"Free" Banjo rear... Painful

[rhphotord]

Well a buddy of mine gave me a complete 39 banjo rear that had been sitting next to his garage for years. I had never taken one apart and thought this might be a worthy candidate for my AV8 build.
What a day! The brake drums were rusted to the backing plates and when I turned it end to end water came running out! At this point I was ready to torch the whole idea. But I have never been one to shy away from a challenge..the fool that I am.
Had to bust up the cast steel drums with a 5lb. beater hammer and to my surprise the axles turned free once they were gone. The hubs actually came right off with a little "love" tap from the hammer. Now that surely was a surprise! The backing plate bolts had to be ground off to free them from the axle housing. The water stopped at this point but to my surprise the rear grease prevented rust from forming ..wow?
Had to cut the torque tube apart to free it from the housing (have another) and again no rust!
What I find when I split the rear apart is anyone's guess. I am flat out exhausted at this point and that mystery waits another day.
Slept well I might add!

[texas webb]

Let us know what you find.

[Lawson Cox]

Yeah, I love a mystery. lol

[Ralph Moore]

I've had to torch off many a backing plate bolt! That's why I have a coffee can full of spares! These old rear ends were tough, hopefully yours will be reusable.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Chalk it up as a learning experience . So many of these old Ford rears were stored outdoors against a shed, barn or garage with the transmission end of the torque tube facing straight up. It would not have taken someone much time or been that much trouble to put an old can or plastic bottle over the end of the TT to keep the rain out.
I also have a complete '39 rear that was given to me after being stored just like I mentioned above for many years. The guy who had it just wanted to get rid of it during a cleanup. Then of course with me being the type who can never turn down the chance to own another old Ford piece that I will never need,...I loaded it up and brought it home. It is now stored in the back of my property covered up with some large pieces of old sheet metal. Maybe some day I will tear it down to see what rusted up R&P gear set is in it .

[Straightpipes]

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NOTHING stinks like old Ford rearend oil..........

[bobH]

I got quite a few parts out of a 39 rear end like that, and they are now in my 34 rear end. Water did its thing on some of it, but that stinky old oil did a good job of preserving the gears and the carrier.
good luck...

[dean333]

If you need another torque tube I have one for you.

[rhphotord]

Didn't realize how much the old oil did stink. Actually all my clothes were greasy and stunk to high heaven so they ended up in the trash. My wife would kill me putting those rags in the washer! Reminds me of my youth, tearing stuff apart just to see how it works. Of course then, I'd wear the same clothes for several days but store them outside. That is until my girl friend turned wife came into my life. Been a more "refined" greaser ever since!
Figure if I get anything of value other than experience it's worth it.
I have a lead on a new set of 3:54 gears so hoping there are enough salvageable parts to make a runner.

[rhphotord]

Thanks Tim I'll keep that in mind

[Kube]

If water got in there, most likely the gears (at least the ring gear) is toast.

[rhphotord]

Finally have the banjo apart. There was plenty of old gear oil in it that seemed to have saved it from serious rust. Brown muddy looking slime!
Found some pitting on the ring gear as expected but the races,bearings and axle surfaces are clean and pit free. Quite pleasantly surprised. Trying to educate myself on this rear but baffled there were no gaskets/shims between the bells and center section...none. Thought this was how you set the back lash in the rear?
Took the torque tube parts,drive shaft and rusted out backing plates to their final resting place. Probably end up coming back as a new off shore imported part.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by rhphotord

Finally have the banjo apart. There was plenty of old gear oil in it that seemed to have saved it from serious rust. Brown muddy looking slime!

Man, I'll bet that smells worse than a bagfull of un-wiped butt holes. DD

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Sometimes the gaskets on the bells do not seem to be there but upon closer inspection they really are. Else all of the grease would have leaked out I would think. Rear bearing surfaces look real nice - looks like you have a candidate for those 3:54s ....

[russcc]

A tip from old buddy of mine that I use often. If you gat gear oil or other heavy duty lube or oil on your work clothes, and they are worth saving, spray a good quality brake clean from the back side of the stain, let it sit a bit, and then hit it again. Final shot with some HD spray detergent like Tuff Stuff. Then it's ready for the wash machine at the Laundromat.

[rhphotord]

Update on the free rear. As suggested by others the ring and pinion gears are toast. Not very rusty at all but the gear set is severely scoured and probably the reason it was pulled years ago. Double whammy... the 3:54 gear set I thought I had available is for an early banjo so it won't work. On the hunt for another rear, hopefully a usable one comes available. Posted same in wanted parts section.

[LazarusLong]

Originally Posted by Straightpipes

NOTHING stinks like old Ford rearend oil..........

Amen! I just smelled it from reading your post,and want to gag.