Open drive banjo questions

[voodoo]

I'm getting together all the pieces for my flathead powered A chassis. I've got a '46 truck open drive banjo and a complete '40 rear end setup. What I'm wondering is if I can put the center section from the truck into the '40 rear. I would like to be able to use the spring hangers and bones from the '40. I'm using a '51 Merc engine and 3 speed OD tranny so I need the open rear end. Thanks again.

[Crestliner]

you will have to use your axles if not mistaken. I believe there is a difference in lenght.

[Harrison]

Swap the open banjo, ring, and pinion into the '40 rear end. The '40 axles and axle housings should be about 1 inch shorter on each side. That's probably a good thing on a little A project.

Be sure to check the axle seals out near the ends of the axle housings. Odds are they are worn out and need replacing. In the pic below, these seals are located inside the housing about where the "tube" is welded to the cast spring mount/backing plate mount/bearing surface piece.

What you want to do should work with minimal problems provided your ring, pinion, and rear hub bearing surfaces (pictured) are good. The one pictured below was rusted and "chewed up" a bit as a result of a rear wheel bearing going down. This usually shows up on the bottom side of the housing's bearing surface.

[voodoo]

Harrison thanks. I just wanted to make sure everything interchanged before I tore it apart. This will save me from having to get a spring behind set up from some place else. Also thanks for the tip on the seals.

[wideglide74]

Let's here more... planning the same conversion as soon as my new hub puller arrives.

[Harrison]

What do you need to know? After parting out 4 rear ends to get the parts to build just one, I have a little knowledge.

Several other HAMBers have much more...

Here is my spring in front set up.

JH

[cornfieldrodder]

Can one use the torque tube ring and pinion with the factory Ford seal huosing and yoke or would a guy need to use an aftermarket set up such as Speedways, or fab one up for the job?

[wideglide74]

I'm planning to use this 46 open drive set uo with a nice 36 rear I recently drug home...

[wideglide74]

Nice complete 36 rear. Plan to utilize the ring/pinion, brakes and drums from the 46 pu diff.