50' shoebox rear end

Just curious how strong the stock read end in my 1950 ford sedan really is? How much abuse will it take? Has SBC/dart heads/corvett grind cam/ and roller rockers turbo 350 trans with shift kit and 2500 stall! Help

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Hey Bud, it wont last long with any serious HP.You may get lucky for a while with the automatic ,BUT DEFINATELY NOT LONG !!!!!!

 

There was a thread on this about a week ago.

 

I'm prolly just under 400h.p ! Even if I'm nice to it you don't think it will last?

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I've broken a number of pieces on my shoebox axle and that's just with a bone stock flathead not really stepping on it or anything. I could see the reason for upgrading the rear axle if you go with another engine.

 

8-inch out of a Maverick is about perfect swap, but 400 hp is pushing it with the 8-inch; although it is stronger than the orig rearend. A 9-inch will last forever with 400 hp, but no factory widths as narrow as the Maverick.

 

What good is 400 hp if you have to babysit the rear end?
Hunt down a 5-lug/V8 Maverick... it's your best option. You don't have to butcher anything to get it to fit. Lug pattern's the same. It's affordable...

 

my first car was a 53 victoria and i broke axles on it without even trying. i warned the buddy i sold it to about it, but guess what--he broke an axle driving it home!

 

My 50 has a sbc and auto transmission connected to the stock rear end. I don't burn rubber, but I don't baby it either. its been on the road for abut 3 years now and so far so good.
I am not saying its strong, just giving my input.

 

The 1950 Fords used a ****er 44 rear axle and they are not up to the task of handling 400 HP.

The '69-'77 8" Maverick is 56 1/2" wide and although not as strong as the 9" they are pretty tuff. HRP

 

My '51 still has the original rear axle in it, and I've been running a 350 ZZ3 crate motor (rated at 360 HP) through it since 1994. To be a bit more specific, my car was originally a Fordomatic, so the gear is a 3.31; my transmission is a 700R4. I did break one axle shaft about 15 years ago when I jumped on it from a dead stop, but the failed axle showed a casting flaw that went 3/4 of the way through the axle. I don't beat the car but I do drive it aggressively.

The rear end is stout enough to hold up under 300+ HP without failure if its internals are sound. IMO the rush to replace them with stronger rear ends is mostly unnecessary.