The Ford Barn

46fatford · 11-09-2021, 08:45 PM

I have a 50 mercury with the flathead and 3spd. It currently has a Dana 41 rear end with the 3:92 gears. I purchased a 51 baby lincoln rear end from an automatic car with the 3:31 gears. I thought it was a Dana 44, but it is actually a Dana 53. I checked my 49-51 mercury chassis parts book and it shows the mercury Dana 41 as having the same part number for the yoke as the mercury Dana 44. The lincoln rear end has a different yoke than the mercury uses and it had larger brakes. Unfortunately the lincoln rear was missing the 11 inch drums. I have a set of NOS rear mercury 10 inch drums though. I was hoping to be able to transfer the backing plates and yoke from the Dana 41 to the Dana 53. Does anyone know conclusively if this can be done? I'd hate to tear down both rear ends only to find out it won't work. My leaf springs are bad on the car, so the Dana 41 is coming out regardless. As for the lincoln rear, the price was too good to pass up for the lower gear ratio.

19Fordy · 11-09-2021, 10:56 PM

1949-51 Merc brake drums are 11 in. I believe Lincoln is the same.
Here's an interesting thread.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/....331564/page-3

Ol' Ron · 11-09-2021, 11:11 PM

HAVE 51 mERC 3.30 FOR SALE, EW BRAKES. pm ME.
gRAMPS

46fatford · 11-10-2021, 06:30 AM

I made a typo. The mercury drums are 11 inch. The Lincoln backing plates are larger. The mercury drums won't fit. I believe the Lincoln brakes are 12 inch.

19Fordy · 11-10-2021, 10:08 AM

Found out that 49-51 Lincoln brakes are 12 in. according to this thread.
https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=206988

rotorwrench · 11-10-2021, 01:37 PM

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The Lincoln Spicer/Dana 53 is an odd one and is very difficult to find parts for and especially in Lincoln applications. The S/D 41 has a smaller carrier than the S/D 44 used in late 1950 through 1951 Mercury cars, Police cars, and station wagons. The S/D 41 has a bit smaller case than the 44 too. The S/D 44 can use any number of different ring & pinion sets due to the larger case. Stuff is still available for them since they were used for several decades in pickup and 4WD applications. A person has to look for 19-spline axle applications to find parts that fit.

The S/D 41 can use anything that is shared between the 41 and 44 but it is limited to the carrier diameter it came with. Another old axle that is similar but even more rare is the S/D 45. It uses most of the same stuff the S/D 44 of the time but it has the S/D 53 pinion shaft style so be glad you don't have one of those. There is likely someone who would want the S/D 53 axle if they are looking for parts. They were beefy so it takes more to kill one than most. It's in a similar category as the Dana 60 that is currently still used in trucks but it was made for slightly lighter duty applications. The Spicer numbers sort of designate the torque capacity 41=4,100 & 53=5,300 and so on. The S/D 53 likely had a beefier drive shaft set up. Brake drums are hard to get for all of the 1949 through 51 Lincoln & Mercury cars. There may be a difference in the spring pads too.

That axle Ol' Ron has would do the job. It would be from an automatic trans car and should bolt in.

11-09-2021, 08:45 PM	#1
46fatford Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 338	50 Mercury dana 41 and 51 Lincoln Dana 53 interchage? I have a 50 mercury with the flathead and 3spd. It currently has a Dana 41 rear end with the 3:92 gears. I purchased a 51 baby lincoln rear end from an automatic car with the 3:31 gears. I thought it was a Dana 44, but it is actually a Dana 53. I checked my 49-51 mercury chassis parts book and it shows the mercury Dana 41 as having the same part number for the yoke as the mercury Dana 44. The lincoln rear end has a different yoke than the mercury uses and it had larger brakes. Unfortunately the lincoln rear was missing the 11 inch drums. I have a set of NOS rear mercury 10 inch drums though. I was hoping to be able to transfer the backing plates and yoke from the Dana 41 to the Dana 53. Does anyone know conclusively if this can be done? I'd hate to tear down both rear ends only to find out it won't work. My leaf springs are bad on the car, so the Dana 41 is coming out regardless. As for the lincoln rear, the price was too good to pass up for the lower gear ratio. __________________ "..Nothin' outrun my V8 Ford" (Chuck Berry) S.M.I.B.

11-09-2021, 10:56 PM	#2
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,950	Re: 50 Mercury dana 41 and 51 Lincoln Dana 53 interchage? 1949-51 Merc brake drums are 11 in. I believe Lincoln is the same. Here's an interesting thread. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/....331564/page-3

11-09-2021, 11:11 PM	#3
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: 50 Mercury dana 41 and 51 Lincoln Dana 53 interchage? HAVE 51 mERC 3.30 FOR SALE, EW BRAKES. pm ME. gRAMPS

11-10-2021, 06:30 AM	#4
46fatford Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 338	Re: 50 Mercury dana 41 and 51 Lincoln Dana 53 interchage? I made a typo. The mercury drums are 11 inch. The Lincoln backing plates are larger. The mercury drums won't fit. I believe the Lincoln brakes are 12 inch. __________________ "..Nothin' outrun my V8 Ford" (Chuck Berry) S.M.I.B.

11-10-2021, 10:08 AM	#5
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,950	Re: 50 Mercury dana 41 and 51 Lincoln Dana 53 interchage? Found out that 49-51 Lincoln brakes are 12 in. according to this thread. https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=206988

11-10-2021, 01:37 PM	#6
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: 50 Mercury dana 41 and 51 Lincoln Dana 53 interchage? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The Lincoln Spicer/Dana 53 is an odd one and is very difficult to find parts for and especially in Lincoln applications. The S/D 41 has a smaller carrier than the S/D 44 used in late 1950 through 1951 Mercury cars, Police cars, and station wagons. The S/D 41 has a bit smaller case than the 44 too. The S/D 44 can use any number of different ring & pinion sets due to the larger case. Stuff is still available for them since they were used for several decades in pickup and 4WD applications. A person has to look for 19-spline axle applications to find parts that fit. The S/D 41 can use anything that is shared between the 41 and 44 but it is limited to the carrier diameter it came with. Another old axle that is similar but even more rare is the S/D 45. It uses most of the same stuff the S/D 44 of the time but it has the S/D 53 pinion shaft style so be glad you don't have one of those. There is likely someone who would want the S/D 53 axle if they are looking for parts. They were beefy so it takes more to kill one than most. It's in a similar category as the Dana 60 that is currently still used in trucks but it was made for slightly lighter duty applications. The Spicer numbers sort of designate the torque capacity 41=4,100 & 53=5,300 and so on. The S/D 53 likely had a beefier drive shaft set up. Brake drums are hard to get for all of the 1949 through 51 Lincoln & Mercury cars. There may be a difference in the spring pads too. That axle Ol' Ron has would do the job. It would be from an automatic trans car and should bolt in. Last edited by rotorwrench; 11-10-2021 at 01:50 PM.