It's official...I've lost my mind---Look what followed me home

[70C10Toejam]

A '52 3800, drug it back from Ft. Dodge. About 90 miles each way. Drove the county roads back, only went 45-50 mph. All in all that ol' C10 did a pretty good job handling it. The trailer has electric brakes, but my truck doesn't.

The bed sides and front clip are real strong, but the Flintstone power-adder in the cab...

[Indian113]

Okay Chad,what ya got planned for it?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Stupid question I suppose, but the 3800 is a one ton? Is that a nine foot bed? I really like those. In my youth I would have turned my nose up at the bigger trucks but I like the idea of one now. I'd make a daily out of it.

[70C10Toejam]

Gut the interior, but I think I might need some shots first.
See if it will turn over/run.
Get a floor in it.
After that, not sure. Upgrade the front end. If I can, pull some leaves from the rear springs to lower it a bit and soften the ride. Looked around here a bit and like the idea of doing the truck-arm conversion on the back too.

Gonna leave the body patina'ed for now.

With that farmers hitch on it, i could use it to pull my boat easily.

[70C10Toejam]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Stupid question I suppose, but the 3800 is a one ton? Is that a nine foot bed? I really like those. In my youth I would have turned my nose up at the bigger trucks but I like the idea of one now. I'd make a daily out of it.

Yup, it's a one ton. I went a measured, and it is 9 foot bed. Thought it looked long, but the AD trucks always looked small to me. Didn't think it would have been 8 foot, let alone 9.

[BlueJeep]

That's what mine started out as....3800 with a 9' bed. Very long indeed! I've seen that on craigslist for the last several weeks, and briefly thought about taking a look at it but decided I didn't need another project.

If you want to drive it for any distance, you'll probably want a different engine in it (235 vs. the 216) and you'll wand to do something about the rear diff gears. Stock, it's got 5.13's.

[enick72]

What is avail for rear gears in the ADs. I have a 55 1st and am leaving as close to original as poss. I have thought of swapping the trans out for a T5 but if I could get gear set for better driving I'd be happy

nice truck by the way, looks like a good project.

[70C10Toejam]

Originally Posted by enick72

What is avail for rear gears in the ADs. I have a 55 1st and am leaving as close to original as poss. I have thought of swapping the trans out for a T5 but if I could get gear set for better driving I'd be happy

nice truck by the way, looks like a good project.

A very relevant question...waiting for the answer. Looking at it makes me think of a F--- 9 inch.

Thank you.

[enick72]

I was just looking at the last picture you posted of the drivers side, is the rear end tweaked a little? The tire seems really far forward.

[MrTucker]

Originally Posted by 70C10Toejam

A very relevant question...waiting for the answer. Looking at it makes me think of a F--- 9 inch.

Thank you.

Check out Patrick's 3.55 and 3.73 (not sure of the exact numbers). Dont have a website, but have heard of a bunch of guys using this company for rear end gearing swaps and they've loved it

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by enick72

I was just looking at the last picture you posted of the drivers side, is the rear end tweaked a little? The tire seems really far forward.

They're all like that. It's how they're "supposed" to be from the factory.

[72BlckButy]

Nice buy!

[T Hilde]

I got a better drivers door I'll trade you for. I just need it for the top when I do a chop on the next truck.

[enick72]

I called Patrick today and got some info. He has a 3:36 gear set and also a master rebuild kit which includes all bearings, seals etc. Around $550 for the whole set up, and about $350-$375 for just the gear set.
He did quote this to me for a 55 1st and not sure if yours will be different or not.

BlueJeep
"They're all like that. It's how they're "supposed" to be from the factory. "
Is this more noticeable on the 1 tons or long beds.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice score Chad!

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by enick72

BlueJeep
"They're all like that. It's how they're "supposed" to be from the factory. "
Is this more noticeable on the 1 tons or long beds.

I think so, probably because the tires are larger than on the 1/2 tons. Most people who swap rear axles you'll find also move the axle back to center it more in the opening. I did the same when I set mine down on the s10 frame.

