Late model axles in a Banjo- How hard is it?

[raven]

Just wanted to know how hard it is to swap lat model axles into a banjo rear.
What axles does one use?
Any other info?
r

[Kevin Lee]

I'm sure modernbeat will be along with the Lincoln info - but I don't know how "late" that is or how available the parts are. Ford 9" is workable too but you probably knew that. I think you're looking at a ton of machinework either way.

I've read about making a [i]Model A[/i) rear end pretty strong buy swapping different axles. Hudon I thinK??? This was fone on the Gemsa T but I think you're stuck with a spool....and I've never heard what year or model was used.

[55olds88]

Check out the current R&C (with the twin flattie rail) there is a feature in there on a company offering this service, sorry can't remember who they were.

[TomH]

About 6 month ago some one did a very good post on this ( It was from an old Hot Rod mag) using 49 to 51 Merc axles and side gears. You will need a lath to install the side gears and weld the Merc end bearing cups to the banjo housing.Some thing most of us can't do at our home shops.

[Smokin Joe]

These guys have a late model axle setup.
http://www.hotrodworks.com/

[modernbeat]

Yep, I posted an old-tech article that NeilinCA sent me on swapping '50 Mercury axles into a Banjo housing and using the stock Ford differential.

HAMB Modern Axles in Banjo (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB1&Number=53557)

I know a few folks have found spider gears that work with the late Ford Banjo and Ford 9-inch axles. Bob Wilson is doing them this way. I don't know if Bob is still doing this in light of recent events regarding Sig Emerson.

The other solution is to use Sig Emerson's NEW differential. He's selling a new open diff that uses the stock (slightly modified) Ford Banjo ring and pinion gears, accepts 9-inch axles, and fits into a stock Banjo housing. He's been offering them on Ebay for about $400. You still have to do the work on the housing ends and supply the axles, but you don't have to do any machine work, just cut, measure, jig and weld.

I've got scanned pages from another article on my FTP site. Catch them at:

Page 1 (http://lonestar.texas.net/~mcdaniel/hamb/banjo1.jpg)
Page 2 (http://lonestar.texas.net/~mcdaniel/hamb/banjo2.jpg)
Page 3 (http://lonestar.texas.net/~mcdaniel/hamb/banjo3.jpg)
Page 4 (http://lonestar.texas.net/~mcdaniel/hamb/banjo4.jpg)

Someone posted a european differential that was a type of locker, maybe a PowerTrax, that was modified to work in a Banjo with modern axles. As far as I know, it was a one-off and not offered to the public.

While Hot-Rod-Works may be offering a great turn-key product, I think they are behind the curve in offering anything cutting edge. Their menu is all tried and true, but reproducable for similar cost by home machinist. Sig's differential makes it easier for those of you without a lathe (or those of us without a lathe big enough or that spins fast enough to use carbide tooling).

FWIW: I've mentioned Sig before. He's in Brenham, Texas a little more than an hour from Houston. He bought up the remaining supply of Halibrand V8 quickchanges and has retooled to make a lot of the parts in short supply. He's been selling inexpensive kits to convert a banjo to a QC that include all the parts you need except the change gears.

[GuyW]

I've read about making a [i]Model A[/i) rear end pretty strong buy swapping different axles.

Model A rearends have a different problem - the pinion gear is not supported on both ends...hence, under enough HP it can distort away from the ring gear....