The Ford Barn

Buford · 01-15-2017, 04:37 PM

Anyone know what the rearend gear ratios available on '49 Merc was? Thanks Buford.

19Fordy · 01-15-2017, 04:43 PM

Gears available were: 4:27 with overdrive; 3:91 with OD,
3:31 with automatic; 4:55

Buford · 01-15-2017, 04:44 PM

Is that supposed to be 3:91 with out O/D ?

rotorwrench · 01-15-2017, 06:28 PM

The 1949 and some early 1950 cars had the Dana 41 rear axle with the round cover on the back. The most common ratios for those was the 3.91:1 but as was mentioned there were 4.27:1 & 4:55:1. The Merc-O-Matic didn't come out till mid year 1950 so the rear axles were all Dana 44 by that time. The case is different and the carrier diameter was limited on the Dana 41 & some of the Dana 44 stuff crosses over but I'm not sure what will work and what won't. Parts for the Dana 44 are still available with the 19-spline rear axle shafts and there are several diameter carriers & all sorts of ratios that will fit them available. This is the same basic axle used in the F1 pickups and they had 41s & 44s in the same time frame. A person can use the 3.78:1 out of an F1 if they wanted to.

Randy's Ring & Pinion, or whatever he calls it now, is a good source for info and parts for the Dana axles.

19Fordy · 01-15-2017, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buford

Is that supposed to be 3:91 with out O/D ?

I always thought the 3:91 axles ration could come with OD if desired.
I think others may be able to tell you for sure. I had a 51 with 4:27 gears and it came with OD. This may be of help for contacting someone who may know for sure.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...rdrive.736921/

Ol' Ron · 01-15-2017, 10:48 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

have a 3.31 for sale 5 on51/2

40grit · 01-17-2017, 09:08 PM

My '49 came with 4:27 with OD. When I tore the trans out I replaced it with the 3:90 which did come out of a non-OD car. There may have been 3:91’s in OD cars but I never knew of one.

John

rotorwrench · 01-18-2017, 01:27 PM

Flat land cars with manual transmissions all had the 3.91:1 (some had 3.92:1) whether they were standard or overdrive. The 4.27 was specialized for mountainous terrain driving. The 4.55:1 was optional for trailer tugging or the like. When the Merc-O-Matic was introduced, the 3.31:1 and 3.54:1 rear gears were used depending on the customers application but taller gears could also be used but not recommended due to the nature of those first generation Borg Warner automatics.

01-15-2017, 04:37 PM	#1
Buford Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: La Luz, NM. 88337 Posts: 1,050	1949 Merc diff gears? Anyone know what the rearend gear ratios available on '49 Merc was? Thanks Buford. __________________ Support the effort to arm bears! Preparation H will not stop asteroids!

01-15-2017, 04:43 PM	#2
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,973	Re: 1949 Merc diff gears? Gears available were: 4:27 with overdrive; 3:91 with OD, 3:31 with automatic; 4:55

01-15-2017, 04:44 PM	#3
Buford Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: La Luz, NM. 88337 Posts: 1,050	Re: 1949 Merc diff gears? Is that supposed to be 3:91 with out O/D ? __________________ Support the effort to arm bears! Preparation H will not stop asteroids!

01-15-2017, 06:28 PM	#4
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,465	Re: 1949 Merc diff gears? The 1949 and some early 1950 cars had the Dana 41 rear axle with the round cover on the back. The most common ratios for those was the 3.91:1 but as was mentioned there were 4.27:1 & 4:55:1. The Merc-O-Matic didn't come out till mid year 1950 so the rear axles were all Dana 44 by that time. The case is different and the carrier diameter was limited on the Dana 41 & some of the Dana 44 stuff crosses over but I'm not sure what will work and what won't. Parts for the Dana 44 are still available with the 19-spline rear axle shafts and there are several diameter carriers & all sorts of ratios that will fit them available. This is the same basic axle used in the F1 pickups and they had 41s & 44s in the same time frame. A person can use the 3.78:1 out of an F1 if they wanted to. Randy's Ring & Pinion, or whatever he calls it now, is a good source for info and parts for the Dana axles.

01-15-2017, 10:48 PM	#6
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,881	Re: 1949 Merc diff gears? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) have a 3.31 for sale 5 on51/2

01-17-2017, 09:08 PM	#7
40grit Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Chattanooga, Tn Posts: 73	Re: 1949 Merc diff gears? My '49 came with 4:27 with OD. When I tore the trans out I replaced it with the 3:90 which did come out of a non-OD car. There may have been 3:91’s in OD cars but I never knew of one. John __________________ Just slightly abrasive

01-18-2017, 01:27 PM	#8
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,465	Re: 1949 Merc diff gears? Flat land cars with manual transmissions all had the 3.91:1 (some had 3.92:1) whether they were standard or overdrive. The 4.27 was specialized for mountainous terrain driving. The 4.55:1 was optional for trailer tugging or the like. When the Merc-O-Matic was introduced, the 3.31:1 and 3.54:1 rear gears were used depending on the customers application but taller gears could also be used but not recommended due to the nature of those first generation Borg Warner automatics.