A) Can someone post an actual photo of a 1949-1952 Chevy 1/2 ton 3100 Drive Shaft, ideally a side view of each end. B) What is involved in the removal and replacement of the Torque Tube from the carrier housing ? Thanks in advance.
I do it on jackstands ... Dump the oil. Pull wheels and drums. Pull diff cover, remove the pin holding the spacer block between axles and drop it out. Shove the axles in and remove C-clips, then pull the shafts out - don't let them rest on the seals. Then support the tube just enough to take the weight off the ball coupler. Remove it and the u-joint bolts, slide both back as far as they'll go. Drop the front down and 10 bolts to go ...
You'll need a different transmission (if you keep it a manual transmission), BUT, the bellhousing will have the correct, larger mounting pattern, and not ther older truck/p***enger car, small pattern. Just remove everything from the bellhousing/transmission mounting surface rearward. You'll need new spring/shock mount plates as the stock mounting is a pivoting setup designed to work with a torque-tube. It's probably easiest to keep the torque-tube attached to the housing rather than separate them; they can't be re-used anyway. There is't a third member that will bolt to the stock housing/axles. So, new transmission, new driveshaft, new complete rear end, new U-bolts and spring/shock mount plates, possibly new brake lines/hoses, and lubricants for the transmission and rear end. Your stock column shifter may be modified to work, or go with an aftermarket floor shifter. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
Guys, let me try to clarify my Question (B). Visualize the differential on jack stands Completely Stripped of axles, ring gear/pinion/carrier and drive shaft, etc. Question: What is involved in the Removal of the Torque Tube FROM the Carrier Housing CAST "CONE" and the subsequent Replacement of the Torque Tube TO the Carrier Housing CAST "CONE"? I appears the TT is secured in the CONE with 3 Rivets?
What are you attempting to do, by only removing the torque tube? If we know your objective, perhaps we can give more info to you.
Can't recall anyone ever wanting to do that, other than to use the tubes for headers or scavenger pipes .... we used a BIG pipe cutter.
How shortened ? Found out (by mistake) that the '54 pickup Hydra-matic torque tube is a "little" shorter than the other '47 - '54.
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