I have a 56 Sunliner with a 292.  It has a 3 speed with overdrive.  When I bought the car it had a 3 speed in it but one time in its life it must have had an automatic because it has 3.22 rear end.  Based on my shop manual it should have a 3.89 rear end in a 8 1/2 case.  I can not get going with out babying the clutch and would like to get the right gear set.  Is there anything interchangeable or a source for a 9/35 pinion drive gear set?  Are there companies that can custom make the ring and pinion set?

Thanks Frank

Frank where are you located.   Carl

You can interchange any Ford or Mercury car rear gear 49 to 56, but if you use a 49/55 center section you must use 49/55 axles. Most Ford cars with over drive 49/56 had a 3.78 rear standard, optional was was 3.89 (standard in O/D station wagons) and 4.10. Ford cars with standard trans without O/D also had 3.78 rear gears. It rare and hard to fine but 6 cyl O/D station wagons had 4.30 rear gears.

.The later (55-56) wagons used a different rear than the sedans and are not interchangeable.  I don't know about he earlier years.


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

The station wagon ring and pinion are interchangeable, but the SW center section is non-removable..

I found a ford 9 inch rear, and did a complete swap out. best way to go, 9 inch holds up better and you can insert your
ratio.

Yes, the 57,58 and 59 Ford wagon 9" rear all have the same axle housing length as the 56. However, the center section has a lower profile than the 56 center section so you need a longer driveshaft. On the 57 wagon rear end I used the stock ratio was 3.56:1 Also, the 56 parking brake cables are different than the ones for the 9" rear ends, but they used nice 2&1/4" brake shoes so good stopping power there.

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID