Axle shaft question

[Shoebox]

So, this past summer I picked up a 39/40 Merc 3:78 rear end. My plan is to use this with a Columbia in my 39. One axle was badly messed up at taper end so a replacement is needed. The most common axle shaft appears to be 81A-4235 which has 16 tooth gear, my axle has an 18 tooth gear, what years and vehicles used this axle??......... anyone have one of these in your parts stash?

Happy New Year!

[Bob C]

48-4235 is 18 teeth 35-38

Bob

[deuce_roadster]

That 18 tooth axle is from a 35-38? which is the right length, just uses different spider gears then the 16 tooth axle. You can't mix them up. As long as the axle tooth count matches on both axles and you use the correct spiders that go with that tooth count you are OK because the overall length is the same. Later axles are longer.

[ford38v8]

As above, Spider and shafts gotta match.

Also, pinion and ring gear are matched sets, so a Merc dif might not work for you 'cause Merc pinion/driveshaft are connected?

[Kurt in NJ]

I know my 36 has the later 16 tooth axles, but the original ones were 18 tooth ---I think 37 was the last year for 18 tooth ---as pairs with spyder gears to match same length axles interchange, I used the 16 tooth because I got a deal on a pair of NOS axles

[35fordtn]

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You can use the 16 tooth axles as long as you change out the spider gears to the 81A spider gears

[Shoebox]

Thanks guys for the responses, good info. Either way I go (16t vs 18t) I will need some spider gears, some pitting on the set I have. Aside from finding some NOS, any recommended source for these? I checked my Vanpelt catalog, no go.

[ford38v8]

Don't fret about pitting on the spiders. They only compensate when going around a turn, not a big deal.