Technical Odd ball independent rear end thingy

This gem pooped up on marketplace.
Sellers says Dana with 5:38 gears.
What say you HAMB experts?

 

It’s definitely a top loader

 

I'd say if you have the cash, buy it and if you can't fix it, hang it on the wall.

 

I know. It’s a few hours up the road.
Dang it

 

You better reinforce the wall.

 

Has some early looking backing plates for those drums.

 

Golf cart?

 

My guess it's millatairy

 

Kinda seems like it with those gears.

 

I know there are some cushman and Taylor-Dunn warehouse carts that came with ford 9” diffs and other strange setups.
It doesn’t look homemade or bodged together.

 

Odd something that short would be non-symmetrical.

 

Am I seeing this right? Inboard drum brakes for a swing axle rear suspension? Or maybe independent depending on the outboard mounts? Looks hell for stout though.

 

The width is crazy, the axels would be very short in a automotive application.

 

Any way this could be part of an early Jag IRS? Just guessing....

 

Doesn't appears to be a Jag IRS, looks like a scaled down version of a 12" Strange centre section however they're not IRS. Rockwell produced top loading solid rear axles for trucks. It'd be interesting to see whether it has fine or coarse splined axles, are there any casting numbers of other identifiers? 5.38:1 could suggest an industrial application.

 

Ring gear looks pretty chewed up.

 

Yep....maybe a Dana 44....not too exciting.....

 

I used to have a 1948 Gibson Garden Tractor, Model D. Had a big one lugger engine, a pre-1937 top shift Chevrolet 3 speed transmission, and an 8-3/4" MOPAR rear end. The "Positraction" (Sure Grip), is basically the same as the 55-64 style Dana Arma-Steel, Chevrolet Positractions. That's what I think the "guts" of that rear end are. No idea about the half-shafts. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Yeah, it appears to be a dana 44. Jaguar used dana 44 center sections with inboard brakes but I've only seen disc brakes. Maybe it's an early version of the Jag. I see it used a torque tube driveshaft setup too.

 

I think the JAG is a Spicer 44 derivative called a Salisbury in England. It also has a rear cover....not top load.

 

A ‘48 Gibson tractor had an 8 3/4 MOPAR rear end? Seems like the 8 3/4 was introduced in the late ‘50’s, wasn’t it?

 

Dodge WWII weapon carriers and later M37's used a 5:38 ratio, ring and pinion could be out of one of those.

 

The cover for the rear in the OP’s photos has bolt holes in a symmetrical pattern, unlike any Dana axle I’m familiar with.

 

I was "told" it was a 1948 when I bought it to use as yard art. They also did't all use the same rear ends. I do know mine had an 8-3/4" MOPAR, no doubt about that. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Currie got their start with 9 inch rears cutting them down for Taylor Dunn carts and other industrial carts.

 

It's out of an AMC Mighty-Mite AMC Mighty Mite - Revivaler

 

@Mr48chev for the win!

 

Wow. I’ve never heard of those. Very interesting.

 

Can anyone explain to what that quarter elliptic mounts?

 

https://www.hagerty.com/media/auctions/amcs-rare-mighty-mite-is-a-forgotten-military-flyweight/