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By PF Arcand - 18 Years Ago
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In an on going "war of words" with a friend about "our" engine vs the Chebie engine, the subject of G.M. having Positrac, came up. I believe Ford & also Chryler, introduced limited slip differentials later than G.M. But, I couldn't come up with dates. For instance, did 57 Chebies have them available as a "stock" option?
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By MoonShadow - 18 Years Ago
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I have a "factory" Traction Loc unit in my 56 Victoria rear end. So we are at least one year up to start! Chuck in NH
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By bird55 - 18 Years Ago
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I've seen '55 limited slip rears in several fords
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By MoonShadow - 18 Years Ago
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I would be suprised if they wern't an option in the 49 and later. Chuck
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By pegleg - 18 Years Ago
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Paul, I don't think limited slip or positraction was introduced by GM until aroud 57. I do know the '58's had it, didn't really work very well. I beleive the '58's had a newer style rear end as well.
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By PWH42 - 18 Years Ago
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Positraction was an option on 57 Vette's,not on passenger cars until 58.I'm almost positive Ford didn't offer any kind of limited slip or locker until 60 or 61.They certainly did not offer one before 58.
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By MoonShadow - 18 Years Ago
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Would you like to see one! As I said before I have one in my 56 Victoria STOCK rear end. It's a ratchet lock simular to the 60's Mustangs. Chuck
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By PWH42 - 18 Years Ago
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Ford did not install any kind of locker or limited slip in any cars before 58 at the earliest,and probably not until 61.If you have a 56 with a locker,it was installed after it left the factory.
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By PF Arcand - 18 Years Ago
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Interesting arguments, gentlemen! Personally, I've never seen or heard of a 55 or 56 Ford that had a stock limited slip rear. But, getting back to G.M.'s Positrac, would the 57 Vette setup fit a 57 sedan?.. The point I'm trying to get at is that I strongly suspect that some of the vaunted performances of 57 Chebies (real or imagined) may have been assisted by having limited slip rear ends, at some point, that their competitors did not have, whether legal or not... Remember, stock class 57 Chebies somehow in the hands of the omnipotent NHRA, became legal with 4 speed transmissions at some point in the early 60s. Even though none ever came from the factory that way!
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By PF Arcand - 18 Years Ago
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Sorry about the duplication, tired, past time to go to bed I guess...
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By PWH42 - 18 Years Ago
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Yes, the posi rear end from a 57 Vette would bolt right into a passenger 57.In 57 the Vette and passenger car were almost identical under the fiberglass.You are on the right track.A lot of 57's had Vette rear ends transplanted into them,including my brother's and my best friend's.
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 18 Years Ago
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Now I'm going to add to the confusion. First, I don't see any parts listed in the Ford parts book for a limited slip before 1958. I checked with my friend in the Studebaker Drivers Club, his Dad was also a Packard dealer in the '50s. He has a bulletin from Packard dated Nov. 1955 announcing a limited slip available in all '56 Packards. They were available in all Studebaker lines in '57. These cars all used Dana rears, so their parts would have fit the early Fords that used Danas, such as wagon, police, pickups. Whether or not anyone figured that out in '57 is unlikely, unless they worked at Dana. Paul, tell your adversary to "stuff it", GM did not invent the positraction, they copied it from Packard. John
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By MoonShadow - 18 Years Ago
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My posi in my 56 came with a Ford part number in a Ford box. It was a drop in install. This was made by Ford for the 49-56 type rear ends. Chuck
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 18 Years Ago
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Oh. So now it's an over the counter part, customer or dealer installed, not a factory installed option? Guess that's why it's not broken down in the parts book. By the way, there must have been two of them, '49-'55s had 17 spline axles, '56s had 28 spline. John
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By MoonShadow - 18 Years Ago
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It is 28 spline. I suppose it could be a Ford dealer installed option. The Ford box and part number made me think is was available from the factory. Anyway, it is Ford and it does exist! Chuck
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By PWH42 - 18 Years Ago
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Out of curiosity,what is the part number of this unit?I'd like to have one if I ever come across one.
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By MoonShadow - 18 Years Ago
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I'll see if I still have the box. I think the old parts are in it. Chuck
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By PF Arcand - 18 Years Ago
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On further checking, the book "Ford,the Complete History" by Consumers Guide, says that "Equa-Lock" limited slip became a Ford factory option in 1959. So any previous models equipped with limited slip, may possibly have been over the counter, but are more likely an after market install.
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