Doghouse

Yes the '57 200's have the full floater axle. Putting one in my '50 1 ton. Should be a 8 3/4 Diff.

What you are looking for is possible. This was my first serious attempt at body work and paint. $50 of Tremclad and a $20 hvlp gun. Touch up paint at most hardware stores. Comes in gallon, quart and spray bomb. Tom

It's amazing how crippled this town gets when a bit of the white stuff shows up. Makes me cold seeing your truck like that. Tom

The rim's should be lock ring style and as long as the ring and grove that it sits in when assembled are clean and free of rust they would be safe. Myself I would still have a tire shop mount the tires. As for new replacements, Stockton Wheel sells a rim that will fit but they are pricey and they are for single rear wheel only. Tom

Hank "There's nothing wrong with painting your truck by yourself in fact (wish I could find the thread) but there was someone that used paint that was around $100/gal (happened to be powder blue) that they applied themselves and I thought it turned out looking great. It might even have been Rustoleum." Was this the truck you were thjinking of? I painted it with Tremclad (rustoleum). About $30 a gallon. Painted it in pieces. First time I ever painted a truck while trying to make it look good. Its ok in the pictures or from 10 feet away. Tom

Dozerman, Thank you very much for that info. Extremely helpful. I don't suppose a new ring and pinion set can be had? To much corrosion on the ring gear.

I have found a rear diff in a 1957 Dodge 3/4 ton truck that is puzzling. The 57 is regisitered as a 3/4 ton, has the 1 ton budd style 6 bolt wheels and the rears are duals. Brakes are the same size and design as my 1950. Pulled the center section and the ring gear measures 8 3/4, ratio comes out as 4.1. I've looked for information about this axle but haven't found any. Anyone here have any knowledge they could share. Tom

I have some you can have

beat me to it.... Actually, this is the mishap. Skf showed 17415 in the paper catolog and 17145 online. The seals I used were the 17145. This was a few years ago so the catalogs may have been corrected. Tom

Who? Me? I'm not me. I'm somebody else.

A few years back I counld'nt find the seals either. Have the info at home. Can't remember off hand, the manufacturer but there was a mistake between there online catalog and the paper catalog two numbers were swapped. Ill find it tonight and post it. Tom

Iron Alley shows a few trucks that might be worth lookin at, and they are much closer to you. Tom

Not to long ago I saw on the Vancouver Craigslist that someone was selling 54 or 55 Dodge or Fargo cab and body. I'lllook and see if it's still posted. Tom

Yep, I be still here.

Not sure about the 1/2ton axle but I put a 57 Dodge 1 ton front axle in my 50 1 ton. Bolted right in. Tom