The '56 rear ended is fine if you don't have a lot of horsepower and drive conservatively. Ford used the 9" in performance applications for a reason. The wide range of gear ratio and parts availability is another plus.

You should consider going to a later 8 or 9 inch rear.  Using a 65-66 Mustang 8 inch or a 57-58 9 inch will be a bolt in and you have a more modern rear with multiple gear ratios  from which to choose.  Both are much stronger rears than the 49-56 rears.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

49/56 rear hold up, be serious, Carol Miller ran a supercharger on his 56 Victoria Y-block in 1957. When you start blowing 49/56 Ford rear ends it time to change the driver not the rear end. 

Thanks fellas. The reason for the question is probably obvious but I just want that extra grunt. I'm not gonna be doin anything excessive, at least not right away 😄! It'll be another year befor the the hot rod Y goes in. For now she will remain a 6+ 2v 272 with 108,000 odometer miles (104,000 when I bought her 2 yrs ago). This is all in prep for that day. When the new engine goes in so does the 12 volt up-grade for the dizzy, etc. probably (maybe) change rear gears also. At what I hope will be (guess at this point) 375+ hp, I don't know if the stock rear will hold up to what I have in mind for my retirement,..the smell of burnt rubber every time I get in the throttle!!😜Jeez, sorry guys, didn't mean to on so. (As I catch myself drooling). Friday night, what can I say.......?

Rowen
55CV
Woodland, Ca

Yes a V8 car standard shift without overdrive.1949 thru 1956. 4.10 was an option, as was 3.56. If the rear has never been out of the car there should be a tag on one of the bolts telling the ratio.

The O/D rear is probably the same as the 4.10 6 cyl.  The O/D's in 55 and 56 were pretty low


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

The six cylinder cars had a 4:10 rear.


Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Didn't want to continue to hijack jeff's thread.
So Lou, would that 3.78 be out of a passenger car with 3 speed stick without OD? I assume the taller 3.30 was for the Fordo.
Rowen

Rowen
55CV
Woodland, Ca