Torque tube swap

I just pulled the cover off the rear end on my '54 belair and the ring gear teeth are all chewed up.
New ring and pinion sets aren't cheap, plus I figure there will be more wrong in there so my preferred next step is to find another torque tube setup that someone pulled.

A quick check of craigslist only found a 53 truck setup.

What is going to be a direct bolt in replacement?
I've got the 3 speed so am I looking at a 3 speed 53 or 54 chevy car as the only direct replacement?
I don't want to try shortening a torque tube right now.

I may end up putting a V8 in this thing, but I was also thinking about a later 235 from a car with the powerglide and putting dual carbs and Fenton headers. Not sure yet so I want to run her stock for a while and make up my mind.

 

well if you do a full swap the s10 4x4 rear ends fit well under the 49-54s

might as well do the whole swap if you are not going to buy new gears for your rearend.

I put my 50 rearend on here for over 3 months for $25 (if would have been free if I knew they were going to use it insted of scrap it)

no one came to get it so I ended up running it to the scales after being in my way for to long.

if you want gears put a wanted ad up someone will step up that did a V8 swap and still has everything laying around. It wouldnt suprise me if the just made you pay to ship it.

 

49-54 car should fit. the big swap is to find one from a powerglide car. you'll end up with 3.55 gears instead of 4.11s so youll be able to cruise the highway without screaming.
should be able to grab one cheap or free on the classifieds here

 

Thanks for the replies.
If I do have to swap the whole thing out, I'll find an S10 4x4 rear end.

I'm hoping not to have to do that. I'm kinda thinking about hotrodding the stock setup.
Finding a replacement rear end on here is a pretty big long shot since it would have to be around here.
Used gears is a good idea though!

I'm tracking down all the usual guys around here that could have something around.

Maybe as soon as the cable company gets my cable to my house fixed and I have internet I'll get an ad up.

Typing on my phone isn't fun.

 

Although they will work, stay away from the 49 and 50 due to the Huck style brakes. You could just swap out the torque-tube/third member itself, rather than the entire rear end assembly, that way you could use a 49-50 for parts. I just gave away a complete 51 assembly a few months back. You should be able to find one for cheap/free due to most guys converting to open drivelines. As already mentioned, try and find the automatic trans rear end assemble for it's 3.55 gear ratio. Butch/56sedandelivery.