53 five window - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

53_fivewindow · 08-29-2017, 08:58 PM

Hello all.
Brand new to the forum, purchased my first 3100 series chevy recently. I plan to do some work on it over the winter. The truck had been in storage for ~ 20 or so years. It has solid bones and a nice petina for a northern vehicle.

I really dont know much about these trucks. Currently the vehicle runs and drives. It has a replacement 261 inline 6 with 848? heads and a 3 speed on the column and torque tube driveline.

My goal by springtime is to clean it up go through brakes and get the truck lowered to improve the stance(-3" or so). I plan on driving it with the 6 cylinder for a period while I work on interior and some other small items.

I plan on lowering the front end with a dropped axle/springs combination. My question to the experts is, what are my options to lower the in the rear with the torque tube?
Te rearend looks to be a replacement with the axle on top of the leafs, with some sort of a pivot joint at the mounting points.

Attached are some pictures of the rear end. Any thought on an inexpensive approach to lowering the rear 3"?

Thanks

**mr48chev** · 08-29-2017, 10:29 PM

Sounds like you have a solid plan.

You probably figured it out that Sids http://www.droppedaxles.com/ is the go to shop to have an AD Chevy axle dropped.

Kustom car parts that is the new name for the old Night Prowlers custom car parts after their name got jacked a few years ago. They have 2,3 or 4 inch lowering block kits.
http://shop.kustomcarparts.com/Chevy...-Kits_c195.htm

53_fivewindow · 08-29-2017, 10:39 PM

Yep, I browsed sid's website, looks like the best option for a dropped front axle.

Will lowering blocks work for my rear setup? Given that the axle sits on top of the leafs with that pivot point? Is the torque tube driveline a concern when dropping the rear? Vibrations, pinion angle problems? Thanks

mobileortho · 08-30-2017, 09:30 AM

[QUOTE=53_fivewindow;8028080] Given that the axle sits on top of the leafs Thanks[QUOTE]

Are you sure its a 3100? I could be wrong, but I thought the only 3600's were mounted on top of the leafs.

53_fivewindow · 08-30-2017, 10:00 AM

[quote=mobileortho;8028249][QUOTE=53_fivewindow;8028080] Given that the axle sits on top of the leafs Thanks

Quote:

Are you sure its a 3100? I could be wrong, but I thought the only 3600's were mounted on top of the leafs.

Yes it is a 53 3100, but I suspect the rear-end has been replaced with the rear from a 3600 many years ago. Is it possible to use this existing driveline and still get the truck lower? Or do I need to start from scratch with a different rear-end? If that is the case this just got a lot more complicated

08-29-2017, 08:58 PM	#1
53_fivewindow Registered User Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: st paul, mn Posts: 3	53 five window Hello all. Brand new to the forum, purchased my first 3100 series chevy recently. I plan to do some work on it over the winter. The truck had been in storage for ~ 20 or so years. It has solid bones and a nice petina for a northern vehicle. I really dont know much about these trucks. Currently the vehicle runs and drives. It has a replacement 261 inline 6 with 848? heads and a 3 speed on the column and torque tube driveline. My goal by springtime is to clean it up go through brakes and get the truck lowered to improve the stance(-3" or so). I plan on driving it with the 6 cylinder for a period while I work on interior and some other small items. I plan on lowering the front end with a dropped axle/springs combination. My question to the experts is, what are my options to lower the in the rear with the torque tube? Te rearend looks to be a replacement with the axle on top of the leafs, with some sort of a pivot joint at the mounting points. Attached are some pictures of the rear end. Any thought on an inexpensive approach to lowering the rear 3"? Thanks Attached Images

08-29-2017, 10:29 PM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,711	Re: 53 five window Sounds like you have a solid plan. You probably figured it out that Sids http://www.droppedaxles.com/ is the go to shop to have an AD Chevy axle dropped. Kustom car parts that is the new name for the old Night Prowlers custom car parts after their name got jacked a few years ago. They have 2,3 or 4 inch lowering block kits. http://shop.kustomcarparts.com/Chevy...-Kits_c195.htm __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

08-29-2017, 10:39 PM	#3
53_fivewindow Registered User Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: st paul, mn Posts: 3	Re: 53 five window Yep, I browsed sid's website, looks like the best option for a dropped front axle. Will lowering blocks work for my rear setup? Given that the axle sits on top of the leafs with that pivot point? Is the torque tube driveline a concern when dropping the rear? Vibrations, pinion angle problems? Thanks

08-30-2017, 09:30 AM	#4
mobileortho Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 904	Re: 53 five window [QUOTE=53_fivewindow;8028080] Given that the axle sits on top of the leafs Thanks[QUOTE] Are you sure its a 3100? I could be wrong, but I thought the only 3600's were mounted on top of the leafs. __________________ Robert C. 1950 3600 3600 re-do, shortening it up If it's true what they say, "You learn from your mistakes," I'm a Genius in the making.



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