Hello! I have gotten a 1953 Chevy truck axle for free and I wonder if the thirdmember(differential) can be mounted in my 1957 Chevy truck axle? Best regards David
What series truck? Half tons used a torque tube arrangement and that won’t work for your application.
The you might want to take some pictures, so we can see what you have, because it's probably from something else, originally.
WE NEED PHOTOS TO TELL WHAT YOU HAVE. As stated earlier a 53 Chev 1/2 ton has a torque tube setup. On the other hand 8 lug 3/4 ton rear axles were open drive. That can be made to fit but won't be correct for a 55/59 half ton.
It looks like 55-62 center section, installed in the early housing. Are there any casting numbers on the center? and it kind of looks like it might be a Positraction center, which is strange because I didn't know they made them for that rear?
Yeah I think that too, I'm planning to use this center section on my 1957 3200 because my center section is totally scrap. I think too it is some kind of positraction, but I can't find any pictures how a 1955-62 posi looks like. I can't find any casting numbers, where should it be located? Best regards David
That looks like someone welded a 55 /59 rear axle to the original mounts that were cut off the original axle from what I am seeing. How did they rig it to keep the axle from rotating on that mount? I did one like that 4o something years ago and welded it up so it wouldn't rotate and the welds broke. A far better setup are these spring pads from Classic parts and U bolts.
That's the thing, Chevy trucks first got posi in 1959, and it was a Spicer 45 rearend, like used in the GMC, it wasn't the style rear that you have. So I'm confused.
I have probably straightened this out now. The 60-62 models used the regular Chevy axle with posi. Look at this thread https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=733151
I used to have some of them, but no more. A bit of research shows that The casting number tells you what basic part it is, but it sure looks like 55-62 center section. The stamped numbers will be specific to that rear, ie. what model truck, what ratio, open or posi center. If we can find the reference for it, which I think I might have? The thick loose leaf book is the Chevy truck parts book from 1969, it covers back to mid 50s on most stuff.
This is a 55 3100 axle I have and it does not have any casting numbers on the pumpkin. I looked back at Jim's post in post 16 and went out and got out the squirt bottle of citrus cleaner and scrubbed a bit and found the stamped number. AF 2 13 stands for 3100 standard rear axle with 3.90 gears made on Feb 13. You can go year by year on the GM Heritage center pfd and scroll down and find the rear axle serial numbers. 57 and up show numbers for RPO numbers along with the standard AF rear end. https://www.gm.com/heritage/archive/vehicle-information-kits
This one came out from under a truck that my buddy put a 10 bolt 5 lug under when he subframed it for someone . I snagged it for my boat tail roadster that is primarily built with scrounged or donated parts. It's going to be a bit wide but the car is supposed to be an old race car so that shouldn't be a big issue.
Thank you guys for all the help and information! Is there a way to somehow repair a damaged axle shaft where the wheel bearing rides against the axle shaft? Or maybe convert to a another type of bearing? Best regards David
On the later truck rear ends, there was an offset bearing available that let it ride on the good part of the shaft. I don't recall seeing them for the early rear, though. How hard is it to find another axle these days?
I live in Sweden so here it is pretty hard. But if you have an axle shaft with good bearing surface let me know, I can pay the the shipping to Sweden.
I don't have anything left for those. Also, the intended use for the rear end might determine whether or not you can use that axle. If it won't have much weight on it, and won't be driving many thousands of kilometers every year, then maybe you can just put in a new bearing, and use the axle for another 20 years.
Hi! I've solved the axle shaft issue and I want to share it with you guys and maybe help someone. The rear wheel bearing on these trucks is called R1502 and I found that Buick 1937 - 1955 is using the same bearing but with an inner race(IR1502)that you can buy at Fusick. https://www.fusickautomotiveproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=IR1502 I work at a machine shop here in Sweden so I machined down the axle shaft so that the Buick inner race fits with interference fit at about .001".
The Jalopy Journal
