My friend just picked up what he was told was a 39 ford banjo. However it’s much different than mine. His radius rods are much shorter, the torque tube center bearing is completely different and his driveshaft does not have the slip collar onto the differential. Any help identifying what year the diff actually is would be much appreciated.
If the driveshaft is a one piece extension of the pinion, it is probably from a Mercury. They used that design before the war. The remaining parts except for the pinion should be the same as Ford. The pictures that you show do not help to identify the year.
Lack of Panhard bar mount and small diameter spring eyes suggest pre-war; the short bones would be like '41; but again Merc stuff is different.
A 39 Merc wouldn't have the short wishbones though, would it? The brakes are '42 and later, but those can be switched easily so don't judge the rest of the rear on that. It surely has a one piece driveshaft and pinion as seen from those pics. Did all Mercs use that, from 39-48?