Technical What kind of rear is this?

I wasn’t looking for another project I swear but after freeing up an empty spot in my garage I stumbled on a 1939 Deluxe Coupe. Sometimes they just find me, at least that’s what I told the Mrs. All the 85 year old owner could tell me was that it was an old hot rod out of Alabama that he purchased ten years ago to restore/refurbish and he never got around to it. It had a 14” Oldsmobile Cutlass rim on one of the rear tires so I figure it’s some kind of GM rear, also some homemade ladder bars and other cool stuff.

 

No expert but looks like 55-64 chevy 8.20 rear
Very common in fat ford's.. have a 56 in mine

 

Cool thanks!

 

This is what I'm thinking to. 55-64 chevy. Casting number may reveal more. Probably a date code on there too.

 

It appears to not have a drain on the underside of housing. If so, 55 or 56 would be the case.

Axle bearing break down.

 

57 had a drain plug on the bottom.


I re did mine a few years ago, you can find all new bearings seals etc on eBay or Ecklers.... check the number on the front that will tell you what you need

 

Great info fellas much appreciated! I checked the gear ratio it’s a 3.50 (if I counted properly) and the number on the front reads 3707306.

 

See reply #4 https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/chevy-rear-end-casting-numbers.1171404/

 

There'll be a stamping on the punkin that tells you what gear it had originally. @Johnny Gee probably has the chart that shows the ratios

 

Nope, but I do have every gear ratio laying around.

 

I swore it was you that sent me that a couple years ago! I looked on the Google analyzer, but couldn't find it

 

Found it

 

It may have been??? But I’m bad at recording info for a later day. It bites me in the butt at times for not doing it.

 

Maybe this one Lloyd because letter codes came after Tri Fives.

 

OK, it was probably the factory rear in my El Camino we were talking about. Sorry bout that

 

No biggy