47-55.1 rear axle choice - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

MARTINSR · 12-23-2018, 07:32 PM

So I have this what I thought was a 55-57 passenger car rear end. But I now find that it's a 59, at least the third member, come to think of it, that doesn't mean the housing and axles are 59.

Anyway the date code is A-14-9 January 14, 1959.

The casting number is 725899 but from what I can find there is a 3 buried in the cast and it's a 3725899.

The overall width outer axle flange to outer axle flange where the rim will mount is 59 3/4" and the center to center on the spring perches is 42 1/4."

I am thinking I got this rear from a guy who had it in his truck, but I forget. The spring perch width seems perfect where it ends up on the frame (I have no springs) it looks right on the money. How about the width, what is the width of the stock rear? I plan on running six inch wide wheels pretty much like stock but they will be 5 lug passenger car like wheels.

What is the typical width. It's been so many years, I forget. I had a 64 Nova 10 bolt in it, then a 68 Camaro 12 bolt with an 8" rim as I remember. But the tires also hit the bed on the inside a little.

Brian

**mr48chev** · 12-23-2018, 09:29 PM

If it's a 59 Car axle you can probably see where they cut the brackets off the axle.

I had a 61 Car axle under my 48 for quite a while and for the life of me can't remember why I took it out. I bought it from a Coworker who was having the car hauled off for scrap for 10 bucks and pulled it out from under the car before work one day. Later in the evening at work one of the guys who was real handy with a cutting torch trimmed all of the brackets off it and welded on some spring pads I had cut off another axle. that set the stage for swapping the rear axle and the transmission when I got home from work that night.
The 15x7 Z28 rally wheels fit real good under the truck on it.

**mr48chev** · 12-23-2018, 09:34 PM

Remember, those center sections could be swapped back and forth between 55 and 64 so the third member could be a 59 while the axle housing and axles are 55/57.

MARTINSR · 12-23-2018, 10:25 PM

Yeah, I need to pull an axle out to be sure it's not a 55 which sucked because they had a horrible axle seal. But what about the width, I think it's good huh?

Brian

**mr48chev** · 12-23-2018, 10:34 PM

The Tri 5 rear was the 5 lug of choice for a lot of years.

**oldman3** · 12-24-2018, 12:48 AM

Martinsr. I think your rear axle should be fine, if your happy with the axle shafts. Here's a drawing I did years ago, when I went from a 15X7 rim to a 17X8 rim. If I remember correctly with the 15X7 rim and tire I had 1.125" clearance at fender lip and 1" clearance at bed. Check over the drawing, if you have questions, I hope I can help...Jim

MARTINSR · 12-24-2018, 01:28 AM

Gosh damn, you guys are too much! Daaaaamn, that is cool! I saved it to my computer, and printed it out so I can hang it in the garage for reference. Thanks so much!

Brian

**oldman3** · 12-24-2018, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

Gosh damn, you guys are too much! Daaaaamn, that is cool! I saved it to my computer, and printed it out so I can hang it in the garage for reference. Thanks so much!

Brian

Your welcome, and that's what we're here for to help other members...Jim

MARTINSR · 12-24-2018, 12:05 PM

Right on! Merry Christmas!

Brian

MARTINSR · 12-24-2018, 12:15 PM

It just cracks me up how us being able to communicate with each other so easily has changed sooooo much in things like this hobby. I always say how we hang out with people like us, we go to our favorite baseball teams home park and everyone there is your friend, you chat, you high five, you may even hug the guy next to you on the big win. It doesn't matter where they live, the color of their skin, their religion, none of it matters because they are like thinkers with you on your team. It's so cool!
Here, everyone here loves these old trucks that I have loved since I was 15, everyone has memories of them, how cool is that! When I think of how as a kid my mom had to drive me to a little town about 20 miles from my home to look at a truck owned by a friend of a friend to see how he was chopping the top so I could chop mine.

Now, we can jump on the net and get a mind blowing amount of info visiting with them while staying in our living home!

I wish we could all have a Beer out in the garage together Jim, we can't do that, but damn it, this is pretty close! I thank you again.

Brian

Driver_WT · 12-24-2018, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

It just cracks me up how us being able to communicate with each other so easily has changed sooooo much in things like this hobby. I always say how we hang out with people like us, we go to our favorite baseball teams home park and everyone there is your friend, you chat, you high five, you may even hug the guy next to you on the big win. It doesn't matter where they live, the color of their skin, their religion, none of it matters because they are like thinkers with you on your team. It's so cool!
Here, everyone here loves these old trucks that I have loved since I was 15, everyone has memories of them, how cool is that! When I think of how as a kid my mom had to drive me to a little town about 20 miles from my home to look at a truck owned by a friend of a friend to see how he was chopping the top so I could chop mine.

Now, we can jump on the net and get a mind blowing amount of info visiting with them while staying in our living home!

I wish we could all have a Beer out in the garage together Jim, we can't do that, but damn it, this is pretty close! I thank you again.

Brian

I agree with everything Brian said. Well done. Merry Christmas to all.

