[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by psogden

Before departing on a short trip for a few days (and getting back to the reality of the problem at hand) did some checking to satisfy my curiosity.

Here is part of a Ford Barn post from “Kens 36” dated 4-19-11: “A mailgram dated 10-20-47 (from the Ford Archives) detailed the procedure for assembling the hub and drum to the axle shaft. It specified use of a 24 inch handle and a torque of 300-350 foot-pounds. Service Letter A-25 dated 11-6-47 corrected the torque setting, stating: “tighten nut 356074-S to 200-220 foot pounds; then continue to the next castellation providing final resultant torque does not exceed 275 foot pounds.”

I then consulted (former and deceased) Ford V-8 Times great repair guru Dick Flynn’s article on the subject. Here is his recommendation. “Torque nut to 150-160 ft. lbs. of torque. The axle metal is grade 8 or better, 5/8-inch grade 8 bolt torque is 225 ft. lbs. So we aren’t even close to that."

So, obviously there is considerable discrepancy here. But 220 would appear to be pushing the outer limits if Flynn is correct.

psogden, I just sent you a pm on this, so it's probably not necessary to repeat all that I said there, but here is information on the subject of torquing early Ford axle nuts, that I just copied from the 32 to 53 Flathead Ford Techno Site.....

"Posted by Nirvana June 13, 2002 at 7:19PM :

I hate these senior moments!! I can't find my book with torque value of the axle nuts on a 40 stock rear end. 180 Lbs keeps ringing in the back of my emptyness, is this the correct value??

Thanks, might take her out for a spin this week-end after 3 years, if the wheels don't fall off first.

Posted by JWL June 13, 2002 at 8:32PM :

In Reply to: Torque value of axle nut posted by Nirvana from swd-pm1-007.inetnebr.com (209.50.13.147) on Thursday, June 13, 2002 at 7:19PM :

180 is on the low side, but will get you started before retorqing after the first drive. I use 220 and retorque weekly, on a rebuild, untill they stop moving. The spec sheets have varying values assigned to this connection.

Posted by FlatV8*June 13, 2002 at 11:49PM :

In Reply to: Re: Torque value of axle nut posted by JWL from 02-ocil-01f.dial.optilinkcomm.net (216.128.152.157) on Thursday, June 13, 2002 at 8:32PM :

The 'V8 Times', Sept/Oct 98 Issue, pages 46 and 48, quotes several Ford Service Letters and later corrections.
The final direction on tightening axle nuts reads: "tighten nut 356074-S to 200 to 220 foot pounds; then continue tightening to the next castellation providing final resultant torque does not exceed 275 foot pounds "

In my humble opinion, I would follow these specifications before I would consider the other torque specs you have posted above.