Mac's 10 Spine 3.54 for 1932 - 34

[burly]

I had seen this listed as a new item in their latest catalog and just wondered if any of you guy's may have tried one out yet or had any comments you'd be willing to share? Thanks!

[Seth Swoboda]

I'd go buy it from Mac Van Pelt before Mac's. He's a good guy and will give you any tech advise if needed.

[jetmek]

Just used a set from early ford v8 sales(think they are guys having them made) No problems to speak of but be advised that some of the bearings you will need are no longer available. Also it requires clearance cut on the axle bell for ring gear

[rjhink]

Although I am fairly new to this era car and this is the first rear end I had rebuilt, I'm pretty OCD and just installed a 3.54 gear set in a 1934 Cabriolet. According to the importer, a small percentage of these gearsets had insufficient axle housing clearance -- probably due to Ford motor company's production variations. I had to do two things: (a) get the ring gear ground by about 0.030 of an inch to set the proper ring/pinion gear lash and clear the axle housing ; and (B) install an extra thick gasket on the right side of the banjo to set the carrier bearing resistance. It definitely took a lot of time and a lot of patience. I cut a custom 1/32" paper gasket from a roll of material from the local auto parts store for the right side of the banjo, but after determining the proper left/right total gasket thickness, I left the entire rear end assembled for about a week to make sure that the thick paper gasket did not compress excessively.

The ring gear is hardened part of the way through, so in order to machine down the gear on a lathe, you have to either re-sharpen a carbide bit several times, or use a tool post grinder to make sufficient clearance between the ring gear and the axle housing. Some choose to simply grind out the axle housing, but since mine was in such great, original shape, I chose to machine down the ring gear -- especially since it is replaceable, albeit expensive.

Good luck!

[Lawrie]

if you have inserts tooling on the lathe it will machine off the back clearance,and bearings are still availible,
Lawrie

[JM 35 Sedan]

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I am betting that all of these new replacement gears coming from Speedway, MAC's, MacVP, Early Ford V-8 Sales, and other sources, are all coming from the same gear manufacturer who is located in Italy. It is highly unlikely that multiple sources would have spent the many $$$$'s required in tooling to make these gears for the relatively low volume global market. JMO

☆PS....The folks I know who have used these new gears in the various ratios and pinion spline count, have all been happy with the quality and performance level of these gear sets.

[burly]

Thanks guys! A little more involved than just setting the gear lash?

[Seth Swoboda]

I just rebuilt my side loader transmission for the '40 using 29/15 gear sets in anticipation of installing the 3:54 rear end. Mac Van Pelt told me these gears are coming from Italy as JM has stated.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

I just rebuilt my side loader transmission for the '40 using 29/15 gear sets in anticipation of installing the 3:54 rear end.

That's probably a fairly-wise move utilizing the 29-tooth cluster with the 3.54 rear. You obviously understand a little something about "workable" gear ratios. DD

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by v8coopman

that's probably a fairly-wise move utilizing the 29-tooth cluster with the 3.54 rear. You obviously understand a little something about "workable" gear ratios. Dd

lol!

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

I just rebuilt my side loader transmission for the '40 using 29/15 gear sets in anticipation of installing the 3:54 rear end. Mac Van Pelt told me these gears are coming from Italy as JM has stated.

Good idea Seth! As you already know, I just put 3.54 rear gears in my 35 fordor (avatar) prior to leaving for the CNM in Tulsa, Ok. I was also hoping to install the later '39-'48 gears in my '35 transmission, possibly a 29/15 gear set, but ran out of time and had to install the rebuilt rear behind the stock '35 transmission with 28/16 gears. As it turned out this combination has worked out well for me in the last 3,000 miles driven. I didn't notice much difference, if any , in starting off in 1st gear as compared to the 3.78 gears that I replaced. Also, no problems going up and over the hills and mountains of MD, WVA, and PA on the way out to Tulsa and back home. Never had to downshift into 2nd to make it up any of those grades. However, it did seem like I could almost wind it out "forever" in 2nd gear on the straightaway's. When the occasion arises, or when time permits, I will install the later gears in this transmission, but until then, I plan to run the wheels off this baby .

[Seth Swoboda]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

That's probably a fairly-wise move utilizing the 29-tooth cluster with the 3.54 rear. You obviously understand a little something about "workable" gear ratios. DD

Hey I listen to the guys that give out good advise and have learned a thing or two over the years. I also consulted Mac VanPelt, how could you go wrong there?