How well does the Model A banjo rear hold up?

Been having some second thoughts on whether this 46 Ford Banjo I'm tearing in to is worth the trouble when I have a nice clean Model A banjo sitting in the garage. I'm doing the an AV8 with a 28 Ford Roadster and a '46 59AB and I'm wondering if the old Model A banjo will do the trick, or if I should continue with the '46. I'm going to be using an old '39 style toploader, and the engine is going to stay relatively stock with the exception of a dual carb setup. Being that this is my first traditional build, I really don't know how much power you can run through these early rears. Any thoughts???
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Use the 46. The Model A banjo is much weaker.

 

Not to mention brakes are alot easier and cheaper with the 46. The model A banjo lacks the carrier support bearing.


Tim

 

I'm playing around with the same thought. I have a '46 flathead and a '39 trans. in my Model A as well. The rear is stock. Seems to be ok, I wouldn't beat up on it too much or split the wishbones. I have a '40 Ford rearend and was going to flip the bells around and do a spring-in-front of the rear and run a quickchange, but not sure if I want to open that can of worms just yet. I'd say just run what's in it and if/when it breaks, throw that '46 rear in. Keep in mind that the '46 rear is a bit wider than the Model A, so it might mess you up aesthetically. Does it have juice brakes or still mechanical?

 

The car is a pile of parts with a vision right now. The model a rear still has all it's original mechanical pieces in good working order, but I have a set of juice backing plates hanging around, not to mention the '46 still has her juice brakes on it. I want to keep the model a rear spring in it, so I'll have to weld in some hangars on the '46 and figure out a way to knock off the original spring behind hangars. All the bearings have seen better days. On a good note, the gears are in really good shape. The thing kicking my ass right now is the cost of rebuilding (got to support the family on a single income). $350 just in bearings, but it should be good as new. There in lies the dilema. Spend the money to make the Model A rear up to par, or just continue on with the '46.
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Well Chief, [read your profile]I was a 2nd class shipfitter on a LST, [1962] and live a little north of you. My first rod was an Abone installed a 56 chevy [in 57] have written about it here a bunch of times. If the A rear axle is good no problem, put on the 46 binders it will work just fine, and will be right length, just dont go poppin the clutch.If it goes out you can put in the 46 rear. Keep it simple, get it running and have fun, you can buildit up later if you need to.