Very Early Rear Axle Differential Housings...HELP...

[Steve Plucker]

Does anyone have any very early Rear Axle Differential Housings for which they could take some photos of for me for an article I am doing for Model A News?

There was a outside change in the housing which appeared around the latter part of January 1928 for which the Judging Standards does not mention. HOWEVER all it says about it is that "The differential housing did not have strengthening ribs at the pinion gear opening". I am taking it that the "strengthing ribs" which they talk about are the "exterior gussets" which were added in early 1929???

The difference to look at is in the area where the neck or flange joins the housing. This also does not include those housings with "exterior gussets" which were added in early 1929.

The housing originally went from a 3/4 inch Radius to a 1-1/2 inch Radius at the neck and should be easy to ID.

Thank you.

Pluck

[dlshady]

Yup, I can help you out. I'll email you later tonight about it.

[TBone69]

Like these? I was wondering if these were early units.

I have a later one that has the ribs on it but its a little buried at the moment.

[TBone69]

Having problems posting ther other pics. I'll get better pics tomorrow

[Steve Plucker]

What one will have to do is take a very early housing and butt it up against the later housing at the tourque tube flanges with white background. Cant really tell the difference otherwise.

The very early housing did not have "bosses" around the four front screw holes where the later housings did.

Pluck

[d.j. moordigian]

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Steve,

All 3, I have, are "blind holes" for the 4 bolt holes for the axle housings.
That correlates too....I'm still not sure.

[Rowdy]

Steve I will have a look although I suspect if I had one it likely would have gone with the axle tubes I solt to Doug Clayton afew years ago. Rod

[Charles Reese]

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

The very early housing did not have "bosses" around the four front screw holes where the later housings did.
Pluck

Not sure if this shows what you're looking for ... painted and installed so kinda hard to get a better photo ...

[Tom Endy]

The early banjos did not have support gussets top and bottom. Take a look at any one of them at the four holes (two on each side) next to the flange for the torque tube. Look closely on the rim edge and you are likely to see a hair line crack at each one across the rim. A few years ago I built up several rear axle assemblies for an AR guy. All the early banjos we examined had the tell tale cracks at each hole. We went ahead and used them with no problem.

Some are badly cracked and you would not want to use them. The photo shown is an early banjo I removed from a running car that was brought up from Argentina. A very enterprising use of re-bar for the repair.

All the banjos, axle housings, and torque tubes are interchangeable. They will all bolt up with each other. Most of the Model A's on the road today are a hybrid collection of different year\month housings.

The judging standards pretty well spell out what housings are required for each year\month. A number of years ago I was at a MAFCA national and a friend had a very nice 1929 station wagon in the blue ribbon judging. Later while we were having a beer he was complaining about all the things the judges found wrong. I looked over his dope sheet and found there were no points lost on the rear axle assembly. I told my friend you were lucky, your rear axle assembly is shouting 1931 and no one heard.

Tom Endy

[RHD]

The 'very early' banjo housings here (and I would expect elsewhere) had extra banjo to housing bolts as pictured below and no visible gussets. This is not a one off, as I have seen quite a few like this, but only on the 'very early' cars. I am surprised nobody has mentioned this point.

[Steve Plucker]

I think we are talking about two diferent things...I have seen the support (exterior???) gussets on the banjo's and IF this is what we are talking about, they were added in early 1929.

What I want to see and compair are the very early (start of production) bajnos without the boss around the four front screw holes compaired to those, say 6 months later, with the boss around the four front screw holes...that is what I would like to see.

Anyone?

Thanks.

Pluck

[Glenn C.]

We have a very early original axle housing here in our parts stash that has no longtidudanal weld seams running along the housing. The housing has the original backing plate installed which had no provision for the emergency brake mechanism. It might be a day or two before I might be able to email you some pictures Steve.

[Tom Endy]

Originally Posted by RHD

The 'very early' banjo housings here (and I would expect elsewhere) had extra banjo to housing bolts as pictured below and no visible gussets. This is not a one off, as I have seen quite a few like this, but only on the 'very early' cars. I am surprised nobody has mentioned this point.

Very interesting. I have looked at hundreds and hundreds of Model A rear axle assemblies and have never seen one like this. I don't believe the judging standards mention such. Could this be stickily a down under thing?

Tom Endy

[dlshady]

Originally Posted by Tom Endy

Very interesting. I have looked at hundreds and hundreds of Model A rear axle assemblies and have never seen one like this. I don't believe the judging standards mention such. Could this be stickily a down under thing?

Tom Endy

You took the words right out of my mouth. I've never seen such a critter!




Pluck, you keep mentioning the "four bolt holes" but I'm confused. Are you talking about four of the six torque tube bolt holes?

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by RHD

The 'very early' banjo housings here (and I would expect elsewhere) had extra banjo to housing bolts as pictured below and no visible gussets. This is not a one off, as I have seen quite a few like this, but only on the 'very early' cars. I am surprised nobody has mentioned this point.

What do the Canadian Parts Price List or NZ Parts Price List say for the amount of bolts to use on connecting the two halves to the banjo...20 or more than 20?

Pluck

[Roadster62]

Steve, I really enjoy your posts...........however a few PHOTOS would make things so much more educational. Bob

[Rowdy]

I have several of those. Most are decent

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by Roadster62

Steve, I really enjoy your posts...........however a few PHOTOS would make things so much more educational. Bob

That is what I am hoping for here...some photos from guys who might be able to help.

Pluck

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by dlshady

You took the words right out of my mouth. I've never seen such a critter!




Pluck, you keep mentioning the "four bolt holes" but I'm confused. Are you talking about four of the six torque tube bolt holes?

Deron,

I am not sure...That is why we need to look at a very early banjo and compair it to the later banjo, say 6 months or so later down the line.

There was some change in January 1928 and I would visably like to see just what those difference are.

I am thinking they are the four holes (part of the 10 on each side of the banjo) that are in direct contact with the tourque tube flange but not sure...just what is the "boss" FORD says they added to the four screw holes??

Pluck

[Rowdy]

I will look at the 3 I have to see if there are any differences. I have had them side by side afew times and do not recall any differenced, but I was not looking at the bolt holes. I think a radius difference somewhere would have really stood out. Rod