[raycow]

Originally Posted by enick72

I called Patrick today and got some info. He has a 3:36 gear set and also a master rebuild kit which includes all bearings, seals etc. Around $550 for the whole set up, and about $350-$375 for just the gear set.
He did quote this to me for a 55 1st and not sure if yours will be different or not.

Those gears are for the 1/2 ton rear and will not fit the 3/4 or 1 ton rears. If you have a 3/4 or 1 ton, the tallest gears you can get are 4.10.

Ray

[raycow]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

If you want to drive it for any distance, you'll probably want a different engine in it (235 vs. the 216) and you'll wand to do something about the rear diff gears. Stock, it's got 5.13's.

It's got a 235 in there now, but the gears will still need attention unless the rear was changed too.

Ray

[70C10Toejam]

Originally Posted by enick72

I called Patrick today and got some info. He has a 3:36 gear set and also a master rebuild kit which includes all bearings, seals etc. Around $550 for the whole set up, and about $350-$375 for just the gear set.
He did quote this to me for a 55 1st and not sure if yours will be different or not.

BlueJeep
"They're all like that. It's how they're "supposed" to be from the factory. "
Is this more noticeable on the 1 tons or long beds.

I found a writeup on Stovebolt.com http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/rear_end/index.html
Think I'll just change the whole rear end, those torque tubes sound like way too much work.

I did notice how the wheels lined up, and thought it did seem "normal", nothing out of the ordinary. Good to find out it is normal.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice score Chad!

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

Nice buy!

Thanks guys, now I got something to work on since I do have to haul things. Two yards of mulch and a yard of black dirt a couple weeks ago.

[70C10Toejam]

Originally Posted by T Hilde

I got a better drivers door I'll trade you for. I just need it for the top when I do a chop on the next truck.

PM sent.

[70C10Toejam]

Started cleaning out the cab today. Nuthin' like the smell of old gas and mouse piss.

Did find a brown bottle with a rubber stopper in the pass. side cab corner. 2/3-3/4 full, shine a light through it and it looks red. Didn't notice any odor, but I really didn't try too hard.

The floor is pretty shot, but the firewall is good and toe panels are better than I expected. What is really strange to me is the battery tray is very strong, and the cover for it is decent.

[raycow]

Originally Posted by 70C10Toejam

Think I'll just change the whole rear end, those torque tubes sound like way too much work.

It's only the 1/2 ton trucks that have the torque tube. You might want to crawl under and take a look at your rear.

If you can live with a 4.10, you have the option of swapping just the center section. For something taller, you can go with a Dana 60 or a 14 bolt if you want to stay with 8 lugs.

Ray

[70C10Toejam]

Originally Posted by raycow

It's only the 1/2 ton trucks that have the torque tube. You might want to crawl under and take a look at your rear.

If you can live with a 4.10, you have the option of swapping just the center section. For something taller, you can go with a Dana 60 or a 14 bolt if you want to stay with 8 lugs.

Ray

Yup, you're right. Another case of "a little knowledge..."

I wonder what that effective ratio would be keeping something close to these 31 inch tall tires.

[raycow]

Originally Posted by 70C10Toejam

I wonder what that effective ratio would be keeping something close to these 31 inch tall tires.

If you mean a 4.10 with 31" tires, you would be turning about 2670 rpm at 60 mph. If you mean the stock rear, I think it was a 5.14 as built, so about 3350 rpm, but it's anyone's guess what could be in there after 60 years. Your best bet would be to count it yourself.

Put matching marks on the pinion yoke and differential housing. Jack one rear wheel off the ground, put the transmission in neutral, and the parking brake off. Turn the wheel exactly TWO revolutions and count how many times the driveshaft turns, estimating any fractional turn as closely as possible. That number is your axle ratio.

Ray

[70C10Toejam]

You covered what i was getting at. With the bigger tires, you are gearing it back up. As bad as the 5.13 sounds, its not the same as if it had a 245/75/15 wheel and tire. I do think I would rather have something in the mid 3.XX range and more normal sized tires. So many things to think about and plan ahead on....