Hi Grant and Kevin P.,
I'm not an axle guru either, but I do have a half ton and had to replace
the pumpkin and one axle. Kevin, you got almost everything right as far
as I could tell, talking about the half tons, with the following points
that I've found different:
On half tons the differential -- they call them "pumpkins" around here
-- is removed through the front of the axle housing, not the rear. So I
guess they're also "drop out" units, like the 3600 and 3800's.
The half ton also has a round inspection cover on the rear of the
housing that has 10 bolts. Actually I always thought the heavier duty
rear ends had more bolts, but I've never looked at one. I've read in
the LMC catalog that a posi rear end inspection cover looks different
than the tractionless version. (I'm sure there's a better term, but
probably not a more descriptive one....)
If the secret 3.90 rear for a 3/4 ton becomes available, I would be
interested. Probably can't afford it, but it would definitely make me
more likely to want a heavier duty truck. I already have the 10-leaf
extra heavy duty 3/4 ton springs on the back, came with the truck when I
bought it, that I over-load with firewood annually. I need to replace
them. But later,
Ed
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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