Hi everyone. First time user today but I have lurked here on occassion. I just got myself a super clean 36 low cab chevy truck. It is all original and amazingly clean. I was wondering if it is possible to change out the rear end gears for some that are a little more street friendly. It has 4.11 gears stock but it maxes out at about 45 or so MPH. The guy I bought it from said he heard of a company that was making 3.73 and 3.08 replacement gears for the stock rear end. I have searched but can't find anything about this. I thought about just changing the whole rear axle asm but I have no idea what to look for. I want to keep it as stock looking as possible but i want to be able to drive it on a regular basis. I am going to put a 261 motor and a later model 4 speed in it but I am driving it with the stock 207 and 3 spd for now. Just kinda hard to go very far when you can't use a freeway. I want to keep the stock wheels too. Any tips would be great as I know many of you have way more experience than me!!! Thanks!!!! Ron..
I'm reading that it's stock. Chevs of the 40's possibly has something to offer. If not, there's not going to be much available that I know of. Their offering may be for the next version of a Chevy differential. Good luck and have fun.
I dont know what gears are available, but remember if you change your gears, your accelleration will suffer accordingly. Maybe a transmission with an overdrive gear for the future? For now, can you fit taller rear tires? (share a pic when you have time)
i'd start searching for a more serviceable rear for it. measure bolt circle, as well as the width of your current axle and search around.
The Toyota 4Runner/Tacoma rear should be close to the original width, has the same 6 lug pattern, and will easily take whatever the 261 can dish out.
Excellent idea... And how about then considering s wide ratio richmond 4 speed... Those sixes need the lo starting gear ratio... To me anyway.
Thanks for the quick replies!! If a toyota tacoma rear end will work that will be easy for me to get. A close friend of mine puts ford 9" rears in tacoma's here all the time. I got a couple pics to post if I can figure it out. Ron...
40- 46 chev trucks have some options that will bolt right in like a different rear end (gears etc. )complete with banjo (enclosed driveline ) stovebolt. com--munist is a great source for stocker info. and there was a factory option 4 speed as well , double check the toyota bolt pattern and try to fit a wheel up first (didnt match my 40 6 lug ) but isuzu and chebby have been in bed together for decades as were ford/ mazda , good luck
A 6-lug rear axle from a chevy 1985 k5 blazer fits perfect and is almost the exact same width. Other years near 1985 should work also. Your original wheels will fit right on them drums..... I like chevy parts on a chevy truck.
I think on the 36 and earlier you will have to adapt a more modern trans and rear end,there are better gears made but I think they are for 37 and up and they get expensive. I was thinking about keeping the original rear end in my 37 but the gears and the installation kit was over 700 dollars so I went with newer parts,if the motor runs good I think you should be able to adapt a T-5 and go with a blazer or 4x4 rear end to keep your original rims. Contact Buffalo enterprises in Washington state about adapting a T-5 to the 36 bellhousing as I know it can be done to the 37 and newer bellhousings but not familiar with the 36 and earlier.
Our 36 had a 216 in it, when we got it. So I can't help you at all with the engine portion of the conversion. Like was mentioned, Buffalo Enterprises would be a good place to start for an adaptor. I wouldn't bother with the stock transmission and rearend, change them to a T-5 and later rearend. While you are collecting parts, you still have it to drive. Here is the contact info for Buffalo: http://www.inliners.org/buffalo/index.htm
261 sounds good in there. My dad and i are building a 36 low cab right now also with a bored 235 and t-5 5 speed. WE replaced the stock rearend with a 55-59 chevy truck rear end. Width was good and it fits perfectly under it plus it will let you continue running the stock 17 inch wires.
What year t-5 trans would I need to find? Are camaro and s-10 trans the same? You guys really got me thinking this will be the way to go.
I used a '79 Firebird axle under my '37. It had a '55 axle under it when I got it, the '79 was almost identical to the '55 in width. Mine has a 3.08 gear with a T-350 auto and 250 inline, it runs down the highway at 70+ real easy. Doesn't your '36 have a inclosed driveline? That will limit any rear axle swap, so changing the whole trans, driveshaft and rear axle will be required.
There is a lot of information on the T-5 transmission on the HAMB. Read this thread and do some searches. You'll find everything that you are looking for and more. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20583
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