Rear Axle: 55 V-8 pickup 3/4 ton

[kurtruk]

Original V-8 truck, now with a 56 President 289, I think. Seller says this truck will only go 35-40 mph. That I believe from reading posts on here. Also says overdrive is broken. The truck is a 3/4 ton. Will the axle on a 3/4 ton still be a Dana 44? That would allow for better speeds with a ring and pinion swap, right?

[sals54]

Not yet enough information. What rpm at 40 mph? The engine itself may be part of the problem.
But check the tag on the diff to see the ratio.

[Mrs K Corbin]

If it's priced low enough, just grab it and change the diff.....

[PackardV8]

The '55 E12 with overdrive would usually have come with a 4.56 or 4.88 Timken rear axle. I drove my 4-speed 224" with 4.10 at 60 MPH, but a 289" would feel a bit thrashy at those RPM.

Given how much pickups get engines, transmissions and rears swapped, it could have 4.10, 4.56, 4.88 or 5.12 rear gears

It is possible to change to a Dana 60 and retain the Budd-style wheels which are an integral part of making the '55 E12 the best looking of all Studebaker pickups. (Having owned one for forty years, I'm not prejudiced on this at all.) At present, I'm running a Dana 60 with 4.10 gears and overdrive. That's about perfect for a pickup with 16" tires.

If a CASO just wanted a running truck, then it's also possible to swap in a car Dana 44 with taller gears. The obvious answer is just repair the overdrive.

jack vines

[sals54]

The '55 E12 with overdrive would usually have come with a 4.56 or 4.88 Timken rear axle. I drove my 4-speed 224" with 4.10 at 60 MPH, but a 289" would feel a bit thrashy at those RPM.

Given how much pickups get engines, transmissions and rears swapped, it could have 4.10, 4.56, 4.88 or 5.12 rear gears

It is possible to change to a Dana 60 and retain the Budd-style wheels which are an integral part of making the '55 E12 the best looking of all Studebaker pickups. (Having owned one for forty years, I'm not prejudiced on this at all.) At present, I'm running a Dana 60 with 4.10 gears and overdrive. That's about perfect for a pickup with 16" tires.

If a CASO just wanted a running truck, then it's also possible to swap in a car Dana 44 with taller gears. The obvious answer is just repair the overdrive.

jack vines

Jack, you're right about the Budd style wheels. They make those trucks look fantastic.

[RadioRoy]

I agree that the obvious answer is to repair the overdrive regardless of the rear axle ratio currently in the truck.

[kurtruk]

I believe he retained the Budd wheel centers and had new rims built on them.

[sals54]

I believe he retained the Budd wheel centers and had new rims built on them.

That is the best of both worlds on the wheels. Best looking wheels with the ease of modern tires and no death threats from a split rim.

[PackardV8]

Yes, I have a definite opinion on this for me and mine, but your truck, your money, your decision.

That is the best of both worlds on the wheels. Best looking wheels with the ease of modern tires and no death threats from a split rim.

Please, not you too, Sal; you supported the original style and now this ;>)

The 16" two-piece wheels used on '49-mid'56 Studebaker 3/4-ton trucks are NOT the same as a big truck split rim design. The 16" Studes have a solid, one piece retaining ring and in more than fifty years of owning and driving those trucks, I've never heard of one being a problem from anything other than terminal rust.

And no, it's difficult to retain the classic style while welding the original center into a one-piece drop center rim where the ID is much smaller in diameter. As with the truck we're discussing, too much of the center was cut away and deeply recessed. One can see the glimmer of the original center, but the look is gone.

As to 'the ease of modern tires', it's no problem to run today's best; Michelin 215/85-16" LTX radials on the original wheels. Been doing it forever.

jack vines, who's still running the original wheels.

[sals54]

You're right Jack. I was thinking of the split rims. So, do the Budd rims use standard size tires? I don't know much about them. I just love the look. I've owned a couple of the 3/4 tons with those rims, but never had tire issues to deal with. I have seen the splits though, I still don't like them. I'm still scarred from seeing a guy fly about 10 feet in the air from standing on a split rim when it blew ! ! !

[Jeffry Cassel]

Had a truck 3/4 t several yrs ago. 5.?? rear end so had carrier and ring and pinion changed to a 3.73 Didnt cost much and it was so much more pleasant!

[PackardV8]

So, do the Budd rims use standard size tires?

Yes. The standard 215/85-16" truck tires are perfect for the Stude wheels.

Had a truck 3/4 t several yrs ago. 5.?? rear end so had carrier and ring and pinion changed to a 3.73 Didnt cost much and it was so much more pleasant!

It's likely this 3/4-t had a Dana 60. There are none higher than 4.10 for the Timken.

jack vines