solid axle ring gear
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 448
Likes: 6
From: ALLEN Texas
solid axle ring gear
Since most solid axle ring gears are 37 tooth, how did the
4.56 and 5.13 ratio's come about? Will the housing hold a larger
ring gear. I rode in a 60 vette back in the 70's that had a 5.13,
and a 302 chevy with 2 x 4's. A 3 speed trans was all it needed.
(plus a filling station every few miles)
Ray
4.56 and 5.13 ratio's come about? Will the housing hold a larger
ring gear. I rode in a 60 vette back in the 70's that had a 5.13,
and a 302 chevy with 2 x 4's. A 3 speed trans was all it needed.
(plus a filling station every few miles)
Ray
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,642
Likes: 4,689
From: Mustang OK
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2025 c1 of the Year - Modified Winner
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2015 C1 of the Year Finalist
Since most solid axle ring gears are 37 tooth, how did the
4.56 and 5.13 ratio's come about? Will the housing hold a larger
ring gear. I rode in a 60 vette back in the 70's that had a 5.13,
and a 302 chevy with 2 x 4's. A 3 speed trans was all it needed.
(plus a filling station every few miles)
Ray
4.56 and 5.13 ratio's come about? Will the housing hold a larger
ring gear. I rode in a 60 vette back in the 70's that had a 5.13,
and a 302 chevy with 2 x 4's. A 3 speed trans was all it needed.
(plus a filling station every few miles)
Ray
FROM THE FACTORY, the gear ratios that were available were 3.08 through 4.56.
From the Chevy parts dept, for "field" installation, there was a 4.88, 5.13, 5.38. These additional 3 gear ratios were available in TWO different ring gear thicknesses. The normal thickness ring gear was for installation on a 4-series carrier. The extra thick ring gear was for installation on a 3-series carrier. ANY of the ring gears could be installed onto either a NON-posi carrier or a posi carrier.
Now, with all that said, to specifically answer your question, YES, ANY of the Chevy ring gears for the 55-64 center cases will fit! Some of them are REAL close, but they still fit. I've been building/setting up these early rears for 40+yrs and I have NEVER seen a ring gear that made contact with the cast iron center case. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, on RARE ocassions, I have seen a ring gear (that was different from the factory installed gear) that touched the inside of a 55-56 pass car housing. The simple fix was gentle massaging with a medium sized hammer.
SOME people here are familiar with the information that I put together many months ago about converting a NON-posi rear to posi.
The ONLY thing of significance for that conversion is the partial removal of a gusset on the inside of a 57-64 case. That gusset is NOT in a posi case and it is NOT in a 55-56 case.
Also, for ANY kind of moderate or serious performance driving, the 55-56 center section (pass car or Vette) IS NOT a good choice!!! The 55-56 ring gear is thinner (translate weaker) than the 57-64 gear, the 55-56 differential and case are thinner than those of the 57-64 variety.
Tom Parsons.
Last edited by DZAUTO; Oct 27, 2010 at 12:57 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,332
Likes: 63
From: PARADISE
St. Jude Donor '09-'11-'12-'13-'14
As you probably know, the 56-62 Vette and 55-64 pass cars share the same rearend center case. The ONLY difference whatsoever between them is the STAMPED 2 letter code on the passenger side (the stamped numbers indicating build date are the same). Thus, BOTH pass car and Vette center cases will accept EXACTLY the same guts.
FROM THE FACTORY, the gear ratios that were available were 3.08 through 4.56.
From the Chevy parts dept, for "field" installation, there was a 4.88, 5.13, 5.38. These additional 3 gear ratios were available in TWO different ring gear thicknesses. The normal thickness ring gear was for installation on a 4-series carrier. The extra thick ring gear was for installation on a 3-series carrier. ANY of the ring gears could be installed onto either a NON-posi carrier or a posi carrier.
Now, with all that said, to specifically answer your question, YES, ANY of the Chevy ring gears for the 55-64 center cases will fit! Some of them are REAL close, but they still fit. I've been building/setting up these early rears for 40+yrs and I have NEVER seen a ring gear that made contact with the cast iron center case. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, on RARE ocassions, I have seen a ring gear (that was different from the factory installed gear) that touched the inside of a 55-56 pass car housing. The simple fix was gentle massaging with a medium sized hammer.
SOME people here are familiar with the information that I put together many months ago about converting a NON-posi rear to posi.
