Need help diagnosing breakdown please

[Matt in Alameda]

1935 Ford...all stock drive line. Pulling out of parking space heard a snap-bang sound that seemed to come from transmission, much like it popping out of gear. Lost all ability to move in any gear including reverse. No unusual noises, including time it was pushed home. Jacked up banjo with both tires off ground, both tires spin almost effortlessly in neutral AND in gear. Spinning one wheel does not move the opposite wheel. Can someone give me an idea of what is broken? And maybe some advice on where to find the necessary parts? Thank-you,..Matt in Alameda UPDATE: Finally got the rear end apart with the help of two great friends....the passenger side axle had cleanly snapped at the inside edge of the gear....looks like a saw cut it.....the real interesting thing is that it had cracked sometime before as the end showed a dirty old break about 40% down , with a nice clean center about 7/16" diameter circle where it finally let go. I was VERY lucky that it went where and when it did....I am happy now that I use brake drum keepers!!! thanks for all the advice and help....Matt in Alameda

[Mike B]

Thinking that pin on the driveshaft coupler snapped

[hotcoupe]

me thinks spider gears, at least that`s were i would start. it`s not that hard to pull the rear end.
tom

[SUHRsc]

If you remove the center of the floor and then the top of the transmission. Then with one wheel off the ground, rotate that wheel and see what moves in the transmission in each gear. Should help you narrow it down without taking too much apart.

Good luck!
Zach

[George/Maine]

I would start with the easy first.
Mark the axle shaft , and hub could be key way.

[51 MERC-CT]

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Yep, sounds like spider gears or broken axle or sheared keyway.
Try pulling the wheels outward to see if any noticeable movement.

[Brian]

Happened to me once in my 35...loud bang came from transmission area, then no drive in any gear. Turned out the front of the driveshaft snapped in two; I hadn't been thrashing it, simply atttempted to take off in 1st gear, a normal start.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by Brian

Happened to me once in my 35...loud bang came from transmission area, then no drive in any gear. Turned out the front of the driveshaft snapped in two; I hadn't been thrashing it, simply atttempted to take off in 1st gear, a normal start.

A friend just had the exact same thing happen on his '40 Ford sedan.

[Matt in Alameda]

BTT for the update

[Mart]

Originally Posted by Matt in Alameda

UPDATE: Finally got the rear end apart with the help of two great friends....the passenger side axle had cleanly snapped at the inside edge of the gear....looks like a saw cut it.....the real interesting thing is that it had cracked sometime before as the end showed a dirty old break about 40% down , with a nice clean center about 7/16" diameter circle where it finally let go. I was VERY lucky that it went where and when it did....I am happy now that I use brake drum keepers!!! thanks for all the advice and help....Matt in Alameda

Wow!

Mystery solved!

Thanks for the update.

Mart.