Unusual Rear End

[Hoosier Hurricane]

That style rear was used in '49 to '56 Ford passenger cars.   John

[Ecode70D]

   I agree 100% with Hoosier Hurricane John.   It looks like someone swapped the whole 49-56 rear end  unit into the car.   Jay

[Jeff Norwell]

Yes.Had the same rear in my 55 Ford.

[lowrider]

Thanks guys.  Hiball, that picture is a dead ringer (except for the superior condition that yours is in).  I think they did just change the whole assembly.  Does anyone know what else those were in other than '56s?

I think they used that style rear end to replace the torque tube types in full size cars whatever that year was. For an 17yr old kid, other than stripping out spider & side gears (don't know how that happened) they seem to be a good rear end.

[Ecode70D]

  Back in the old days I used to beat on those old rear ends in the several 56 Fords that I owned.   I blew a lot of transmissions, and  never blew up one of those rear ends.  Bolting that U joint connection up was not fun.  When the 57s came out with the U bolts, that was a big improvement.     

[jseth83]

Thanks guys.  That one really had me stumped.  I'm planning to swap it out in the next few days.

[jseth83]

A few days turned into almost a month,but i did finally get around to pulling it out.  I set a Dana 44 in just to roll the car around and look at this one.  It was full of lube but missing the ring gear.....strange....

[hiball3985]

A few days turned into almost a month,but i did finally get around to pulling it out.  I set a Dana 44 in just to roll the car around and look at this one.  It was full of lube but missing the ring gear.....strange....

Way back in the days, I've seen people do that when they were going to use the rear axle for a home made trailer. Lucky you didn't hook a drive shaft to it and try to drive it 

[Ecode70D]

Way back in the days, I've seen people do that when they were going to use the rear axle for a home made trailer. Lucky you didn't hook a drive shaft to it and try to drive it 

    That's exactly what I was thinking, but Jim Is younger and faster than me with the keyboard.
     Those were a lot cheaper and more plentiful when making a home made trailer.
     I towed one like that from Mass. to California.