I can seem to find a good source to ID the rear end in my 53 Chevy 1/2 ton 12 bolt Casting numbers are GM 6, 3856525 Axle tube reads HC 2 15W With a D under it Any help would be great! Thanks! Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
look for numbers stamped on the top of one of the axle tubes. Also...look at the rearend...does it have two upper control arm mounting holes? does it have a single panhard bar mounting hole? does it have 6 lug axles? does it have 5 lug 5" bolt circle axles? or 5 lug 4.75" bolt circle axles? There were 12 bolts used in trucks from around 1963-81, and in cars from around 65-72. The truck axles were 6 lug thru 1970, then they went to 5 lug. 4x4s kept the 6 lug.
Any other info from the casting numbers? Posi or not or gear ratio? I can't seem to find the truck codes listed anywhere Thanks again Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
That is a casting number for the housing only. The assembly number will be a stamped number on the axle tube (Squirrel post No.3) Maybe the HC 2 15W will decode into what you need.
If you find the numbers and letters stamped on the axle tube, I can look it up Or you can figure out if it's posi or not by looking at the fill plug, or by jacking up a wheel and seeing if it turns while the other stays still. you can figure out the ratio by counting turns of the pinion for one full revolution of both tires (or two full revolutions of only one tire). You can also pull the rear cover and look at the differential to see if it's a posi, and count teeth, or read the ratio stamped on ring gear.
Ok. The tube reads HC 2 15W with a D below it. I had it in the first post. I will look into the other suggestions you had as well. Thanks guys Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
It's in a 53 Chevy 1/2 ton. Are there axles that swap in to make it a 5 lug? Sorry for all the questions Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
Dang. What do you think the value of something like this is? Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
The rearend? hmmmm....depends who wants it. Should be worth a couple hundred bucks to the right guy. If it's in good condition. Some times the axles are worn out, the gear teeth are cracked, and the posi clutch plates are worn or cracked. But you can't tell without looking inside, and taking it apart.
You can get 5 lug axle conversion kits from some of the Chevy truck suppliers. That would be one solution. Or get a 5 lug rear and swap them out. Two ways to accomplish the end result.
The Jalopy Journal
