Trying to convert my 1946 Chevy Truck to an open drive. I saw on H.A.M.B. a differential conversion from Valley Custom. Where is Valley Custom located so I can get more info. Looking for Web address or phone number. Also wanting to do a 6v to 12 v conversion. Any suggestions?
Easier would be another rear end from a 55 up Chev. (they are 5 bolt however for 6 bolt use a pick up rear).Measure width on old and come real close on newer.
I think you would be better off to just swap a later model open drive rearend into your truck. Anything that is the right width, and matches your bolt pattern.
55 up pickups are a bolt in. Not sure on the bell housing as you might need a 48-59 as I don’t remember the bolting flange on the 46 transmission and a 55 up trans for the open drive slip yoke rear . The 12v is pretty straight forward. Gen/reg or alternator and light bulbs . Only the fuel gauge will need a resistor. Ammeter should work fine. Add a ballast resistor to the ignition. Leave the 6volt foot starter.
Valley Custom was the shop that sold the open drive shaft conversion kit you are talking about, the shop was in Cambridge, New Zealand, but it has since closed.. The owner Murray Storey moved to the South Island to live.. I'm not sure if he still makes / sells the open drive conversion.. You could try his email.. runswell-skidmore@hotmail.com Or his Mobile number, +64210644427 If you're on FaceBook, you could contact him on messenger, his home pic is his 46 Chev sedan delivery.. Hope this helps..
Between the ignition switch and the coil positive to keep the points from burning. With a foot starter what’s know as a “hot” start, giving 12 volts to the coil on start up, is different to wire up without a solenoid. And I forgot you will need to install a 12 volt coil even though they run on approximately 9 volts.
So1955 Chevy truck reared will bolt on to a 1946 Chevy truck? Do you know if any welding is involved? Do you know of a conversion kit available?
If the perches are the same width they will bolt in. If not you will need to grind off the old and weld on new. You need to check drum to drum width also. There may be a kit for engine swaps. Not much else. There always fabrication when swapping most anything. Good luck.
If you want to stay with the six lug use a 55/59 Chevy 3100 rear axle. It is not a direct bolt in as the 55/59 spring pads are on top of the axle and you need them on the bottom. You also have to relocate the axle to center it in the wheel well as the mounts for the stock axle that have the hinge setup to work with the torque tube set the axle about 1-3/4 inches behind the spring bolt. Cl***ic parts sells a conversion kit with all the pieces for the swap *Rear Axle Conversion Kit-Cl***ic Chevy Truck Parts (cl***icparts.com) Or they sell the spring pads that set the height back to stock and set the axle in the right spot but you come up with the u bolts and other pieces. *Rear Axle Conversion Kit-Cl***ic Chevy Truck Parts (cl***icparts.com)
I'm not sure about 55-59 axles, but the tie bolt clearance hole in the axle pivot for the torque tube in my 46 half ton is centered on the axle tube. I used a rear end from a 4x4 S10 Blazer in mine and also centered the tie bolt hole in the spring saddles. I had to fabricate the saddles as the Blazer axle tube is 2 5/8" instead of a standard 3" tube, also the 46 frame is tapered (i.e. wider at the back than the front) so the saddles go on at a slight angle.
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