The 1955 and 1956 Mercurys used a Dana/Spicer 45 rear end with a 8,75" ring. The Dana/Spicer 45 was also used in the Packards and some Chevy trucks (then with 6 bolts axles).

Anyone knows which parts that are interchangeable between the 45's and the 44's?
Can I use a limited slip differential from a Packard in a Mercury rear end?
Can I use a 44 limited slip in a 45 rear end?

The Dana/Spicer 45 should be stronger than the 44. Is that true? Has anyone broke a Dana/Spicer 45?

1955 Mercury

The Dana Spicer 45 is hard to find parts for, But it's a real good and strong rearend. I do have a carrier for one but I'm puting a 9 inch in my 56 Merc conv. from a 1958 Edsel from which the spring pads match etc. Parts will be a lot easier to find for the 9" including a limited slip and gear ratios are not limited.

-Gary Burnette-

Try Wikipidea. According to them the spline count on the Dana 45 is different than that on the Dana 44. The Dodge Viper V10 uses a Dana 44 so it must be kinda strong. Pete

Note that there is a carrier break between the 3.73:1 and the 3.92:1 ratios in the Dana 44. I had that issue when I put 3.50 gears in the Dana 44 in my '56 Mercury M100.

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

I read that the first two years of baby Birds came stock with a Dana/Spicer 44 19-spline rear end. In The Book of the Ford Thunderbird by Brian Long, it says that they had a Spicer rear axle with a 3:73 on manual models and a 3:31 on the automatic. In 1957 I believe the TBirds and other cars went to the 9 inch rear end. But I think I remember Dana/Spicer rear ends were also installed in station wagons, and later on in Jeeps if I'm not mistaken. Both the 44 and 45 are pretty rugged.

My ute has a dana 44. they are supposed to have 4.09:1 gearing. If you scrap the muck off the reinforcing web bottom right it will have 44 or 45 cast there. further build information is stamped of the axle tube right of the diff center.

Dana 44 have been in a long line of cars truck and 4wd they are known for their ruggedness. They are popular in 4WDing an have a huge aftermarket following almost as big as Ford 9". Early (pre 70's something) diff have coarse splines 19 axle and 10 pinion. the 45s are a little oddball.

Having a sightly lighter diff can be an advantage in handling (reduced unsprung weight) and reduced parasitic loss.

cheers

Warren

Grizzly (Aussie Mainline)

I need axle bearings, carrier bearings, seals, and a cover gasket for my 6 lug dana 45 in my 59 scrubyy pickup. Having NO luck. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

hi, my dad had a 50 f-1 pickup that i tore the rear end out of and we got one out of a 56 merc! it had better road gears!


 lincoln/merc. y-blocks &mel's                                                               bucyrus, ohio.

This is from Wikipedia so take it FWIW. It appears most 44 parts will work with some creative shimming. Maybe best to take it to a driveline shop and let them figger it out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_44#Dana_45