rear axle question

[diamond rocker]

hi guys , new member just posting so thought i'd i'd say hi to all out there in classic truck land , well i finally did it ! i spent me cash and bought a 52 1 ton Chevy truck , absolutely complete and standard with what has to be a very recently rebuilt 235 motor and standard drive line / transmission , its a long bed ( 9feet ) as i want it to do more than look cool ! so i bought a 305 small block and 700R4 transmission to fit and am now pondering what rear axle to fit as most guys tell me even with the engine tranny swap it'll do about 50 mph flat out ! thing is its 8 stud so what to fit ? i'd much obliged for some gems of advise from the guys that know , cheers , pete .

[mr48chev]

Well one thing you could do is find a later model 8 lug rear axle with a better gear ratio.

One of my buddies has played with 8 lug stuff for years. I'll try to pick his brain to get the right info.

[solidaxel]

Welcome Pete, from So Arizona............... once removed from the K-W area!

[diamond rocker]

hi mr 48 chev , thanks for your reply , i spoke to one guy who said try randy's ring and pinnion in the states for a different crown wheel pinnion set to change the gearing , i thought also of looking at a 6 stud 3/4 ton rear axle and checking if the 6 stud front hubs would fit the stub axle on my 1 ton , i'll look out for your reply should you get any info from your buddy , thanks again , pete.

[1project2many]

Not that I'm an expert, but I do remember a gear ratio discussion where someone mentioned Canada built R&P's were different from US models. That may have been for smaller trucks, though.

A complete late model axle may be much cheaper. Dana 60's and '70s are very popular but GM or Corporate 14 bolt axles will get the job done as well. Measure backing plat to backing plate and wheel surface to wheel surface on the drums as a starting point. If necessary shock brackets, spring perches, and driveshaft yokes can all be changed.

[mr48chev]

I'm with 1project2many in that you may be able to swap to a later 8 lug rear axle that is narrow enough to fit the truck and keep the wheels under the fenders and gain a respectable gear ratio. Getting up to 4.11 or 3.70 should get you decent road speed with the overdrive automatic.

It is hard to second guess what someone is planning for his truck. What are your end plans for the truck besides swapping in the V8 and being able to drive it at respectable highway speeds?
Do you plan to retail the original front axle and run 8 lug wheels or do you plan a change with the suspension? Let us know what the master plan is so we won't make suggestions that don't fit in the master plan and sound off the wall.

[diamond rocker]

hi Mr 48 chevy and all others pitching in here , my plan is to use it as god intended , as a truck ! it has to haul reno and building matter to the house and crap to the dump , also maybe tow a small boat , carry me and me mrs off camping with all the gear in the bed , i play in a 50s rock & roll band so carry me gear about a bit maybe even do an Elvis and play an open air on the back of it , well it is 9 feet long ! and of course propel me down the highway at decent speed hopefully not emptying me bank balance along the way ! i had hoped to keep the original front axle and the 8 stud wheels , i have 2 sets , the stock 17" ( split rims i think ) with extremely old crossply tyres and a set of more modern style 16" rims with great radials on em , i plan to use the 16s for now to safety it not sure what to do with the 17s as yet , cheers pete .