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By lalkie - 8 Years Ago
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I have a 56 Montclair Convertible that I replaced the automatic with the 3 speed & overdrive. I left the rear axle in and will probably change it. I have an axle out of a 56 Medalist with 45/11 tag on the rear axle (4.09). I haven't taken it apart to confirm. I haven't found any information that shows a 56 Mercury with a 4.09 ratio. Does anyone know what this came out of? Would this be a 9 inch ford axle? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Larry
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By carl - 8 Years Ago
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If the rear end has a removable plate on the rear its probably a dana from a mercury,i have one that was removed from a 55 merc with 3 speed overdrive and its a 4.09 gear Carl
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By Dobie - 8 Years Ago
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I have a 4:09 in my '55 Merc Monte. It's original and the manual specifies it to be used with the 3 speed with OD. It's a Dana, buts it's a Dana 45, not a 44.There's precious little info available on the web, but I did find that they were used in Scrubby trucks of the era as well as other makes. Parts are made of unobtainium but Dana 44 parts will substitute with some creative shimming. It and the T-85 are much stouter than needed for the original low HP 292 or even a 312. It's almost as if Ford was anticipating the advent of the MEL and FE series engines as early as '55.
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By lalkie - 8 Years Ago
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Thanks for the information. I dont know what a scrubby truck is. Has anyone used this low geared rear axle in the 3 speed with overdrive? It seems a little low. It may be out of a 55 as I had some 55 parts. I will check on a dana 44 to see what I can find. Thanks again. Larry
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By oldcarmark - 8 Years Ago
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lalkie (8/26/2017)
Thanks for the information. I dont know what a scrubby truck is. Has anyone used this low geared rear axle in the 3 speed with overdrive? It seems a little low. It may be out of a 55 as I had some 55 parts. I will check on a dana 44 to see what I can find. Thanks again. Larry
"Scrubby" is a "Chebby". The One U drive to see the USA.
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By Dobie - 8 Years Ago
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lalkie (8/26/2017)
Thanks for the information. I dont know what a scrubby truck is. Has anyone used this low geared rear axle in the 3 speed with overdrive? It seems a little low. It may be out of a 55 as I had some 55 parts. I will check on a dana 44 to see what I can find. Thanks again. Larry
The 4:09 works fine as long as your OD is functional. In OD the effective final drive ratio is 2.86:1. With my tires 70 on the highway is about 2800 RPM.
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By Gene Purser - 8 Years Ago
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Dobie, what size tires are you running?
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By lalkie - 8 Years Ago
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Carl and Dobie: Does the 409 rear axle work well with your 3-speed transmissions? My has the -speed with overdrive and a rear axle designed for the merc-o-matic which is to high. It seems to me it the rear end should have a ratio of about 370. I also have another rear axle from a 55 or 56 merc that is 307. I will have to check the ratio on the axle in the car. Thanks Larry
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By lalkie - 8 Years Ago
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Tires are 215/75/15. The rear axle is 41/13. Both axles in the back are marked 45 A by the filler plug.
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By lalkie - 8 Years Ago
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Sorry for my disjointed comments. I have 3-axles all marked 45A. The one in the car is 41/13. One in the back is 45/11 the other is 41/13. I generally use it for short trips as we live in a valley where a long drive is 30 miles round trip. I very seldom take the car on the highway. It looks like I have two axles for an automatic and one for a standard. So I guess the decision is made. I appreciate the help. Larry
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By Dobie - 8 Years Ago
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Gene Purser (8/26/2017)
Dobie, what size tires are you running?
P215 75R 15 Diamondback (Toyo) wide whites.
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By Dobie - 8 Years Ago
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lalkie (8/26/2017)
Carl and Dobie: Does the 409 rear axle work well with your 3-speed transmissions? My has the -speed with overdrive and a rear axle designed for the merc-o-matic which is to high. It seems to me it the rear end should have a ratio of about 370. I also have another rear axle from a 55 or 56 merc that is 307. I will have to check the ratio on the axle in the car. Thanks Larry
The automatic axles will be way too tall unless you live in the flatlands and never leave. The 4.09 is what Ford specified for the 3 speed w/OD and I can't 2nd guess the engineers. I live in middle TN and I find I can use OD on any hill I've encountered. The cars with a straight 3 speed (no OD) had a 3.73 axle, if you want something a little taller you might try to find one of those. That would give you an effective final ratio of 2.61:1 in OD. Still too tall IMO although you'd get phenomenal gas mileage.
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By charliemccraney - 8 Years Ago
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Dobie, with those tires, and ratios, your engine should be around 2500rpm for 70mph.
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By Dobie - 8 Years Ago
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That's a close guesstimate, Charlie. My speedo is off by about 10 mph (give or take).If drive at indicated 70 I'm a rolling speed bump; if I drive at 80 by the speedo I'm keeping up with most traffic. Also, the automated speed warnings around here prove me out. I pass one one in a 35 mph zone regularly. If my speedo says 45 the sign says I'm doing 35.
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By lalkie - 8 Years Ago
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I never drive that fast. I did when I had a 55 Montclair convertible in high school. Hopefully I learned after wrecking a few cars. Larry
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By carl - 8 Years Ago
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[b]lalkie (8/26/2017)[ Carl and Dobie: Does the 409 rear axle work well with your 3-speed transmissions? My has the -speed with overdrive and a rear axle designed for the merc-o-matic which is to high. It seems to me it the rear end should have a ratio of about 370. I also have another rear axle from a 55 or 56 merc that is 307. I will have to check the ratio on the axle in the car. Thanks Larry
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By MoonShadow - 8 Years Ago
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Gps is very handy for checking speedometer error or accuracy for that matter.
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