Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-29-2021, 02:14 PM   #1
yohoc1
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 31
Default Model A Rearend

How do I find out what year my Model A rearend is? Or is 1928-1931 all the same?
yohoc1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2021, 02:30 PM   #2
31Tudor
Senior Member
 
31Tudor's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 611
Default Re: Model A Rearend

The best way is to purchase the Model a Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards. The basic Model A rearend is pretty much the same throughout production, as far as the overall look and function. However, there were many changes: adding shock balls, the welds on the left and right housings changed as to where they were located, the placement of the fill and drain plugs changed, the backing plates changed, the two rear radius rods changed. You can see there are quite a few variables as to what specific year. The restoration guidelines show in detail the month and year all of the changes that were made.
31Tudor is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 01-29-2021, 05:36 PM   #3
Big hammer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Land of Lincoln
Posts: 3,114
Default Re: Model A Rearend

If you can post pictures, I'am sure we can help you!
__________________
Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap
get a bigger hammer tap done
Big hammer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2021, 12:27 PM   #4
redmodelt
Senior Member
 
redmodelt's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 6,339
Default Re: Model A Rearend

There were also some internal changes.
__________________
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
redmodelt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2021, 01:00 PM   #5
Bob Bidonde
Senior Member
 
Bob Bidonde's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,432
Default Re: Model A Rearend

Noticeable rear axle housing changes are:
>About mid-1930, the location of oil fill plug on the center section moved from the center of the housing to the left as viewed from the rear of the axle;
>The weld seams on the axle housings face forward thru March 1929, and the welds face down for the rest of production;
>In 1930 &'31, the shock absorber balls were separate parts riveted into the spring hangars.
__________________
Bob Bidonde

Last edited by Bob Bidonde; 01-31-2021 at 09:33 AM.
Bob Bidonde is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2021, 01:17 PM   #6
Mikeinnj
Senior Member
 
Mikeinnj's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Northern New Jersey
Posts: 1,262
Default Re: Model A Rearend

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Read Tom Endy's rear end rebuid seminar.
Follow this link....
http://www.santaanitaas.org/wp-conte...vised-2014.pdf
Mikeinnj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2021, 01:54 PM   #7
Tom Endy
Senior Member
 
Tom Endy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 3,122
Default Re: Model A Rearend

The early cars had a different constructed ring & pinion and also a different gear ratio. See the attached article. There is also an early and late ring gear carrier. The later spider gears also have oil holes drilled in them.

The thickness of the gasket between the axle housings and the banjo was changed from .006 to .010 because of oil leaks. This required changing the depth of the bearing race stop in the axle housing and it has been a source of confusion over the years for people trying to overhaul a rear end when it comes to setting the carrier bearing pre-load.

During the Model A production run a number of changes were made to the four housings that comprise the rear end. However, they are all interchangeable and in the years since many surviving Model A's today have a hybrid rear end installed with a mix of housings from all the production years.
This is because after more than 90 years most rear ends have been apart numerous times and housing components replaced without regard to correct year.

In 1929 some, but not all, axle housings had the seams on the bottom. The 1928's had them on the side and they will face forward or aft depending which side you put them on. They can go on either side and the the correct orientation is strictly a judging standard issue. The later axle housings have the seams on the top.

The early banjos did not have support gussets around the torque tube flange and they were prone to crack. During an overhaul I generally replace an early banjo with a later, unless the car is going to be judged. The very late banjo's have the fill plug on the left of the center line. The idea is so you can peek in and see the condition of the gears. Good luck with that one.

The torque tubes are all interchangeable. There are slight differences in the shape over the production run.

The judging standards are the best source to determine the year of each housing component that makes up the rear end.

Tom Endy
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Early Ring & Pinion.pdf (385.5 KB, 72 views)
Tom Endy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2021, 09:02 AM   #8
yohoc1
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 31
Default Re: Model A Rearend

Thanks for the information!
yohoc1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:39 PM.