So which rear end do you have? Are you certain it's a 4.27 ratio? Is it a Dana 41 or a Dana 44? Have you looked at the tag attached to the rear cover? Does it say "41" or "44" on the rear housing? Your truck is a 1949. It should have a Dana 41, and most of those were a 3.73.

I've talked to the folks at Randy's ring and pinion at least a couple times. They have no parts for a Dana 41.

 

Exactly

What trans did you originally have, that the DS had to be shortened? Mine came out to be 1" too short. I switched to a longer yoke on the new axle to make that up enough to get by. I really should have had the DS re-tubed, but that's a $200 hit.

 

Doc....I'm going home after lunch and resolve this issue I hope. It's been over a year since I used all the info I found on this site to determine that I had a Dana 41 with 4.27 gears. I can't honestly say how I figured that out because I don't remember. What I do remember is while I had no bedwood in and was cleaning and painting the rear chassis, I checked the rear end to see what I had. Very confused right now since I find things like above and below. Below it clearly says “According to the shop manual for 49-50-51 the ratios available were 47/11=4.27 or 47/12=3.92”.....Above you say “ It should have a Dana 41, and most of those were a 3.73”....You have always been helpful to me and so has everyone else on here. Again I ask you guys not take my frustration personally because I totally do not mean to sound that way. I do ask you understand that it is impossible for me to determine anything with certainty when two reputable and knowledgeable members post completely opposite things for me to go by. Either the shop manual is correct or it's not. If I do have 3.73's then that would change my future gear choice...if it even happens now. I'll just take pics of what I have and look for casting numbers again.

This below is even confusing since ct50f1 quotes the shop manual as listing 47/11 for 4.27 and 47/12 for 3.92 then shows his tag that reads 51/13 for 3.92....why was that not in the shop manual???

 

Don't believe everything you read in the manual or on the internet.

 

Because 53/13 was an optional ratio in '50 only, probably not a common one.

 

LOL. Exactly!

Wayne, there's a misprint in the shop manual. There's another spot in the same book that correctly states 3.73 as an option for the 48-50's. Like you said, you need to crawl under that truck and look at your own rear end (lol, sounds kind of kinky, doesn't it). If you don't see the "41" and a tag that hopefully tells you what the ring and pinion ratio is, just simply take the rear cover off and count the teeth.

 

And there you go! Ross is the man!

 

Two things are settled for me...Dana 41 with 3.92's is what I have...yes I verified it this time......and no rear end except the exact same one is a "bolt in." Nuff said. Thanks for all that replied. I'll settle the rest later myself...lol.....tired of fooling with it.

 

It may a little late to ask or you may have already answered this question but, why do you want to change the gears? Is it just too low for you?

 

truck is comfortable at 45-50mph....on the freeway....i'm not!!
most are driving 80 and a 30mph difference is asking to be hammered. My feelings and I'm sticking to em.

 

Call Randy at Randy's Ring and Pinion
Give him the information about your rear end
Ask if there is a ring and pinion that will fit your rear end in or near the ratio that you desire

To everyone following this post - Always get a physical check of the rear type and the actual ratio that is installed - There may have been changes in the 60 years or so that they have been floating around - Then you can talk to a gear shop with confidence about your intentions

 

If you can only do 45-50 on the freeway you already answered the question. It really makes no difference what gears you have.

You can calculate what you need by using the tire diameter, speed and rpm to calculate the desired gear.

 

This one is good too:

Gear Calculators Courtesy of Richmond Gears

 

I didn't say I COULDN'T go faster...i clearly said COMFORTABLE....Ive had the truck at 65MPH so whatever....anyway I'm not arguing about what I like or don't like about my own truck. My mustang came with 2.73s factory and I put 3.55s in for performance. But I have overdrive. Everyone on here constantly talks about needing overdrive or better highway gears. I want the same. End of story! If I want the 9" rear end to fit I'll make it fit.

 

My mistake I thought you asking for help with gears. If you just want a 9" then do that.