pulling a '39 ford rear end

[four-thirteen]

I'm off to the junkyard in a bit, tools in hand, to load up a few things, including a '39 ford rear end. the problem is, it's still in the car. i just want to know, before i head out, it there anything special about pulling a rear end out of a ford with the torque tube? i've never worked on one before, could someone lay it out for me how this all goes together? i figure i'd like to be armed with at least a little info on it before i begin. thanks, David

[Kevin Lee]

Go here first. This should give you an idea of how everything goes together.

Van Pelt (http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_partsdrawings_links.htm)

You should be able to take the whole thing with a couple of wrenches. The fastest way should be to just unbolt the torque tube at the transmission - four bolts around the clamshell. Unbolt the spring, disconnect the brake lines and you've got the entire rear end including the torque tube. If you don't want the torque tube and drive shaft then you need to include a drill, hammers, and punches. The driveshaft just slides into the U-joint at the transmission end, but it is help on with a pinned coupler at the rear end. And uhhh, grab the shifter for me. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Eyeball]

The easiest way is to pull the spring u bolts, that will drop the rear out and then there are 4 bolts that hold the bell end of the torque tube to the transmission. You may also want to remove the two bolts that hold the bell retainer together. Then hope like hell the splines are not seised to the u joint. I have only had one stubborn one and a log chain to the rear bumper of my pickup set it free.

[alchemy]

Don't forget a hot wrench for the shock dogbones. Getting the tapered ends out while in the field is gonna be tough.

[Kevin Lee]

Good call alchemy. And oh yeah, grab the shifter for me. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[four-thirteen]

Ahhh, yes, all very good information, thanks.....

Of course, I left for the yard before i checked any replies on my post. I didn't pull it today, due to a number of factors, namely that the back of my truck was filled with other crap.

I need to return with a few more tools, like a weed eater. The weeds at the place are taller than I am, and i'm not short....

Part two: the '39 gearbox is coming home with me as well. whats the easy way to get it out, without destroying the important parts? the floor is totally rotted out of the car, so it's all very easy to get to. does it just come out once the rear is out, and all the bolts are out of the bellhousing, and the clutch likage is removed? i'm not sure if I'm going to actually use the gearbox yet, but since it's there and easy to get to, i figured i might as well grab it. thanks, David

[Kevin Lee]

Is there a motor in this car? If no them you should be home free by taking the two biscuit mount bolts out and disconnecting the clutch linkage. Disconnect the linkage first as the trans will practially fall out when you get the nuts on the mounts off. Lift it into the wheel barrow and go. If yes, then it will be much harder since the mounts on the back of the trans are essentially the back two mounts for the entire motor and trans assembly...you'll basically be pulling the motor to get the trans....so you might as well keep the motor too. If you could slide a jack under there I suppose you could jack the motor up enough pivoting on the front mounts to slide the trans back and free it but I would take a length of thick walled pipe to jam across the X-member under the motor to support it after the trans is gone.

As long as you have the clutch linkage disconnected you might as well take the time to loosen four bolts and take the pedal assembly too. Good stuff. For that matter grab all four shocks if they are still good - mine werent.

And oh yeah, KEEP that shifter.

[TomH]

David, You might want to grab the clutch and brake pedals, they are the set you want for `32 to `38 frames. And if you don't use them you can sell or swap them.