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By Kahuna - 10 Years Ago
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Anyone know what rear axle type is in a stock 56 Ford sedan?
Model/make, etc
Thanks
Jim
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By MoonShadow - 10 Years Ago
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The 49 to 56 rear end never earned a nickname. It's somewhere between and 8" and a 9". It does not have a good reputation. The early Mustang some other 9" rears will literally bolt in its place. Check this site for information: http://www.kevinstang.com/Ninecase.htm .Of course some drive shaft work will probably be required. If you are not modifying the engine it will probably hold up its the hot rodding that breaks them. Several years ago I ran across a Detroit Gear posi traction unit for mine. Never saw one before or since. Sort of rare I guess. They work like the 60's Mustang ratchet lock. I plan to run it until it breaks and have a Cougar 9" waiting in the wings.
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By Kahuna - 10 Years Ago
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Thanks Moon
I wonder if there is any info available that might show different models of the 9" axle that will really BOLT-IN without mods?
I know that they are very popular, but maybe totally unneccesary for my application (282 w/auto)?
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By paul2748 - 10 Years Ago
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The 57-58 9 inchers will "bolt-in" on a 52-56 Ford but driveshaft mods will be required (length, u-joint). 59 are the same length but I am not sure if the spring spacing is the same as 57-58, Overall length is the same as 52-56 Fords
I put a 57 9 inch inch my 54 Ford and it was a bolt in. Brake cables worked too.
I checked out a 65/66 Mustang (8 inch) and it was the same deal as I remember
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By Rono - 10 Years Ago
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I just finished swapping a 57 wagon rear into our 56 Ranch Wagon. Yes, they are a direct bolt-in as the dimensions between backing plates and spring perch centering holes are the same, but there are some other differences. The spring perch pads on my 56 rear had a 1&1/8" hole and use a rubber pad and metal retainer to center the rear on top of the leaf spring. The 57 rear just has the 1/2" hole in the perches for the leaf spring center pin to go into. So, you either need to not use the rubber pad and retainer or open up the hole in the spring perch to use the rubber pads and retainer like the stock 56 rear has. Also, the axle tube on the 56 rear is a smaller diameter than the 57 9" axle tube so the 56 U bolts will not fit over the axle housing. Using a wider diameter U bolt with the stock 56 spring plate will require that you open up the holes in the plate so the U bolts will fit through. Finally, for now I have kept the 56 driveshaft. I did some careful measuring and I have 3" of the slip yoke on the output shaft of the Fordomatic. I think this should be enough, but the driveshaft would look better if it was another 2" longer.
Rono
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By 82warren - 10 Years Ago
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If I remember right, all axles are the same '49 thru' '56. Bearings are probably the same also. You don't need new axles, used are fine but replacing the bearings and bearing retainers should be done before driving too far, old bearings can be dried out and fail, I had it happen. Replacing them is not easy, requires a torch to cut off the old, a press to press on the new.
82warren
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By PWH42 - 10 Years Ago
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As others have posted,most 56s came with a rear end unique to early and mid-50s Fords.However,all police,taxi and 312 cars came with a Dana 44.
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By miker - 10 Years Ago
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IIRC, station wagons did also. Might be a difference in perch height.
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By DryLakesRacer - 10 Years Ago
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Not to widely known or usually considered but the 9" Ford has a terrible pinion angle to the ring gear costing HP. Most don't care or use them for their strength. Not sure on the pinion placement but I would look at the 8" Ford also. Back the day the Olds/Pontiac was the rear of choice Even tho the Ford 9 came out at the same time. The angle on those are much better. Some of the newer "oriental" pickup rears are better yet it there would be "some assembly required" . Good Luck
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By PWH42 - 10 Years Ago
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You're right miker.I forgot about the wagons.They all came with the Dana 44 also.
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By Rono - 10 Years Ago
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...and two extra leafs in the spring pack (total of 7) so as I found out, passenger car U bolts are too short to use on the wagons!
Rono
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By paul2748 - 10 Years Ago
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55 and 56 TBirds came with the Dana 44. As an added bonus, they had factory lowering "blocks" to make the Tbirds sit lower. I believe the length was the same as the sedans.
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By miker - 10 Years Ago
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At least on the 55 birds I've had, it's actually the perches (if that's the right word) that are different. The one back in the 60's needed lowering blocks when I put the wagon rear end in. Don't know about the u bolts. The wagon rear end was removed with a torch. I do remember having to get the lowering blocks to make the original u bolts work. I hadn't noticed before.
The one I have now had bad welds on the perches. Just figured it was a Monday production job. But when I went to replace the bearings, it had truck axles, and needed the larger bearings. I figure the rear end had been replace somewhere along the way. Still, it was a better job than the piece of plywood under the floor, so the wood screws could hold the gas pedal down.
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By Vic Correnti - 10 Years Ago
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Did the 55 and 56 birds really com with a factory lowering block?
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By speedpro56 - 10 Years Ago
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The pads were much taller on the birds than the passenger cars which act as lowering blocks, but they were welded to the rear housing so not really a removable lowering block.
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