VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Torque Tube Clearance

I stuck the rear end up into the 41 conv. yesterday. The one I put in is out of a larger torque tube 51/52 (PG) than the original. Accordingly, there is less room between its (outside diameter) and the edges of the box/x frame that conv.s have. In other words it takes up more of the "tunnel."

Question: Has anyone experienced any clearance problems (rubbing, hitting, banging, etc) with this setup? If you have, I'd sure like to know about it now rather than later.

I've got one out of a 50 (PG) but I was going to put it in a 50 (SS).
Thanks,
Charlie

Somewhere I've seen modifications to the X frame to put the larger diameter torque tube in '42 - '48 convertibles. I think it was in the Service Bulletins. I was considering doing that on my '48 but I decided to stay with the 4.11 gears to eliminate too much shifting in hilly Oregon. Perhaps Gene will remember where the info is, too. He's a "master of obscure facts" on old Chevrolets...

I have never seen anything from Chevrolet on that subject. As far as Chevrolet would have been concerned they still made the smaller torque for replacement on earlier models and using a later torque tube would not have been in their intrest.
If it were mine I would install the later unit and if it contacts the frame relieve the area or bend the web for more clearance.

Thanks to both you and Joe for your advice and comments.

I'm going to stick "er in and see what happens. I'm fairly confident there won't be any problems. I figure the rear end would have to shift/flex (up and down and or sidways) a great amount for the clearance to be used up at the "box/wed." If it does somehow touch, then, I'll change it out to the smaller diameter 50 PG rear end. I'll let everyone know how it works out.
Charlie