Your pendjo Posted April 5, 2013 Report Share Posted April 5, 2013 I would like to replace the rear end in my 1948 dodge truck. The rear end ratio in the truck is in the high fours around 4.78. I would like something around 3.55. I would like to get a good highway gear and still be able to use it as a truck. Does anyone have any thoughts or rear ends for sale? The rear end in the truck looks like the 8 3/4 style. I thought the 8 3/4 did not come out until around 1955. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruffy49 Posted April 5, 2013 Report Share Posted April 5, 2013 (edited) Search the forums for axle swaps. Cherokee, Ranger, Dakota are common donors. 2 new spring perches and bolt it in. If you have the original ball and trunnion universal joints, you're going to need a new driveshaft. And I have yet to see a driveshaft shop that will build a ball and trunnion on one end and regular u-joint on the other, so you'll need a different output yoke. Center section out of a car will bolt in if you get the correct number of side gears unit and the axle shaft spline count is the same. Not many people willing to part with a center section. I saw where you were looking for an engine and transmission. Get the latest model you can find, one that takes a normal u-joint, get a rear axle assembly from a V8 Cherokee and call it good. Or go ahead and hot rod it up a bit, if you can find a Mirada or older police Diplomat (late 70s to mid 80s) with a factory V8, get the whole thing as a donor. Track down a copy of the old Tex Smith book How to Build Hot Rod Trucks, walks you through a power train, front clip and interior swap. Edited April 5, 2013 by Scruffy49 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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