Hot Rods PLEASE HELP IDENTIFY REAR END

I picked up this rear end and I'm not familiar with it. It's a 51-52" to backing plates , Positraction with leaf spring mounts. 5x4.5" bolt pattern.

Please help. THANK YOU

 

Maybe a 1956 and back Ford Car?






Bones

 

Bones beat me to it, 49/56 Ford car. outside of General appearance the U joint setup on the pinion yoke pretty well seals the deal
Courtesy of Rock auto here is the U joint that bolts to it.

 

That style of U joint is commonly referred to as a "mechanics joint" in my neck of the woods

 

Did Ford have "Positraction" back then?

 

Maybe it is a Lincoln Locker. They had those back in the day.

 

I don't believe they did but am not sure when Ford started putting them in cars.

 

When did Ford come out with the Lincoln/Miller/etc locker?

 

The Studebaker-Packard Corporation pioneered the Limited Slip Differential under the brand name "Twin Traction" in 1956, becoming one of the first US manufacturers.

Maybe: Ford Equa-Lock were used from 1963 ?, up until about 1969, which is when the Traction Lok units first appeared.

 

Ahhhh, before Hobart came on the scene?

 

The Hobart locked spider gears were all the rage starting in 1925.

 

I was really going to see @j hansen avatar when I opened this thread

 

Or "bat wing" U joint.

 

Thanks again everyone, I'm still interested in more info if anyone has any. Is this a strong rear end for a hot rod?

 

Not especially…depends on weight of vehicle, horsepower being applied and driver’s ‘technique’.

In a lighter weight coupe or roadster, 200 hp or less, not dumping the clutch at high rpm, it would be serviceable, imo.

Curious why you think it is a limited slip?

Ray

 

@ProtoTypeDesignFlauz

By saying “Studebaker-Packard Corp pioneered the limited slip”, are you saying ‘developed’ or merely was an ‘early adopter’ of the units? In my experience, Studebaker Twin Traction axles are Dana/Spicer model 44 series.

To the best of my knowledge, Dana/Spicer was a prominent supplier of driveline components to many manufacturers (assemblers) but not owned by any particular such manufacturer.

Ray

 

It is a relatively strong rear end, but in 1957 Ford determined they needed a stronger rear end with the 312 Thunderbird 245 horsepower engine, so they developed the now famous nine inch rear end. One problem with this rear end is a limited number of gears. You will probably have to run what is in it. It depends if it came out with a standard shift or auto and V-8 or 6, as to what ratio it is. Like mentioned, I was not aware of any traction enhancers made for that rear end. They were used back in the day in a lot of “ hobby stock “ classes of circle track cars and it was common to weld up the gears….known as the “ Lincoln Locker” .








Bones

 

Hotchkiss style rear produced by Ford from 1949 thru 1956. It worked well in cars of the time with 110-120 HP, but as Ford made larger and more powerful engines of the 272-292 fame, problems ensued and it was replaced by the 9 inch in 1957.

 

We grabbed both drums and they spin together, we couldn't get one to spin opposite.
Maybe they are welded up, who knows?

If anyone wants this rear end, make me an offer.
thanks

 

Or the spiders are just stuck.

Dave

 

I got a 9” center section on my workbench right now. It came out of a 57 housing 3.56 on the tag with that “ BATWING” yoke. It’s been hanging around the garage for a decade . Thanks to this thread
I now know what the hell kind of yoke I been looking at for the last ten years

 

Maybe I'm mixed up, but doesn't that funny yoke flange indicate it's not a 9" diffy?