Inliners International Forums General Discussion Drive Train 50 chevy rearend

Has anyone changed the gears in the pumpkin? Or has anyone changed over to a driveshaft from the torque tube?

any help is appreciated

Car or truck?

Both have been discussed several times here in the past. Check previous posts. As for changing gears, etc... it would be covered in a factory shop manual.

sorry. Its a 50 chevy deluxe 3spd with a 216

Hi Jack . . .

The car rearends are different than those found in the trucks. With the trucks (from what I've heard) any ratio can be bolted into any rear-end. Not so with the cars.

California Bill Fisher's book documents the ratios available to those of us still running cars with enclosed torque tube drivelines:


Your '50 with a 216 has a 4.11 unless the original owner ordered it with a 3.73. If you can find a 41-11 ring and pinion set you can bolt in a 3.73.

My '49 also has the 4.11. I am going to a 3.55 ratio this spring. California Bill cautions in his book "1950-51 Power Glide Models are equipped with 3.55:1 ratio gears. In order to install this gear set in 1940-51 rear ends, it is necessary to change the case to which the ring is bolted. Part number for this differential case is 3691463, and it is stamped 593009. Under no circumstances should this gear ratio be installed without changing the case!"

For this reason I went shopping for a donor rearend:

This one is out of a '52 Power Glide car which is confirmed by verifying the stampings that California Bill lists:

With the 'case' that Bill is talking about "the ring gear being bolted to" pictured here:


My plan is to take the best parts from the donor rearend and the rearend that is on the car during the rebuild . . .

Hope this helps.

stock49

Will this one fit in my car? I have really no clue on this rear end, yet I have changed many diff sets. The last #'s match 4111

please help once again


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7957933244

I very much doubt that the ebay gear set will work in your torque tube rear end. As far as I know nowbody has made the passenger car gear set in years. You need to find a donor from 50-54(3:70s and 3:55s) passenger car only, TRUCK GEARS WON'T FIT.

@ Hi Tork

Hi Jim, I have a chance to get my hands on a 1959 Pick Up rearend (6 lug)here in Germany!
So I finaly can do my OD conversion on the 41.

I wonder if you know the ratio.

Thanks, Frank

Jack,
The easy way is to find a 50-54 car with a powerglide and swap out the center section. They all had the 3:55 rear gears. Anything labeled "10 bolt" isn't for the torque tube rearend.
The expensive way would be to give Patrick's a call and order a new set of gears and install kit. 3:55.

Frank,
The '59 truck rearend for the 1/2 ton would have a 3:90 ratio and I believe it is about 62" wide overall, so you better check for tire/fender clearances. They do make an aftermarket 3:36 gear for this rearend, but that is the only choice I am aware of.

Hi Gearhead . . .

I talked to Patrick's when I first started to shop. Their 3.55 kit is just for trucks. It won't fit in a car rear-end. They advised me to shop for a 'third member' out of powerglide car . . . so I guess that's the only option for those us sticking with an enclosed driveline.

regards,
stock49