Technical Model a torque tube upside down?

Think the torque tube on my model a is upside down.. the cut out for the speedo drive is on the top. Is this right? Why would it be turned over? It was this away when I got it. Should I turn it over?

 

Supposed to be on top

 

Thanks! This is my first car with an enclosed driveshaft. And I thought it was supposed to be on bottom.

 

It's an old used car dealers trick....turning it upside down runs the odometer in reverse...the miles keep lowering.....

 

Unless I am misunderstanding the original post, I would disagree with #2 post.
On a stock Model A the cutout for the speedometer "turtle" faces the ground (as does the turtle) with the speedometer cable entering the turtle from the passenger side of the car. The rear radius rods also bolt to the front of the torque tube through a boss on the lower front of the tube.

If the rear suspension has been modified, an upside down torque tube may not be important.

HTH
Peace, Phred

 

PhredH, is correct. The cut out for the speedometer gear cap, sometimes called the "turtle" should be on the bottom. The speedometer cable exits the passenger side and routs up the inside right of the firewall thru the gas tank channel to the dash speedometer. If its facing up it's wrong. During Model A production there were seven different speedometer gear caps used. The front mounting point for your rear radius rods should be down for the radius rods to fit, that should be your first clue.

 

You're almost right Ray, but the proper way to do it is to remove the torque tube and swap it end for end.

 

So, at this point I have the engine and tranny out of the car. Should I rotate it to the right position? I’m guessing somebody in the past just put it together wrong. Is this what you guys are thinking?

 

you must be using some kinda different radius rod set up or your question would be answered by looking at it. the radius rods attach to the tube also, big boss stickin down behind the turtle, both are on the bottom if you are stock. has this thing been all apart? its possible to have the center section backwards too, then it goes really good backwards. drain plug on the bottom? look in the fill plug, gear should be on pass side ? i think, some will catch me if wrong

 

I haven’t owned the car long but it has definitely had some sub par mechanic work in the past. I’m pretty sure the center section is correct.
I think from what I’m reading, somebody in the past has had the torque tube off and when they put it back they have it 180 off. The boss for the radius arms is on the top also. So If I’m correct I should be able to unbolt the radius arms, remove the bolts from th flange of the torque tube to center section and rotate it 180degs and reassembled.
Am I correct here?

 

yeah, turn it over. they would have to have bent the rods to get them mounted on top, they are kinda wimpy but i'm not sure they will bend that far by hand. torch, or slip a long pipe pipe over them and see how it goes. in a perfect world they should match rite up to the bolt hole and make a nice triangle, as thats what keeps the rear end all square and happy

 

There is also a “notch” at the back of the torque tube that matches up with a notch in the banjo to allow oil to drain back into the banjo. This goes to the bottom as oil seeks it’s own level. So, turtle, radius rod attachment point and, notch all down.


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