VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 driveline adapter

Hi Guys; I have a 1936 Chevy pickup with the factory closed driveline. how would I go about making an adapter for the transmission to run an open driveshaft. Doesn't look like it would be that dificult to do. any suggestions? I have been told that they used to have them. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks...oldred36

or36,
I presume you have the 3 speed trans. I doubt that any adapter was ever produced to accomplish your goal. That does not mean it can't be done. You will need to incorporate a seal. You will need to find or make a yoke to accept a modern u-joint. The seal will need to run against the outside of this yoke.
What is your objective in changing to an open drive shaft?
Mike

Hi Mike, I have access to an open drive rear end assembly from a 1955 powerglide(3:55)for my 36 pickup and in order to make use of it I will need to change to an open drive transmission.I currently am running the factory 4 sp. and my reasoning is to be able to cruise at 60-65 mph.Now I can only cruise at about 50mph At the same time I want to keep the truck as original as possible, at least in appearances. I realise that It might be more feasable to change to a later truck 3 or 4 sp.trans.( expense wise), anyway thanks for your response.....oldred

The 4 speed truck trans was used in several applications with open drive shaft. Just find a transmission from a 39-47, 3/4 ton or larger truck. It should have the part you need.
I don't know of any floor shift 3 speed Chevy trans made for open driveshaft.
I built a 3.55 rear for a 51 pickup using a 1948 pass housing and 1953 powerglide driveshaft/ring and pinion assy. I moved the spring mounts and modified the driveshaft length. It worked great. and retained the torque tube.

Mike

I don't thnk you will get any improvement in a 37-47- or even 54 4 speed truck transmission, since all of them are 1:1 in 4th gear, as is the 3 speed in 3rd. The larger trucks used a 2 speed axle and the 4 speed "granny" transmission. The open drive shaft transmission and the late model 3.55 rear end should be a good choice.

Most gearboxes are the same, 3rd in 3 speed and 4th in 4 5 and 6 speed is direct couple engine to driveshaft, 5 and 6 being overdrive.
Tony

why not use a s 10 five speed over drive it has open drive you may want to put a v8 or a strong 6 in front of it or add air and power steering or maybe some of those 300 mph tires i was looking at the other day that the sales person was trying to sell and could not tell where i was going to try them out

Pushrod, if you get one of your cars up to 300MPH, give me notice to be there, (unless it is either in the cargo bay of a C-5 or in freefall from 10,000')I wouldn't want to miss that kind of an event because of either hell or high water!

pushrod,I think 300mph would be a bit fast for a 36 pickup, might be fun tho. seriously I have considered going to an S10- 5 sp., thats probably the most sensible solution. I will be running a rebuilt 235 motor w/ a 3:55 rearend. should give me sufficient low end as well as good highway cruising, do you all agree?
Thanks.... oldred

pushrod,I think 300mph would be a bit fast for a 36 pickup, might be fun tho. seriously I have considered going to an S10- 5 sp., thats probably the most sensible solution. I will be running a rebuilt 235 motor w/ a 3:55 rearend. should give me sufficient low end as well as good highway cruising, do you all agree?
Thanks.... oldred

my 35 coupe has 3;73 gears the engine is in good shape for being 71 years old . i drive it on tours. on flat ground which is most of the time it pulls easy at 55- 60 in the hills i have some second gear time . what i am trying to say is the 206 is not a power match for a lower gear .a good 235 with the 3;55 and five speed over drive does well . i road in one a week or so ago in the hill country and it was out of overdrive on most of the hills . the owner said it gave good fuel milage on the flat ground in kansas. modifying these cars and trucks is not what vcca is all about but on most tours there are several that show up . on the last tour i attended there was a 25 speedster that the only thing resembling a chevrolet was the block it would run over 80 and sounded like a offenhouser the owner liked it and it was cute

my 35 coupe has 3;73 gears the engine is in good shape for being 71 years old . i drive it on tours. on flat ground which is most of the time it pulls easy at 55- 60 in the hills i have some second gear time . what i am trying to say is the 206 is not a power match for a lower gear .a good 235 with the 3;55 and five speed over drive does well . i road in one a week or so ago in the hill country and it was out of overdrive on most of the hills . the owner said it gave good fuel milage on the flat ground in kansas. modifying these cars and trucks is not what vcca is all about but on most tours there are several that show up . on the last tour i attended there was a 25 speedster that the only thing resembling a chevrolet was the block it would run over 80 and sounded like a offenhouser the owner liked it and it was cute

I have been away from the forum for a few days so I just read the posts following my earlier advice to look for a different four speed trans. If you will read my post as well as those of oldred36 and olgzr you will not find any suggestion that any trans swap alone would increase top speed. One of them inquires as to how he could convert to open drive shaft and the other clearly stated that he was looking at a faster gear setup to boost his top end. I can assure you that after 40 years in the old car hobby, I am aware that simply changing from a 3 speed to 4 speed trans, or vice versa will not affect top speed.
Mike

Why not just put in 3:36 gears from Larry Jackson? If you put in a Hotchkiss drive, you have to install a 4 link or something to replace the torque tube you removed. Oh yea, it will work for a while, but never right.
Good luck!!