I'm in a very similar boat to Bogart56.  Can anyone tell me if there are direct "bolt on" 9 inch replacements I can use that are more recent than the 1958 era?  What about 8.8 inch replacements?  I would like to bolt on something a bit stronger and parts replacement friendly to my '56 Customline.

IM GONNA GET MY TRANNY PROBLEM FIXED AND GO FROM THERE. I APPRECIATE EVERYONES HELP.

TULARE,CA

See what tranny you have and get it working as designed.  That may be all that you want to do.  if it is a 3 spd auto, I would look at an automatic with overdrive.

You gotta have the right tools and know how to use 'em.

TC - Austin, Texas

What ratio are you looking for? I have a bunch of 56 NOS gearsets and the only ones that interest me are 3.89 and 4.11 to run behind a BW overdrive.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

YOU MIGHT BE ON TO SOMETHING.I WAS THINKING THAT VERY SAME THING.I THINK THE PREVIOUS OWNER KINDA JERRY RIGGED THE TRANNY.IT DOESNT GET PARK SO I LEAVE IT IN NEUTRAL AND USE THE E BRAKE AND I HAVE TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND TO THIRD MANUALLY.IF I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT SHIFTS ONCE AND ITS RIGHT AWAY.I DONT KNOW WHAT TYPE OF TRANNY IT IS BUT SUPPOSEDLY THE MOTOR AND TRANNY ARE OUT OF AN 83 FORD LTD WAGON.SO ??? ***EDIT*** THE GUY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT DOESNT HAVE THE KICKDOWN AND I THINK MAYBE THE MODULATOR IS GOING OUT??

TULARE,CA

it sounds like your tranny isn't shifting to high. make sure your shifter is adjusted right. even with 4.11's it should run 60 in high gear.

 lincoln/merc. y-blocks &mel's                                                               bucyrus, ohio.

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

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

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

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