The ONLY thing of significance for that conversion is the partial removal of a gusset on the inside of a 57-64 case. That gusset is NOT in a posi case and it is NOT in a 55-56 case.
Also, for ANY kind of moderate or serious performance driving, the 55-56 center section (pass car or Vette) IS NOT a good choice!!! The 55-56 ring gear is thinner (translate weaker) than the 57-64 gear, the 55-56 differential and case are thinner than those of the 57-64 variety.
Tom Parsons.
FROM THE FACTORY, the gear ratios that were available were 3.08 through 4.56.
From the Chevy parts dept, for "field" installation, there was a 4.88, 5.13, 5.38. These additional 3 gear ratios were available in TWO different ring gear thicknesses. The normal thickness ring gear was for installation on a 4-series carrier. The extra thick ring gear was for installation on a 3-series carrier. ANY of the ring gears could be installed onto either a NON-posi carrier or a posi carrier.
Now, with all that said, to specifically answer your question, YES, ANY of the Chevy ring gears for the 55-64 center cases will fit! Some of them are REAL close, but they still fit. I've been building/setting up these early rears for 40+yrs and I have NEVER seen a ring gear that made contact with the cast iron center case. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, on RARE ocassions, I have seen a ring gear (that was different from the factory installed gear) that touched the inside of a 55-56 pass car housing. The simple fix was gentle massaging with a medium sized hammer.
SOME people here are familiar with the information that I put together many months ago about converting a NON-posi rear to posi.
The ONLY thing of significance for that conversion is the partial removal of a gusset on the inside of a 57-64 case. That gusset is NOT in a posi case and it is NOT in a 55-56 case.
Also, for ANY kind of moderate or serious performance driving, the 55-56 center section (pass car or Vette) IS NOT a good choice!!! The 55-56 ring gear is thinner (translate weaker) than the 57-64 gear, the 55-56 differential and case are thinner than those of the 57-64 variety.
Tom Parsons.
Keep the memory joggers coming, I need to keep the oldtimer's disease from catching me.
Dave
P.S. Sorry to hijack your thread Ray.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,642
Likes: 4,689
From: Mustang OK
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2025 c1 of the Year - Modified Winner
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2015 C1 of the Year Finalist
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 448
Likes: 6
From: ALLEN Texas
Tooth count
As you probably know, the 56-62 Vette and 55-64 pass cars share the same rearend center case. The ONLY difference whatsoever between them is the STAMPED 2 letter code on the passenger side (the stamped numbers indicating build date are the same). Thus, BOTH pass car and Vette center cases will accept EXACTLY the same guts.
FROM THE FACTORY, the gear ratios that were available were 3.08 through 4.56.
From the Chevy parts dept, for "field" installation, there was a 4.88, 5.13, 5.38. These additional 3 gear ratios were available in TWO different ring gear thicknesses. The normal thickness ring gear was for installation on a 4-series carrier. The extra thick ring gear was for installation on a 3-series carrier. ANY of the ring gears could be installed onto either a NON-posi carrier or a posi carrier.
Now, with all that said, to specifically answer your question, YES, ANY of the Chevy ring gears for the 55-64 center cases will fit! Some of them are REAL close, but they still fit. I've been building/setting up these early rears for 40+yrs and I have NEVER seen a ring gear that made contact with the cast iron center case. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, on RARE ocassions, I have seen a ring gear (that was different from the factory installed gear) that touched the inside of a 55-56 pass car housing. The simple fix was gentle massaging with a medium sized hammer.
SOME people here are familiar with the information that I put together many months ago about converting a NON-posi rear to posi.
The ONLY thing of significance for that conversion is the partial removal of a gusset on the inside of a 57-64 case. That gusset is NOT in a posi case and it is NOT in a 55-56 case.
Also, for ANY kind of moderate or serious performance driving, the 55-56 center section (pass car or Vette) IS NOT a good choice!!! The 55-56 ring gear is thinner (translate weaker) than the 57-64 gear, the 55-56 differential and case are thinner than those of the 57-64 variety.
Tom Parsons.
FROM THE FACTORY, the gear ratios that were available were 3.08 through 4.56.
From the Chevy parts dept, for "field" installation, there was a 4.88, 5.13, 5.38. These additional 3 gear ratios were available in TWO different ring gear thicknesses. The normal thickness ring gear was for installation on a 4-series carrier. The extra thick ring gear was for installation on a 3-series carrier. ANY of the ring gears could be installed onto either a NON-posi carrier or a posi carrier.
Now, with all that said, to specifically answer your question, YES, ANY of the Chevy ring gears for the 55-64 center cases will fit! Some of them are REAL close, but they still fit. I've been building/setting up these early rears for 40+yrs and I have NEVER seen a ring gear that made contact with the cast iron center case. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, on RARE ocassions, I have seen a ring gear (that was different from the factory installed gear) that touched the inside of a 55-56 pass car housing. The simple fix was gentle massaging with a medium sized hammer.
SOME people here are familiar with the information that I put together many months ago about converting a NON-posi rear to posi.
The ONLY thing of significance for that conversion is the partial removal of a gusset on the inside of a 57-64 case. That gusset is NOT in a posi case and it is NOT in a 55-56 case.
Also, for ANY kind of moderate or serious performance driving, the 55-56 center section (pass car or Vette) IS NOT a good choice!!! The 55-56 ring gear is thinner (translate weaker) than the 57-64 gear, the 55-56 differential and case are thinner than those of the 57-64 variety.
Tom Parsons.
I was wondering about the tooth count of the ring gear on
the 4.56 and up 5.13 differential. I'm not planning to use one, but
was just curious. I was cleaning out my tool shed and found some
gears I had saved. 3.70, 3.55 and 3.36 All three had a 37 tooth
ring gear. The 4.11 was also 37 tooth with a 9 tooth pinion. (I think) I am running a 3.36 now and thinking about a 3.08 for the highway. Need to replace carrier and pinion bearings since I get a whine from rear end when under no-load. (at highway speed) Should I use Timken
or BSA bearings, or does it matter?
Ray
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,642
Likes: 4,689
From: Mustang OK
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2025 c1 of the Year - Modified Winner
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2015 C1 of the Year Finalist
Tom,
I was wondering about the tooth count of the ring gear on
the 4.56 and up 5.13 differential. I'm not planning to use one, but
was just curious. I was cleaning out my tool shed and found some
gears I had saved. 3.70, 3.55 and 3.36 All three had a 37 tooth
ring gear. The 4.11 was also 37 tooth with a 9 tooth pinion. (I think) I am running a 3.36 now and thinking about a 3.08 for the highway. Need to replace carrier and pinion bearings since I get a whine from rear end when under no-load. (at highway speed) Should I use Timken
or BSA bearings, or does it matter?
Ray
I was wondering about the tooth count of the ring gear on
the 4.56 and up 5.13 differential. I'm not planning to use one, but
was just curious. I was cleaning out my tool shed and found some
gears I had saved. 3.70, 3.55 and 3.36 All three had a 37 tooth
ring gear. The 4.11 was also 37 tooth with a 9 tooth pinion. (I think) I am running a 3.36 now and thinking about a 3.08 for the highway. Need to replace carrier and pinion bearings since I get a whine from rear end when under no-load. (at highway speed) Should I use Timken
or BSA bearings, or does it matter?
Ray
I DO NOT buy Chinese bearings, BUT I have come to a conclusion about buying *** bearings. The BCA bearings (Fed-Mog) that I have bought from O'Reillys often are from Japan. How often do you see a bearing go bad on a Honda or Toyota?
Tom Parsons
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Brookings Oregon
5.13 Posi
I used one in my 31 Model A for a while but pulled it out when I drove from Michigan to Memphis in 1975 for the Street Rod Nationals. It's still sitting. I'll pull it out & get you some pictures. It is a P case. Planning to put it into my 60 Corvette.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,642
Likes: 4,689
From: Mustang OK
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2025 c1 of the Year - Modified Winner
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2015 C1 of the Year Finalist
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom Parsons
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 10,350
Likes: 674
From: Beverly Hills (Pine Ridge) Florida
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 448
Likes: 6
From: ALLEN Texas
Rear Gear counts
Found the gear counts for the ratios...
All will fit in the 3-series 57-62 Vette housing.
Ratio Ring Count Pinion Count
3.08 37 12
3.36 37 11
3.55 39 11
3.70 37 10
3.73 41 11
3.90 39 10
4.11 37 9
4.56 41 9
5.13 41 8
Ray
All will fit in the 3-series 57-62 Vette housing.
Ratio Ring Count Pinion Count
3.08 37 12
3.36 37 11
3.55 39 11
3.70 37 10
3.73 41 11
3.90 39 10
4.11 37 9
4.56 41 9
5.13 41 8
Ray
