Guys I am at a cross roads with my build. I have a 40's 6 spline Banjo rear end I am thinking of using, but I often hear of noise issues or that they are loud. Not building a 100+ mile per cruise vehicle, but if I do go for an extended drive I don't want to still here humming three days after, haha. Set-up would be 40's Banjo 3:78 ratio, open drive set up, Stock 272 Y-Block with 700r4 trans. Please don't grease me on the set-up or trans choice, more interested in the rear end. On the fence about this because I love the look and being traditional, but not sure if a 9" from a 66-77 Bronco will help cure a bunch of future headachs. Thanks.
I am not going to try and talk you into the banjo, coz it sounds like your in this for the look rather than tooling with old stuff, so so with the 9".
If banjo is in good shape they are no louder than $&&$# 9" . Worn out they will be just like anyother wore out rear and talk.
I have never heard of the noise complaint unless it was a quick change. If the R&P are set up correctly there should be no more noise than any other rear end. Headaches?
Use 2-3 layers of good sound deadening material in the trunk area. Isolate the noise, regardless of rear end choice. Now these key or trigger words in your post: 'cross roads' 'humming' 'grease me' and 'on the fence' may indicate something more than auto related issues. Or maybe not.
I think I am going to stick with the Banjo, mine seems to be in good shape. Just thought I would ask, because I've read of noise issues but you never know who the squirrel was that put it together or what oil they are using, or if someone was trying to make chicken salad out of chicken ****, with absolute junk to begin with.
More as a result from what I've read, no personal experiece with the Banjo, other than tripping over the one I have for the past few years. haha..
Yep there are good rear ends and there are worn out rear ends. The weak spot on the Banjo rear ends is the keyed axles that will usually **** out long before the ring and pinion will if you hammer it too much.
I do a lot of banjos and if in decent shape they are no louder than any late model rear. Obviously, like any rear, check your bearings and set the ring and pinion properly and they are just the best ever. If your running a quickie all bets are off. My favorite rear ever! As a side note I think the 3.78 is probably the best choice of ratios for your setup. If you have a choice of gears you might want to consider the 4.11's if you mostly drive around town. It will be a lot peppier out of the hole. Just my 2 cents!
I have set up many of the Model A rears. Noise was never a problem. Had an Old Time Ford Mechanic show me the HOW TO many years ago. He had a trick that prevented them from coming out of adjustment, several 1000 miles after a rebuild. He said it was a problem back then. Its never failed, some of mine are now 30yrs old and still working well. Iceman
If you go catalog sure, I bought a whole open drive banjo center section in the cl***ifieds here for $50. All ford with a 3:54 gear. Cleaned it up and put it together with a pair of 37-41 axle's and bells. I'm just sayin if you look around you don't have to lay 5 big ones on ol' speedy bill for a Chinese setup.
My '40 has a stock banjo rear with 3.78 gears and the closed driveshaft. In the 13 years that I have had it on the road, I have never heard a sound from it. It is the only piece on my truck that I never tore apart and rebuilt. If you have a good one it should be quiet like any other good rear.
When I got my '33, drained the banjo of a litre of vintage water, refilled with oil and of we went, no probs, no noise, trouble free. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
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