B-1-D Brake/axle options

[Dodgeboy49]

My dad and I are getting ready to put together a 1950 Dodge one-ton dually for him to drive around. We have a 1950 Dodge 2 1/2 ton cabover that he likes to take to shows and parades, but it is getting more difficult for him to manage it as he gets older. The one-ton will be easier to get in and out of, drive, and park just by virtue of it's smaller size if nothing else. We have a 236ci flathead with split manifolds to put in it (we've got the extra length figured out) and a T5 transmission to go behind that. Dad still can double-clutch the old trannys, but the synchros will take some of the stress out of the ride and allow him to enjoy it longer. The drawback to switching to the newer tranny is that we will lose the stock parking brake. Our friends tell us just to throw a rock behind the wheel but we don't roll that way (...er, we're afraid we WILL roll that way). We've tried to find an old-type six lug rear end with a parking brake in the drums, but so far no luck. My dad kind of has his heart set on keeping it a dually, so that pretty much limits us to either a six or eight lug application.

We're finding that there are more modern eight-lug rear ends (containing parking brakes) which measure out to be a good fit for the back of the truck, but then we'd have to find a way to switch to eight lug in the front. We haven't found any eight-lug straight axles which are narrow enough to look appropriate under the stock fenders, but I'm wondering if there might be a possibility that there is an eight-lug hub and drum that would fit on the stock spindles? If that were the case, we would be able to dispense with the lockring wheels which would be kind of nice also. We don't need to do anything wild like IFS or disc brakes; despite the OD tranny and speed parts this will never be a "fast" truck.

 

Does anyone have any ideas which might get us past this roadblock? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

[nonstop]

There were factory 6 lug Dana 70s produced over the years, it would take some searching, to find one that might fit your set up though….. or weld up and re drill the hubs and drums on the rear you found to fit your pattern.

 

You can also check in the 4x4 community.  There are Dana 60 blanks out there that could allow you to drill them to your own pattern.  You also want to check into a pinion parking brake.  You may need to tweak a set up for a different rear to make it work though……

Edited December 27, 2021 by nonstop

[47 dodge 1.5 ton]

6 hours ago, Dodgeboy49 said:

My dad and I are getting ready to put together a 1950 Dodge one-ton dually for him to drive around. We have a 1950 Dodge 2 1/2 ton cabover that he likes to take to shows and parades, but it is getting more difficult for him to manage it as he gets older. The one-ton will be easier to get in and out of, drive, and park just by virtue of it's smaller size if nothing else. We have a 236ci flathead with split manifolds to put in it (we've got the extra length figured out) and a T5 transmission to go behind that. Dad still can double-clutch the old trannys, but the synchros will take some of the stress out of the ride and allow him to enjoy it longer. The drawback to switching to the newer tranny is that we will lose the stock parking brake. Our friends tell us just to throw a rock behind the wheel but we don't roll that way (...er, we're afraid we WILL roll that way). We've tried to find an old-type six lug rear end with a parking brake in the drums, but so far no luck. My dad kind of has his heart set on keeping it a dually, so that pretty much limits us to either a six or eight lug application.

We're finding that there are more modern eight-lug rear ends (containing parking brakes) which measure out to be a good fit for the back of the truck, but then we'd have to find a way to switch to eight lug in the front. We haven't found any eight-lug straight axles which are narrow enough to look appropriate under the stock fenders, but I'm wondering if there might be a possibility that there is an eight-lug hub and drum that would fit on the stock spindles? If that were the case, we would be able to dispense with the lockring wheels which would be kind of nice also. We don't need to do anything wild like IFS or disc brakes; despite the OD tranny and speed parts this will never be a "fast" truck.

 

Does anyone have any ideas which might get us past this roadblock? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Might look at late model dodge truck tranny over the T5 as the still have a brake on the output shaft. I believe the  Flathead bell housing could be machined to work with a little work. I was looking at this option for my ‘47. I have a late 4speed from a 70 d500 that shifted very smooth. I believe bolt pattern, counter bore, and input shaft were different. Since I have some parts that can be compared easily, maybe I can look at that closer soon.
  We had a bell housing that fit a poly 318 that had and extra set of holes. I often wondered if that was drilled for a flathead, I know it would not fit the LA or RB motors. Being that was in a 62 D600, my next guess it was for a 25” flathead. The trans side of the bell housing also was double drilled. The 5speed is now in our 74D600. I am mentioning this as options. 

  I also know that Ford had some rears that could be swapped into the dodges. My father put a 2speed in the neighbor’s D400 rollback out of a Ford and also gained shocks/sway bar. That made a huge improvement in ride. Just need to watch chassis width.

[Dodgeboy49]

Out of curiosity, when did Dodge introduce synchronized 4-speeds? I noticed a '54 half-ton parts truck for sale the other day which still has a flathead and 4-speed in it. Even if it is only synchro in 2nd through 4th it would still make life easier while retaining the drum brake.

[Merle Coggins]

I believe it was ‘51 or ‘52 when they started using the synchronized 4 speeds in the light trucks. 

[ggdad1951]

51 1 ton had synchro 3rd and 4th gears

[JBNeal]

6 hours ago, ggdad1951 said:

51 1 ton had synchro 3rd and 4th gears

correct, the synchro 4spd was available starting in '51.

 

additional information - possible 1-ton powertrain upgrades