Can anyone tell me what rear housing this is? Took it out of my 50 Merc. End to end measures 57" Has a 10 bolt backing plate on it Center perch to tube end is 5 5/8" There are four sets of number cast on them around the cover bottom driver side corner- US PAT 2018188 Top driver side corner0 1968818 top p***enger corner 18419 bottom p***enger corner 44 Would like to put about a 3.55 for highway driving in it since I don't have an OD trans. Also, Where can I find a ring and pinion for this thing? Thanks.
Dana 44 pretty sure. The D44 was used in a lot of vehicles for many years in various configurations. Studebaker, Jeeps, GM/Ford 1/2 ton 4wd front diffs, as some examples. The Jaguar IRS is very close to a D44, and the newer 84-up Corvettes used D44 center sections.
Ford used Dana rears for many years . Good strong rear . They are very close looking to a Ford 8" but will not interchange . They used that rear up to 56 then went with a 9" rear in 1957 . The Dana rear will be like a 3.25 ratio . If you get a rear from a 1965 to 1967 Ford Mustang they are pretty much a shoe fit . The housing should be 50" to 52" to fit under the Fords from 1949 to the later 50's . Retro Jim
Parts for the Dana/****er 44 can be had everywhere from any drivetrain supplier. Start with Randy's Ring and Pinion. Good parts, good prices and great tech guys. Ask for Darren. He knows his **** over there.
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