Bob,  I can’t answer your question about changing the carrier when installing the gear set’s available from the vendors mentioned.  I can say however, if you source an an entire power glide rear end, the entire center assembly, gears, differential case, driveshaft, torque tube, etc will bolt into your 41 housing as an assembly and connect to your transmission.  Your six lug axles can be reused with the 3.55 PG assembly.  I made this change to my 41 and it made highway driving a pleasure.  There are several discussions about this change on the old forum.  Mike

Nice write up Mike thanks!  I have read several discussions you and others have contributed concerning this change just could not find the answer for this particular question.

 I have not been able to find a PG rearend. Ever so often I see a standard trans rearend come up for sale but PG’s have become scarce at least around here so I thought about the option of just purchasing the ring and pinion to install in mine.

Bob

Posted by: @robert-keck

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 I have not been able to find a PG rearend. Ever so often I see a standard trans rearend come up for sale but PG’s have become scarce at least around here so I thought about the option of just purchasing the ring and pinion to install in mine.

Bob

You might consider placing an add in the Parts Wanted section of the Classifieds. The link is at the top of the page.

The advertising says direct bolt in so if you are in doubt then simply ask when ordering. I made the 411-355 ratio change on my 51 with OEM parts and did change out the carrier. While doing the job I measured the difference in carriers and am guessing the original carrier could be machined to accomadate the 355 gear set.

@steve-d  I put a 3.70 in my 47 and that is a nice improvement.

That would have been my choice if I had not found the pieces for the 355. A year after doing the change I came across a complete 370 rear along with some other parts that was free. It is now in storage as a back-up.

@steve-d I emailed the filling station and asked this question:

subject: Ring and pinion item #FS-789

” I’m confused about all I read concerning swapping gears. I have a 1941 car with a 4:11 ring and pinion. The 3:55 you offer will bolt in my 1941 without changing the carrier?  Thanks!”

This is their answer:

“FS-789 is a replacement ring and pinion gear. The carrier stays but we do recommend new carrier bearings (included in installation kit: https://store.fillingstation.com/detail/FS-789C/Chevrolet_19401950_Passenger_GEAR_INSTALLATION_KITSTD_TRANS.html )”

So they say the 3:55 gears they offer will fit my 4:11 carrier.

@robert-keck Good deal. Now we know.

For those who may be interested,

I now have the 3:55 ring & pinion thats advertised to fit the 1940 thru 1954 and a nos 3:55 that came in the 1950 thru 1954 powerglides. The most obvious difference is in the ring gear. The 1940 thru 1954 ring gear is thinner. The difference in pinion gears is not as obvious. However the nos pinion gear weighs about 2.5 ounces less.