coW52Dodge Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 Hey all, name is Rem and am new to this forum. I'm located in CT. I've been into VW bugs for a while but always wanted a 50 vintage truck. Over the weekend I finally scored and bought a 52 1/2 ton truck through a friend of mine in Idaho: It being 2400 miles away, it will take a little while before it is in my driveway and can't wait to get my hands on it. Until then, I'm thinking about what needs to be done first: It is a farm truck so the gearing will only let the truck get up to 45. I understand I could swap in the rear differential from a more modern truck to change that. What manufacturer's diffs will work for me (without mods, if possible)? TIA. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey beard Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 Howdy Mf. Rem, Congratulations on your purchase and your good taste. You will find that you are in good company here. There is much "local wisdom" and much information on the various links of this fourm. For openers, I suggest you begin to read the archival posts from our fourm where members' questions and answers are posted. I have read over the entire many-years-worth of stuff. Not all of it will interest you, but you will get most of your questions answered. The folks on this fourm are quite helpful at offering advice and parts sources. The truck you purchased looks good and solid - something more typical of western trucks. My own 1948 had some major rust in spots that was able to repair with few problems. As to the issue of rear end gearing and top end speed, most of our trucks came eqipped originally with 4:10 rear ratios. Automobiles of the same era sported lower numbes. Some have swapped these out, others have opted for later model suff of similar track width. I put 215 x 85.16 tubeless radials on my srock wheels that have a diameter over 31 inches. This gives me a comfortable cruising speed near 60, and that's enough for stock sixty-year-old drum brakes. Lastly, to become a true Pilothouse maven, you will need copies of a parts and a service manual, as well as Don Bunn's B Model Dodge Trucks. It's the bible - lower case - for our authority in resoration, packed with factory photos, etc. Keep us posted on your progress and let us know how we can be helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry in Bozrah Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 Rem Where in Ct are you? I'm just west of Norwich. Looks good co-grat's:cool: Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl b51 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 She looks like a good one ! Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merle Coggins Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 As Dave (a.k.a. gray beard) says, you can swap in a diff assembly from a late 40's - early 50's Plymouth or Dodge car. I got a 3.73 diff assy, from Normspeed, our of a '50 Plymouth. It was a direct bolt in replacement and I've now had my truck up to 70 MPH with room to go. But again as Dave says, that's a bit fast for my comfort zone with drum brakes. One thing you will need to watch for on this type of diff replacement is the spline count on the axle shafts. The "newer" diffs have a higher spline count when compared to the earlier ones. Others have swapped in complete axles from donor cars. Maybe they'll chime in with what they used. With that type of upgrade you'll have to move the spring perches and possibly modify the drive shaft. Also, keep in mind that you have a farily small engine with around 100 HP if it is strong. If you use an axle with too low of a numerical gear your truck will struggle. You have a good lookin' truck there. Welcome aboard. Merle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario Loya B1B Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 Rem, It's good to know the number of Pilot-House Owners in the "Constitution State" is growing. I remember the excitement and anticipation I had while waitng for mine to be delivered from Lathrop, MO several years ago. -Mario, Fairfield CT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 Nice truck. I like the little flare holder on the box side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg g Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 You can also consider later model donors for your truck. Jeep Cehrokee (3.55) Charger, Satelite, or other Chrysler B body cars. You will likely need to move the spring perches, you can also look at Ford stuff, as the Wheel lug pattern is shared so you can keep the stock wheels if you want. I am working a Studebaker truck which has a T bird rear end under it. Ranger would be a good source as would 2wd drive early Dakotas, with 5 bolt wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coW52Dodge Posted December 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 Thanks for the welcome and advice. I've been reading through the forum over the last couple of days - man, there's a lot of stuff here! I'm not looking to make the truck fly but to be able to roll at 60 would be a nice thing. I'm on the Fairfield/Bridgeport line, just off Rt59, one street into Bpt, in the Brooklawn section. We'll have to coordinate what carshows we're going to visit in the spring- it would be fun to meet up sometime with those close. Mario, we may be within miles of each other. I don't remember seeing your truck around, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario Loya B1B Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 Mario, we may be within miles of each other. I don't remember seeing your truck around, though. Rem, you are right. We can't be too far from one another. I live in Fairfield close to I-95, so my cruising usually is within a few miles of my house along route 1, usually to the Dairy Queen, Home Depot, beach, X-mas tree farm. etc. I stay off the thruway because of the gear ratio issue with these farm trucks. A few years ago I ran into a fellow PH owner that lives in Westport (real nice guy). Here is the link with a photo of his truck http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=5480&highlight=carmine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBF Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 Rem-welcome! Another guy in the Northeast-we got a movement started! Keep us posted on your progress-there's lots of good stuff here. MOPARS rule. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old woolie Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 Right! MOPARS rule! Lets keep them MOPARS! In the near future we may not have a choice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coW52Dodge Posted December 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Thanks again for the welcomes. Once I get the truck, I'll be sure to post more pictures of the progress. Here's one of the front - nothing new to you guys, no doubt - but I like the gnarliness of the search light. We'll have to meet up sometime, Mario, and grab some lunch sometime - perhaps after I get my truck. We must be within less than 10 miles of eachother. Home depot in Fairfield is about 6 minutes away from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario Loya B1B Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 We'll have to meet up sometime, Mario, and grab some lunch sometime - perhaps after I get my truck. Definitely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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