Wade

MiraclePieCo · 12-24-2018, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

It just cracks me up how us being able to communicate with each other so easily has changed sooooo much in things like this hobby. Now, we can jump on the net and get a mind blowing amount of info visiting with them while staying in our living home!
Brian

Sometimes I wonder how I ever got anything accomplished pre-internet. But sometimes I find myself with "analysis paralysis" by getting overloaded with so much information that it just ends up being confusing.

MARTINSR · 12-24-2018, 05:50 PM

Well, if you google the subject OH YEAH you can come up with a crap load of crap.

I once had some odd symptoms going on in my body. I googled it and one of the first things talked about was anxiety. I have had anxiety issues but this was so physical, I didn't even stop to look and kept looking to find the next thing was I had an hour to live kinda talk, ok, I will go back to the anxiety and sure enough that is what it was!

Brian

12-23-2018, 07:32 PM	#1
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	rear axle choice So I have this what I thought was a 55-57 passenger car rear end. But I now find that it's a 59, at least the third member, come to think of it, that doesn't mean the housing and axles are 59. Anyway the date code is A-14-9 January 14, 1959. The casting number is 725899 but from what I can find there is a 3 buried in the cast and it's a 3725899. The overall width outer axle flange to outer axle flange where the rim will mount is 59 3/4" and the center to center on the spring perches is 42 1/4." I am thinking I got this rear from a guy who had it in his truck, but I forget. The spring perch width seems perfect where it ends up on the frame (I have no springs) it looks right on the money. How about the width, what is the width of the stock rear? I plan on running six inch wide wheels pretty much like stock but they will be 5 lug passenger car like wheels. What is the typical width. It's been so many years, I forget. I had a 64 Nova 10 bolt in it, then a 68 Camaro 12 bolt with an 8" rim as I remember. But the tires also hit the bed on the inside a little. Brian Attached Images __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

12-23-2018, 09:29 PM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,731	Re: rear axle choice If it's a 59 Car axle you can probably see where they cut the brackets off the axle. I had a 61 Car axle under my 48 for quite a while and for the life of me can't remember why I took it out. I bought it from a Coworker who was having the car hauled off for scrap for 10 bucks and pulled it out from under the car before work one day. Later in the evening at work one of the guys who was real handy with a cutting torch trimmed all of the brackets off it and welded on some spring pads I had cut off another axle. that set the stage for swapping the rear axle and the transmission when I got home from work that night. The 15x7 Z28 rally wheels fit real good under the truck on it. __________________ 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.

12-23-2018, 09:34 PM	#3
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,731	Re: rear axle choice Remember, those center sections could be swapped back and forth between 55 and 64 so the third member could be a 59 while the axle housing and axles are 55/57. __________________ 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.

12-23-2018, 10:25 PM	#4
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: rear axle choice Yeah, I need to pull an axle out to be sure it's not a 55 which sucked because they had a horrible axle seal. But what about the width, I think it's good huh? Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

12-23-2018, 10:34 PM	#5
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,731	Re: rear axle choice The Tri 5 rear was the 5 lug of choice for a lot of years. __________________ 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.

12-24-2018, 12:48 AM	#6
oldman3 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: West Plains, Missouri Posts: 7,559	Re: rear axle choice Martinsr. I think your rear axle should be fine, if your happy with the axle shafts. Here's a drawing I did years ago, when I went from a 15X7 rim to a 17X8 rim. If I remember correctly with the 15X7 rim and tire I had 1.125" clearance at fender lip and 1" clearance at bed. Check over the drawing, if you have questions, I hope I can help...Jim Attached Images __________________ my build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=459839 Jimbo's long bed step build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=464626<br />

12-24-2018, 01:28 AM	#7
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: rear axle choice Gosh damn, you guys are too much! Daaaaamn, that is cool! I saved it to my computer, and printed it out so I can hang it in the garage for reference. Thanks so much! Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

12-24-2018, 12:05 PM	#9
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: rear axle choice Right on! Merry Christmas! Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

12-24-2018, 12:15 PM	#10
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: rear axle choice It just cracks me up how us being able to communicate with each other so easily has changed sooooo much in things like this hobby. I always say how we hang out with people like us, we go to our favorite baseball teams home park and everyone there is your friend, you chat, you high five, you may even hug the guy next to you on the big win. It doesn't matter where they live, the color of their skin, their religion, none of it matters because they are like thinkers with you on your team. It's so cool! Here, everyone here loves these old trucks that I have loved since I was 15, everyone has memories of them, how cool is that! When I think of how as a kid my mom had to drive me to a little town about 20 miles from my home to look at a truck owned by a friend of a friend to see how he was chopping the top so I could chop mine. Now, we can jump on the net and get a mind blowing amount of info visiting with them while staying in our living home! I wish we could all have a Beer out in the garage together Jim, we can't do that, but damn it, this is pretty close! I thank you again. Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

12-24-2018, 05:50 PM	#13
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: rear axle choice Well, if you google the subject OH YEAH you can come up with a crap load of crap. I once had some odd symptoms going on in my body. I googled it and one of the first things talked about was anxiety. I have had anxiety issues but this was so physical, I didn't even stop to look and kept looking to find the next thing was I had an hour to live kinda talk, ok, I will go back to the anxiety and sure enough that is what it was! Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"



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