1932 rearend identification?

[choptop30]

I have three rearend a that I have acquired over the years that appear to be 1932's. Two have the round flanged torque tube with the bent trailing arms and one is the later style flanged housing flange and torque tube. On this rear the trailing arms are straight. The length of the torque tube is correct and it has the correct style curved rear spring like for a 32-34.

My question is it a 33-34 with a late 32 driveshaft and tube or its it a true 32? The straight trailing arms are what are throwing me off.

Thanks
Don

[Mart]

I'd like an expert to comment, but I think you might be right. I thought 32s had attachment points parallel to the centreline of the car. To match these the radius rods are bent. The 33/34 rear end has straight rods and the attachment points angled to suit. But if the torque tube length matches a 32 someone long ago may have used a 33/34 rear end in a 32 and used the 32 torque tube and driveshaft.

Unless the later 32 rear ends have the straight rods and angled attachments like the 33/34.

Hence the wish for an experts opinion. The only 32 rear ends I have had were 4 cylinder or early round flange types.

Mart

[deuce_roadster]

I think there were some VERY late 32 rear ends that had angled attachment radius rods. DavidG will certainly let us know.

[deuce5wndw]

Only the early 32 had the bent radius arms. The late 32 had the straight radius arms same as 33-34 according to the Ford green book. The only difference I have found in the late 32 and 33-34 bells is the 32 shock ball was cast with the bell and the 33-34 was bolted into a tapered hole. This is only from observation from what I have and I'm sure DavidG can tell us for sure.

[choptop30]

Thank you for the information. Sounds like I may have a later production 32 rearend then. I am glad to hear that since it is in a lot better shape than the other two are. Are there any other identifiers that I can look at to verify before I attemp to install this rearend in my car?

[DavidG]

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The late '32 rear axle with the straddle-mounted pinion gear was initially produced with axle housings that at first glance appear to be the same as the B-prefix axle assembly, i.e. with dog leg radius rods. A subsequent change resulted in the release of the version of the axle housings that used straight radius rods and those are the type most commonly encountered on late '32 rear axles with straddle-mounted pinion gears. From what I've seen and heard about, those initial version axle housings are extremely rare.

I have to check the release dates on the axle housings at the BFRC one of these days as the '34 chassis parts catalogue seems to be in error with regard to its listings. It shows separate listings for 18-4010/1 and 40-4010/1 axle housings, but then shows only 18-4750/1 as the late '32-'34 radius rods. Without further information, that contradiction makes no sense as there was no other part of the axle housings that changed from late '32 to '33-'34.

[deuce5wndw]

Guess I better start taking a better look instead of just looking for the straight radius rods! Have you run into the shock ball I mentioned or is the 34 rear bells I have just been altered? Thanks

[DavidG]

I believe that bolted-in shock absorber ball studs are a sign that they have been replaced. On all of the '32-'34 rear axle housings (loose or underneath vehicles) that I've had, the ball studs are peened over, which is something few dealerships would be equipped to do when worn out studs needed to be replaced. However, prior to 1935 I believe that only the original studs were provided for service, not the threaded version.

[qmdv]

From your descriptions it looks like I have an early 32 rear end behind the barn.

Tim

[deuce5wndw]

Thanks DavidG!

[DavidG]

You're welcome!