'46 Chevy Shorty

[GreyEagle]

Any luck finding a rear end for that thing???

[roach711]

Hey Tango - I was wondering where you'd gotten off to. It's too bloody cold to do much up here in the great White North so I'm also just about shut down 'till spring.

Be sure to post pics of your new project when you're done.

[Tango]

Hey GreyEagle --- still no luck finding a 5.43. Tons of the 6.17's though if anyone needs replacement gears. The hunt continues.

Chocolate --- Welcome to the MoneyPit! Have you posted any pix of your rig as yet? Love these old buses!

Roach --- The weather here is perfect...fifties at night, seventies during the day. Makes not being able to work on her all the more frustrating. Naturally, by the time I will have the time...the temps will be back to over 100 again. But then, being an old guy, I can take the heat but not the cold. Everything on my body pretty much freezes in place when the temperatures drop below my age...68.

Here's hoping you guys get an early Spring up there in the Great Frozen North.

Onward!

[GreyEagle]

Have you checked with "American Truck Historical Society".
Looks like they have a little of everything....... Best of Luck.

http://www.aths.org/

[Tango]

GreyEagle --- Many thanks! Had not run across that site. Just posted a parts search there. Thanks again.

[GreyEagle]

Here's another possibility ....... http://forums.justoldtrucks.com/

[Tango]

Thanks again GreyEagle --- will keep an eye on it.

Meanwhile, I need to correct some basic information. I just recently managed to find/buy an original '42-'46 Chevy medium to heavy truck book. Turns out that what I have repeatedly read online and been told in person about the gearing has been wrong all along regarding "standard" vs "optional". The factory book clearly states that the 6.17 that was standard...and it was the 5.43 that was the "option". That finally explains why it's the one everybody has and the 5.43 is so rare.

Just goes to show that not everything on the Internet is true after all. Dang.

[GreyEagle]

Originally Posted by Tango

Thanks again GreyEagle --- will keep an eye on it.

Meanwhile, I need to correct some basic information. I just recently managed to find/buy an original '42-'46 Chevy medium to heavy truck book. Turns out that what I have repeatedly read online and been told in person about the gearing has been wrong all along regarding "standard" vs "optional". The factory book clearly states that the 6.17 that was standard...and it was the 5.43 that was the "option". That finally explains why it's the one everybody has and the 5.43 is so rare.

Just goes to show that not everything on the Internet is true after all. Dang.

Might be so rare that they are non-existence!!!
Is there some other vehicle that might have something very close to the 5.43???? old Ford or Dodge that you could use?

[ol trunt]

Tango, I hate when that happens--guess you'll just have to pull one of your Mr. Wizzard tricks out of your bag like you did with your entry door! Now there are endless possibilities each available just for the moving of a few brackets and a spring hanger or two. I have utmost faith in your creative powers.

[Tango]

Thanks for the encouragement guys --- Looks like I may be back to considering a Frankenstein rear end with a newer center section cut & welded into the axle. Have to start looking for a 13-15K# axle that has something very close to the 5.43. Can't be all that difficult...right? Course there is still the remote possibility of Sasquatch showing up with the right Chevy parts...

Onward!

[GreyEagle]

Be sure to post and let us know when Sasquatch shows up with the right Chevy parts...
Good luck on that one......
Might want to try prayer..... can't hurt!!!

[GreyEagle]

http://www.desertclassics.com/trucks.html

Might be able to do some trades or something???

[Tango]

Thanks again GreyEagle --- I have spoken with the folks at Desert Classics and they only sell complete units...will not sell any parts. I do have a lead on a rolling frame here in town but have not been able to get any info on the gear ratio.

Onward!

[GreyEagle]

hey, no problem......
I was just poking around on Craigslist.... and noticed they have a "WANTED" section and thought of you.
If you haven't already you could post on there, can't hurt much...
good luck on finding that 5.43

[Tango]

Do have a line on a 195" rolling frame here in town but have not been able to get the guy to reply about particulars so no idea what gears are there. Plan on buying it either way just for the spare parts (complete front & rear axles, rims, springs, driveshaft, etc.). Hope to do the deal tomorrow. Fingers crossed but hey...what are the chances...???

[bansil]

Originally Posted by Tango

Do have a line on a 195" rolling frame here in town but have not been able to get the guy to reply about particulars so no idea what gears are there. Plan on buying it either way just for the spare parts (complete front & rear axles, rims, springs, driveshaft, etc.). Hope to do the deal tomorrow. Fingers crossed but hey...what are the chances...???

mmmm ......... SQ + PI / 6 - .03937 = hopefully better than my mad math skillz

.
.
.Good luck!

[Tango]

Hey Bansil --- I think you are pretty close. Near as I can figger, the odds of coming across a 5.43 work out to about zilch.0001 per million searches.

Still better than nuthin' though...right?

Onward!

[Tango]

Howdy All --- Really lookin' forward to getting back to work on my rig here soon. I'm about to install the commission that's had me tied up for the last 6 or 7 months, hopefully next week. Then...finally...back to da bus!

Meanwhile...I just came across the link below. An absolutely wonderful and gorgeous old Speedwagon that is doing art duty. Way cool and I thought some of you might enjoy seeing it if you already haven't. Very inspirational and has me re-thinking the whole "Trolly-Top" concept. Just not a pop-up like Trunt's.

http://www.studio-gypsie.com/#

And in the middle of everything else, I just bought a 195" rolling Chevy bus frame here in town for spare parts. Both axles, 6 wheels, steering gear, springs & mounts, drive shaft & more. All for a hundred bucks, Couldn't pass on it. May wind up using part of the rear frame to extend my own. Who knows...maybe...just maybe...the rear axle will contain the magical 5.43 ring & pinion gears I've been searching all over for. Ya sure.

Onward!

[ol trunt]

Hey Tango, what a sweet old bus--love the trolley top! Take a look at the old GM (sort of) on Nomadicista--way cool. Jack

[opus]

Its about time! Good thing we're not paying you for this project. ;)