Restoration Qs...Very early rear end

[d.j. moordigian]

Just took apart a ve-28 rearend. On the torque tube( it's the first one described in the
2011 revision, page 4-11 ) is stamped " A 869 ". It runs inline with the drive shaft. The
characters are " A" = 1/4" , numbers = 3/16" , which spooks me a bit, you would think
they would be the same size. Any thoughts?

Dudley

[Mitch]

Look down the page to Dean from Bozeman's stamping on A495 engine block.

[Fred]

That would be correct, But I did not know they stamped the tube @ the factory ??..

[Gary Karr]

I've never heard of or seen a number stamped on a torque tube. I'll have to look at mine on A 3261.

[Ron in Quincy]

The Drive Shaft Housing on A1276 (Light Delivery) has 3 steps behind the bell, and the taper is different than shown in the earlier Judging Standards, prior to being revised; it is also stamped near the bell with the A1040 number. The other thing I found different is the Rear Axel Housings, they have sleeves pressed on the housing ends. The axel nut does not have a washer and seats on the drum .

If you look at the drawing of the rear end in the earliest owners manuel you can see the 3 steps behind the bell and also see the axel nut with no washer.

Also,In the February 1928 issue of "Ford Dealer and Service Field" page 20-21, there is a article by Murray Fahnestock, Technical Editor; the article gives the mechinical details of the New Ford Rear Axel; its states " Hardened and ground sleeves are pressed on the outside ends of the axel housings, and the Hyatt type roller bearings which carry the wheels are mounted directly on these steel sleeves, thus making a simple and easily serviced construction "

When I find my to scale drawing of my drive shaft housing I will provide the actual measurements.

Ron

Behind bell the measurements are as follows:

1. 2" length by 2-9/16" diameter
2. 2-1/2" lemgth by 2-9/32" diameter
3. 7" length by 1-29/32" diameter
4. 13" length tapering from 1-29/32" to 2-7/8"
5. 2-7/8" diameter to end

Total length from front of bell to flang forging is 501/4"

Ron

[Steve Ciccalone]

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I have six early tubes and none of them are stamped including A189's. Engine A869 went to assembly on December 1, 1927. I'm going to guess that there could have been a mechanical issue that may have resulted in the rear end being pulled and it was stamped so it would be returned to the appropriate vehicle.

[Benson]

I can not help with number stamping but here are some pictures of an early differential drive shaft problem.

Steve Becker said that this is fairly common and the design was changed early on to fix it.

This is a weak point in the early drive shaft design. The crack can be seen extending 2-3 key-way widths out to the right of the key-way and for the length of the key-way.

Dudley if you need more details I can send a higher resolution picture.

[Ron in Quincy]

I have added additional information to my post and corrected the number stamped on my deive shaft housing.

Ron

[d.j. moordigian]

Steve,
That was my thought when I saw the numbers.

Ron,

1, 2" length X 2 7/16"
2. 2.5" " X 2.275"
3. 6 3/4" X 1 29/32"
4. 10" taper to 2.910 (2 29/32")
5. I got 50 5/8", bell to bolt seat and/or 51" overall.

The numbering is interesting, I have one more ve-28 rear to look up.

[Gary Karr]

Ron, My VE-28 axle housings (A 3261) are also sleeved. I didn't think much about them when I re-sleeved them until you and I had a conversation about them. I'll have to check the torque tube.

[d.j. moordigian]

Checked another early rear end at home last night. It has Ford script springs, no
washers on the hub nuts, has brackets on the radius rods for the brake return
springs and the torque tube like the ones Ron and I have. I don't know about
the hub sleeves, brakes an hubs are still on the R.E.

Here is the kicker, the torque tube is stamped(same place).." 865 ".., No "A" that
I could see.

Ron, maybe a California thing?

Dudley

[Charles Reese]

can't help with the "why" but are 2 more!

[d.j. moordigian]

Charles,

My video card is bad in my computer, it's like looking in a fog bank. I can't make
out the top numbers!

I know your car is SFA, I wonder if Ron's is also?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by d.j. moordigian

Charles,

My video card is bad in my computer, it's like looking in a fog bank. I can't make
out the top numbers!

I know your car is SFA, I wonder if Ron's is also?

A2628 is what I see in the top picture.

[Ron in Quincy]

If my information is correct, A1276 Cowl Assembly was from the Rouge Plant and sent to the Kentucky Wagon Mfg. Co. in Louisville, KY. where their body and rear fenders were installed; ended up being shipped via railroad; it arrived in Oroville, Ca via a Western Pacific Railroad flat car with four (4) other Model A's, supposdly the first A's delivered to the Ford Dealer in Oroville.

Ron

[Charles Reese]

A2628 ... these are extra tubes (4 sale is anyone is interested), not the one on my truck ... am at work so dont have access to see what if any # are on my early tube

[Rich in Tucson]

Here is another, number only (459), no preceding A:

[d.j. moordigian]

Rich,

I'm assuming its the same style torque tube as the ones above? I found another
this weekend,..1877.. Thank you

[Rich in Tucson]

Yes D.J., it is an early 1928 torque tube.

[Gary Karr]

I checked my torque tube and it is stamped A 1298. So, what are these numbers all about? Were these stamped with the same as the serial number of the cars?