1955 T-Bird rear end?

[39deluxecp]

can someone tell me what rear end was used in the 1955 T-Bird? Dana 30 or 44???

[KULTULZ]

DANA 44 in the 55/56 and FORD 9" in the 57.

[dmsfrr]

It looks like this one...

[Oldmics]

I just pulled this from a 55 Bird. Not sure if it was the original assembly or not.


I was under the impression that they are Dana 45 assemblys.

Using the smaller bearing , lighter duty axles than the big brother Dana 44.


As you can see mine is marked with a "C" prior to the 44 casting.


"C" for car application? Isnt yours from a truck dmsfrr? Someone on this Forum has a rear assembly out of a truck. Thought the "T" may have meant "truck" application.


Oldmics

[dmsfrr]

Originally Posted by Oldmics

... Isnt yours from a truck dmsfrr? ...
Oldmics

I don't think so. (but not much on this car would surprise me anymore)
Here's a link.... You might be thinking of miker98038's '55 T-Bird
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=260976
.

[rotorwrench]

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I think the Dana 45 was used in the 1956 Mercury but it was a one year only deal. The 9-inch changed all that stuff except for the pickup trucks. They kept on using the Dana 44 for a long time.

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by Oldmics

I just pulled this from a 55 Bird. Not sure if it was the original assembly or not.

As you can see mine is marked with a "C" prior to the 44 casting.

I was under the impression that they are Dana 45 assemblys.
Using the smaller bearing , lighter duty axles than the big brother Dana 44.


Oldmics

The DANA 45 was a heavier assy. It was used on MERC SW mid-fifties or so.

Rear Dana 44 solid axle

Dana 41

The Dana 41 was the precursor to the Dana 44 and was used from the 1930s to the 1950s. The ring gear on the Dana 41 is nearly one inch smaller than a Dana 44.


Dana 44

The Dana 44 rear axle first saw use in the 1940s and is still in use today. The Dana 44 has a GAWR up to 3,500 lb (1,600 kg) and is a semi-floating type, having one bearing on the end of the axle shaft which carries the weight of the vehicle on the axle and also allows axle rotation.


There is an 8.9" diameter Dana 44 ring and pinion that is very different from the standard Dana 44. This ring and pinion is significantly stronger with a better pinion to ring gear tooth contact patch and angle. It was typically used in the back of jeep JKs, Isuzus and Nissan pickups. This ring and pinion does share some components and can be adapted into an earlier Dana 44 but requires some work, different bearings and spacers. The benefit is the larger ring gear, better angle cut on the teeth and Dana 60 diameter pinion shaft.



The Dana Spicer Max momentary output torque FT-lbs

• Low pinion Dana 44 30 spline............3460 [ft/lbs]
• High pinion Dana 44 30 spline...........4170 [ft/lbs]
• Low pinion rear 8.9" Dana 44 32 spline..5340 [ft/lbs]

Dana 45

The Dana 45 was introduced during the 1950s as an upgraded Dana 44 with larger 20 spline axle shafts. Since the Dana 45 is no longer being made you can use the Dana 44 gears in the Dana 45 housing if you use model 53 pinion bearings and plenty of shims.

SOURCE- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_44

The 'C' appears to be stamped?

[stlar-55]

anybody know what rear end i should put undr my 1955 ford panel i have a flathead V8 and aC4 trans in it

[miker98038]

Old thread revived. You probably had a Dana, or with a flathead, maybe the lighter duty Ford rearend. Both are short on parts and expensive to deal with. I know, I’ve got a Dana 44 out of a truck (bigger axles and bearings, common junkyard solution in the day.)

Probably your best bet is to research the later model 8.8 fords. Various ratios, drums or disc, etc. Probably need to relocate the pads to the springs.

Do a little searching on the truck sites, there’s more info there.

[rotorwrench]

Depends on if it's a 1/2 ton panel or something larger. Ford used the big Timken Detroit axles in the heavier duty vehicles up through 1-ton.