1932 drive shaft

Tom Endy

Tom Endy

Well-known member
I am in the process of rebuilding a rear axle assembly removed from a 1932 V8 Ford Tudor. When I got it apart I discovered the drive shaft in the photo. It has a hollow 1 & 3\4" tube welded over a smaller solid drive shaft. The torque tube and the drive shaft are about three inches longer than a Model A.

I believe that the rear has never been apart before as I found original bearings and races with the Ford logo on them along with the original Ford part number. The three grease seals were original leather seals (completely shot).

I have heard stories that the original Model A drive shaft did not work well in the 1932 V8's, as they had a tendency to "whip" due to the high torque of the engine.

Could anyone who has experience with 1932 V8 rear axle assemblies confirm that the drive shaft shown here is original Ford and not an after-thought modification.

Tom Endy
 

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The solid shafts become more unstable to torsional forces the longer they get. The tubular design solved the initial problem when the Model B came out for 1932 but it was changed later on when it too started to be problematic. Ford started using a divergent/convergent or sort of a double conical rhombus shaped tubular shaft for several years in the late 30s but eventually decided to go back to a solid shaft with a damper bearing secured to the inside of the torque tube in the approximate middle of the shaft to do away with the problems of torsional whipping. They were certainly much less expensive to produce that way.
 
It is original, later shafts till maybe '37 (?) were tubular but tapered in shape, many of those were used by those blankety-blank hot rodders as header pipes, very beautiful!
 
Many thanks to those that responded. The ring & pinion found in this rear axle assembly is a 433:1 ratio, 39 teeth on the ring, 9 on the pinion. It will be replaced with a 354:1 gear set. Photo shows the 433.

Tom Endy
 

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I rebuilt the rear end on a friends model B. It took a strong puller to remove the pinion gear from the tubular shaft. Was original from 32.

John
 
john in illinois said:
I rebuilt the rear end on a friends model B. It took a strong puller to remove the pinion gear from the tubular shaft. Was original from 32.

John
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I was not able to use my Model A pinion puller because of the large diameter drive shaft. I had to improvise. I used a large bearing puller and a couple of bolts. I was able to get the puller up against where the tube is welded on. By tightening the two bolts against the back plate of my Model A puller, the whole pinion assembly came right out.

Tom Endy
 

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briphaeton said:
Could those gears be used in a Model A banjo?
Brian
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They can be used in a Model A. The 32 rear axle assembly they came out of is about 85% Model A. The carrier, spider gears, and axles are the same as a Model A.

A 411:1 gear ratio is too low for a Model A today. A 433:1 is even lower.

Tom Endy
 
Tom Endy said:
I was not able to use my Model A pinion puller because of the large diameter drive shaft. I had to improvise. I used a large bearing puller and a couple of bolts. I was able to get the puller up against where the tube is welded on. By tightening the two bolts against the back plate of my Model A puller, the whole pinion assembly came right out.

Tom Endy
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Tom,
I just did one and am in the process of wrapping it up.
I concur witj the guys on the driveshaft. There were different varieties up to 36 with the 37 using the intermediate bearing.

If you can get a Krw Aata puller you will find it useful.
Larry shepard
 
I just pulled an early 32 rear apart. Driveshaft looks close to yours put the taper is threaded near the tube end. Very fine thread but there was no nut installed. What would be the reason for this. Cant seem to post photos.
 
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