I acquired a 56 Ford Station Wagon rear end from a car that had a 292 with a 3 speed transmission. I remove the cover plate and liked what I saw. No slop in the pinion, excellent gears showing minimal wear, etc. However, can anyone decipher what I have here through the numbers stamped on the large ring gear? What ratio do I have?

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

There should have been a tag on one of the cover bolts you removed that would have identified it. Otherwise you might have to refer to one of your CD's to see if that number comes up.


~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles

You'll need to count the teeth and then look in section 4209 in your parts and accessories text. It might be a 4.09.


~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles

I'm pretty sure this is the same as i got out of a 54 Ranchwagon ;

46/13 = 3.54

good strong diff

South Australia

That's just it on the numbers stamped on the ring gear - they are DANA numbers and Ford does not have them in their catalog. It looks as if it has been replaced sometime ago. There was no tag on the cover, and the whole assembly seems to be in too good a shape to be an "original". I got it from a rough 56 station wagon parts car.

I will count the teeth on there next I reckon.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Typing DANA 18437 into Google got me several hits indicating that it's a 3.54.Don

I will confirm that when I get home. If it is a 3.54, I guess I need to keep looking. I was hoping this had a taller gear so that I could put it behind a 3 speed with Overdrive. Isn't a 3.54 too low? Maybe I could find 4.09 gears elsewhere? I checked the section and it seems that Ford also offered a 4.27 set How well did that work out in a 3 speed with overdrive I wonder?

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Just looked again at my own photo while I am here at the office. I noticed there is a "46" and a "13" towards the end of the number sequence... this would confirm the 3.54 now wouldn't it? I guess I will still triple check when I get home. Anyone know how difficult it is to find a new gear and pinion set that would give me 4.09?UPDATE :::: It is a 46/13 so 3.54 it is. Too short for my needs I believe.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

3.54 with O/D is a really nice gear set up, I ran it in a 55 ford crown with a 272 V8. 

Dan:If I remember correctly, to install a 4.09 or lower gear in that housing, you also need to change the carrier that the ring gear bolts to.  I have a 4.56 gear in my '56 Bird from a Studebaker Dana 44, I used the Stude carrier, the Ford side gears, and the Stude ring and pinion.  Stude had 4.09, 4.27, 4.55, 4.88 and 5.13 gearsets "back then", you may be able to find them from the Stude parts vendors.  Oh, I just remembered that Chev S-10 4wd used Dana 44s and their gears "almost fit" the early Ford Danas.  S10 4wd shops may be able to help here.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"