Rear End Gears
 

A friend of mine recently purchased a Model A complete rear end. It had been sitting outside for years but was intact.
He stripped it down far enough to count the ring and pinion and came up with a 9 tooth pinion and a 41 tooth ring gear. My math puts that at a 4.55 gear set !
He knows Model A's and swears that this is not an AA rear . He had been hoping to get himself a 3.78 or 4.11 ring and pinion but instead has 4.55's .

I could not find any info that shows Ford ever made gears that steep for a Model A. He has not removed the gears from the housing yet so he has no idea if there is a Ford stamping on them .

So my question for the experts is did Ford offer a 4.55 rear or do you think he has aftermarket gears there ?

Pete

Re: Rear End Gears
 

I don't think that gear ratio was ever offered in a Model A style gear set.
I bet he mis-counted somehow.
Is he looking thru the drain or fill plug holes?

Re: Rear End Gears
 

Companies used to make special gears for racing, etc. Getz was the most common.

Re: Rear End Gears
 

Yes he counted properly , he had one of the axle tubes off and he chalked each component before counting. In fact he counted several times in disbelief !
Oh well I guess he will need to find someone who wants to swap a set of 3.78's for those Rockey Mountain gears !

Jim , thanks for the tip on Getz .

Pete

Re: Rear End Gears
 

Some V8 60's & like a factory 4 cyl, in a '40 Pickup, used 4.44-1 gears. They were sought after gears, for Drag Racing.
Bill W.

Re: Rear End Gears
 

Have used 4.55 gears with BW overdrives. Found new ones at Speedway. Model A based race cars would use them. Not rare but notable. It's about numbers which can cause those arithmeticly challenged to "assume". Good luck: Fred A.

Re: Rear End Gears
 

Studebakers, like my 1950 Champion, used 4.56 gears with the BW overdrive.

Re: Rear End Gears
 

Vince, didn't Ford offer 3.54 gears as an option in coupes in 1929? Rod

Re: Rear End Gears
 

Ok, then what is with the speedo drive cap in section 4 of the JS? Note under the cap reads "Late 28 thru early 29, 40A only, 3.54:1." Just curious where the info for that came from. Keep in mind it is the 1997 version of the JS as I have not bought the updated version. Rod

Re: Rear End Gears
 

Of the 41/9 gears that I have, one set i picked up at the LB T meet is by Republic. The other was bought new directly from Speedy Bill when it was rumored that he bought Getz. Asked about something lower than 4.11 and Bill made it sound like the price was a couple of hundred. When the new gears arrived the total was $300. Still needed them as the V8-60 produces more RPM than torque and they are a must in topgear with overdrive. 60s have gone from scrap to something more and sold the '40 engine before finishing the project. Again it is about the numbers(ratios). Good Luck: Fred A