Inliners International Forums General Discussion Drive Train 3/4ton rear ends

I,m new to this question asking on chat lines,but here goes. I have a 51 chev 3/4 ton.It has 235 in it,but it has about 5.12 gears in it.Can someone recomend a rear end that would be about the same width and 8 hole wheels,but with 3.50 or 3.73 gears? I may pull my 18 foot trailer with similar year truck on it. It would be short trips of less than 50 miles. Is the 235 up to it? motor is in good shape.

Sorry, somehow posted in the wrong thread.

I think Timken rear ends through '72 were used by Chevy. Look for one from an automatic trans., should be 3.90. Just need to change the 3rd member.

This might be a good place for a 5 speed truck tranny(5th over). There was one in my "40 International. Low-low and High-high and three in the middle. A lot of old trucks had them.

Well, about the 235, back when, they hauled loads all over the country. I don't see a big issue on that but you will spend a lot of time in the slow lane.
More important is Truck in good shape, engine and trans in good shape and a rear end with the right gear ratio to do what you want to do with the tires you want to run.

As far as rear ends go I think you are on the right track and just need to get the tape measure out and start measuring. I talked to my buddy who used to run a "corporate" 14 bolt under a little flatbed 53 3/4 with 3.73 gears and he said it did well. He thought it was close to the right width for a fendered truck.

Just stuck a 4:11 pumpkin in my 53 Chev 3/4 ton flatbed, works great. This ratio was from late 60s to 1972 3/4 tons with automatic trans, not easy to find but they are out there and it's a direct bolt in.

You my want to check out Stovebolt.com and place a wanted ad, that's how I found mine.

The trouble w/ the IHC 5-speed OD, is when they made it an OD, they just replaced 4th w/ OD, and didn't change any other ratios, therefore there is a big gap from 3rd to direct. It didn't work when hauling a load, however, if you have a 2-speed rear in a big truck, it is OK.

I replaced the 5.38 gears in my K-5 w/ a Dana 70 w/ 3.73 gears and a direct 5-speed and it is much better. The 5.38 gears were so noisy, I was afraid to drive it too far from the house.