for tips, just make sure of your pinion angle before you weld on the spring mounts

Ray
raycow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2010, 02:16 AM   #13
billo92
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Des Plaines, Illinois
Posts: 10
Re: stock 58 apache rear end question

sounds good. now that i finally tracked a few kits down ill probably just mono the front and flip the rear axle. which means more money for the motor thanks for your help
billo92 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
1958, apache, rear end, stock


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:03 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com