Does anyone know if a 57 Chevy 3100 truck can be towed with a tow dolly for a very long distance? Will the rear axle be ok? thanks
should be OK,if ya take out/or disconnect the drive shaft,never did a old chevy thuck but done a few 50's cars did my hudson last year for over 350 miles..
Won't hurt the axle at all. What you have to worry about is the transmission. Stick should be alright, if its an auto it depends on which auto it is. An auto that doesn't have a rear pump need to have the drive shaft dropped, you will need to pit a yolk plug in it to keep the fluid in it. they are cheap at NAPA
the problem with the manual transmission being towed is that it'll spin the needle bearing between the input and output shafts, but won't be turning the gears, so the bearing won't get any lube, and will eventually burn up. I'd disconnect the driveshaft.
Don't know if they're still made, but you use to be able to buy towing hubs that bolt to your rear axle. You mount your wheels onto the hubs and away you go. Back in the '70's, guys used them to flat tow the race cars to the track.
haven't seen them in years but if you find two sets get me one set OK? Squirrel is correct about the bearing between the input and output on the standard tranny, and pulling the drive shaft. I never burnt one but I have never flat towed one any distance with the drive shaft in either.
I would also check that the rear spins free, brakes not sticky,bearings good, check the fluid in the rear and make sure the tires are good. I've tow dollied a couple cars about 900 miles one way before, just keep an eye on it.
Unless towing hubs are used, ALWAYS drop the driveshaft. You'll notice when automatics, with rear pumps, build pressure, they'll slow you down; not to mention not supplying lube to where it's really needed. As already mentioned regarding stick shifts; don't do it unless it's a really short distance. I don't know how the "JEEP" guys get away with it, or the huge motor home people pulling a small vehicle. I still have my towbar and towing hubs I used in the 70's. Butch/56sedandelivery.
I would gues "the jeep guys" get away with it by tossing the transfer case in neutral. May be an option to the OP if it happens to be a 4 wheel drive truck.
Haven't been made in a few years, but still around http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=452693
Pull the Drive Shaft at the Rear of the Truck and Tie it up Real Good so you don't have to put anything in the Trans! Done this for Years No Problem except if you Have Towing Hubs Just my 3.5 cents
Pull the driveshaft,make sure the rearend is full of lube,back the brakes off make sure there is no bearing noise. Also make sure the tires are good.
A 'know-it-all' Porsche customer used a towing dolly behind his motor home, went on a jaunt to Mt. Rushmore. (I warned him, but some Pep Boys mechanic told him it would be fine, his 'Porsche wrench' didn't know anything) The good doctor ignored passing motorists honking, waving, and pointing to his 911 on the dolly...until he was pulled over by the 'Safety Patrol'...the car was fully engulfed in flames, the interior and top halves were ashes...melted plastic, light metal, totalled the car. Oh, it had a 5-speed manual transaxle.
I know a guy who might still have a set. I have no idea what their worth so. How much would you be willing to pay plus shipping?
Not sure how all of them do it either, but I have known some that specifically get a 4x4 vehicle and put the transfer case in neutral. Seems like a good plan, but not sure if they still turn some bearings that start screaming for lube a few miles into the tow...
If its an automatic, let the engine idle in nuetral to turn the pump. It doesn't use much gas. Make sure it doesn't die or you're out of luck.
... So what do you do when the car has a torque tube? For a short distance, just go easy and don't worry about it. More than 50 miles or so, probably should drop the driveshaft, although I've gone further with some automatic trans cars, stopping a couple times to start the engine and cycle the trans if they ran.
^^^^^^ Over fill the trans Towing most automatics with the tires on the ground is bad. Those little pinion gears are whipping around with no lubrication.
I agree on dropping the driveshaft and putting in one of those plastic plugs so the lube doesn't leak out of the trans. If the rear end is in good condition, full of lube, good rear tires, brakes not dragging, and all bearings are good, you can pull it on a dolly as far as you want to go.
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