I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT REAR END I HAVE IN MY CAR.MY CAR IS A 56 CUSTOMLINE.ITS GONNA BREAK YOUR HEARTS TO SAY THIS BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE A Y BLOCK THE PREVIOUS OWNER SWAPPED IT OUT FOR A 302 AND AN AUTO TRANS.I AM WANTING TO CHANGE THE GEARS IN THE REAR END BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE FROM MANUAL TO AUTO.ITS GEARED TO HIGH.ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!

TULARE,CA

Look for the metal tag on the diff bolts. It will state gear ratio.

Ol'ford nutCentral Iowa

56 Vic w/292 & 4 spd.

your rear will be around 370.the best you can get is 331 unless you change out the whole works.

THE ID TAG IS MISSING.IS IT A 8 OR 9 INCH?

TULARE,CA

IT IS CONSIDERED AN 8 INCH, 57 WAS THE FIRST YEAR FOR 9 INCH. IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO CHANGE THE WHOLE REAR END ASSY. TO A 57 ON UP 9 INCH. THEN YOU WILL HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT GEARS TO SELECT FROM. HOPE THIS HELPS

  JUST A MIDNIGHT CRUISE DOWN THUNDER ROAD!!! TOM DRUMMOND MIDWEST DIRECTOR 57 FORD INTERNATIONAL

 

Is it the stock rear - if so, its not technically an 8 inch as they ones we usually refer to 8 inchers came out after the 9 inch.

To find out what you have ratio wise, follow these steps:

To start, mark the location of the pinion yoke and one tire.

If you have posi, then rotate the tires one full  turn while counting the revolutions of the yoke turn ( if the yoke turns 4 and then a little more then you have a 4.11)

For a non-posi, mark the yoke and one tire (keep the other tire from turning) and turn the tire two full turns while counting the revolutions the yoke makes.

Posi - turn both tires one turn, non posi one tire two turns.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

IT IS THE STOCK REAREND.THIS WAS MY GRANDPAS CAR AND I BOUGHT IT BACK SO NOW ITS BACK IN THE FAMILY.DOWN THE ROAD I WANT TO GO BACK TO A Y BLOCK BUT FOR NOW I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO DOWN THE HIGHWAY!!I CANT GO OVER 45 OR SO AND AT THAT ITS SCREAMIN!!SO WHATS THE CHEAPEST AND EASIEST WAY TO GO??

TULARE,CA

WE ALWAYS CALLED THE 56 REAR ENDS ROUND 8 INCHERS, NOT AN OVAL 8 INCH LIKE CAME IN THE FIRST MUSTANGS AND FAIRLANES. THE VERY CHEAPEST AND EASIEST CHANGE IS TO USE A 57-59 COMPLETE REAR END FROM DRUM TO DRUM, IT BOLTS TO YOUR SPRING HANGERS, U BOLTS, DRIVE SHAFT, E-BRAKE CABLES, VERY EASY TO DO. NOW YOU HAVE A 9 INCH AND CAN THE GEAR YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.

  JUST A MIDNIGHT CRUISE DOWN THUNDER ROAD!!! TOM DRUMMOND MIDWEST DIRECTOR 57 FORD INTERNATIONAL

YOU DONT THINK CHANGING THE GEARS IN MY REAREND WOULD BE EASIER?

TULARE,CA

The rear end in your car was used from 1948 to 1956 then replaced with the 9". They are getting a bit hard to come by. If you can find a set of gears and someone that will tackle the job its not too hard to pull the pumpkin and have it done. If you can find an early 9" parts are much more available and almost all of their center sections (pumpkins) will interchange so gear swapping is easy. That said watch EBAY for a set of gears they pop up new every once in a while. I think the stock automatic was about 3:08 (?). If you have no luck I may have a good or rebuildable center section. Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire