stock rear end

I could use some advise.I bought a 54 plymouth plaza .it came with a fresh rebuilt stock 307 along with a 700r trany.but it has the stock original rear end.the drive shaft has the newer u joint in front and the rear has the orignal ball pin u joint but new.Im having some work done to the car and havent driven it yet. will i have problems with this set up and will it be safe.your feed back is much appreciated.thank you john

 

Some factory Mopar driveshafts where equipped with the two different type u-joints as I recall. The so-called "pot' type (there is an official name) is spring loaded inside to center it. I doubt that will give you problems.

However, of greater concern might be the fact you have no operating parking (emergency) brake with the transmission you have. I know you have a "Park" position, but an operable parking brake would be beneficial. An Jeep Cherokee 8 1/4" axle from a 6/automatic is 3.55 and would work well for your application. So would a Ford 8" or Explorer 8.8. The Cherokee would be the simplest to swap, I think, given you current setup.

Ray

 

Ray,
He could actually use a wheel chock for a parking brake.
I'll bet between us you and I don't have enough fingers and toes to keep score on that one.

I used to have this Ford pickup with a 3 speed. The park brake was non existant and it didn't have enough compression to hold itself on a hill so I carried this perfect shaped rock in the bed. Sometimes getting in from removing the rock was pretty humorous.

Anyway long story short, someone asked me in a parking lot one time if that was my E brake and I said. "No, its a door key, if I lock myself out I just fling it real hard at one of the windows. "

 

Benno,

There is no one on the HAMB whose posts I enjoy more than yours! Keep 'em coming! That "door key" retort is hilarious


Ray

 

In Texas you have to have a working emergency brake to p*** the state inspection and get the windshield sticker. The guy doing the inspection sets the brake and hits the gas, if the car moves it fails.

 

cool.thankyou

 

I have a friend who had a 32 Ford 2 door with a 4-71 blown 340 and a torqueflite,with that enclosed"pot" type u-joint. He beat it pretty hard,even drag raced it,and he never had a problem with the u-joints.

 

wow !good news

 

I'm thinking the rear end you have is probably geared too low for comfortable cruising. The car was born with a flathead 6 and 3 on the tree, so it was geared low, even lower if it came with overdrive. The rear end will probably handle the power of a fairly stock 307,but there are probably few gear ratio options. Measure the width of your rear compared to a Ford 8" from a Maverick or Granada that came with a 302 and automatic. Better cruising ratio and it solves the parking brake problem.

 

thanks buddy

 

You could get a 3.73 from ma mopar when new.......