1950 Pontiac Torque Tube Differential

silver steak · Addicted!

1950 Pontiac Torque Tube Differential

50sedandelivery · Addicted!

Dale:
I've got the '49-'50 Series 2000-2200 Service Manual. I can scan the 11 page rear end chapter for you. PM me your email.
My guess is maybe the slack is due to an aftermarket axle replacement? I broke an axle once and it was a real easy replacement with a Chevy one. Did it in 2 hrs. on the roadside!

50sedandelivery · Addicted!

Actually, there's an 'axle shaft spacer' mentioned (pictured) in the manual inside the rear end that comes in 4 different sizes or widths to correct the axle end play and proper pinion lash.

silver steak · Addicted!

That is cool Murray, road side rear end work, wow, don't know what to say about that other than just how prepared can a guy really be? well done anyway.

I'll send a PM and thanks for the scanned material.

Dale

firstdancebridalcars · Addicted!

As far as Im aware there's no other output shaft made for the open ended transmission. You would have to put a later model transmission in with an open driveshaft and later model diff to take the open driveshaft and so on. If you are keeping the torque tube it would pay to replace the seals in the transmission end as oil can leak through into the diff. It may be easier to find a modern seal that will fit so you don't have to take it apart. Yours being a 49 to 52 manual transmission the diff ratio would be 4.11. A 53 to 54 ratio is 3.70. The powerglide 51 to 54 is 3.55 so the best if you can find one.

silver steak · Addicted!

Thanks Gayne

Not the news I was hoping for but , a buddy of mine dropped off a complete set of seals, spacers and outer gaskets for the spherical joint , so I am not stuck on the rebuild. The issue is that I am uncertain about the robustness of this concept, so considering that I, or my wife, has made the decision to keep the car as close as original as possible , I'll take your advice on the rear seal of the transmission and reassemble the transmission with the torque tube because it does shift smoothly.

thanks Dale

firstdancebridalcars · Addicted!

Just to be clear Dale the seal I am talking about is in the torque tube, I think the original seal was leather. Oil from the gearbox lubricates the universal at the rear of the gearbox and this seal stops it going down the torque tube into the diff. To do the seal properly the drive shaft must come out of the torque tube which means dismantling the diff. ( if you do dismantle the diff look to replace the crown and pinion with a 3.55 from an auto) If the seal is leaking you would need to take the excess oil from the diff every six months and top up the gearbox. If the seal is not leaking then leave well alone. Gayne.

firstdancebridalcars · Addicted!

Came across this today in Cambridge, New Zealand. Theyre price at roughly $1000 NZD, but it'll solve all your torque tube problems. You will be able to put an open drive shaft in along with the higher ratio diff.

50sedandelivery · Addicted!

My currency converter says that's $945 Cdn.

Turdmagnet · Veteran Member

My currency converter say "OUCH!!!!" I spent less than that on a T5 and Blazer rear end.