50 Merc ratio ?
- Thread starter LUCK R
- Start date
40grit
Member
My ’49 had 3.90 with standard 3 speed. My ’49 OD trans came with 4.27 if I remember correctly. According to the shop manual there were other ratios available as I remember.
John L
rotorwrench
Well-known member
If it is the later Dana 44 rear axle, the most common ratio is 3.92 :1. The 49 Mercury cars had the Dana 41 and they may have also been used them on some early 50 models. You can tell the difference by the shape of the rear cover cap and they usually have the "44" stamped into the housing.
Taller ratios were mostly used in mountainous areas.
Taller ratios were mostly used in mountainous areas.
Alaska Jim
Well-known member
rotor wrench, where is the "44" stamped into the housing? Thanks,-------Jim
rotorwrench
Well-known member
The number "44" is cast into the passenger right rear lower web of the case where the right axel tube protrudes just below the bulls eye on the case there. If your assembly still has the metal tag on the lower right of the housing cover, it will give you the tooth count of the ring & pinion. Mine are 47/12. Divide 47 by 12 and you'll have the ratio (in this case 3.916 :1.
The rear covers on the Dana 41s are near round all the way around except for the ring travel area while the Dana 44 is flat on the right and the left with curvature on both top & bottom. The 41 had a smaller ring gear carrier than the 44 and wasn't quite as heavy duty. Dana 44s were a fairly popular axle back in the day with Ford commercials , Studebaker, Jeep and other manufacturers using them. Since they were used in Ford pickups well up into the mid fifties, I think you may be able to source several ratios new even now but they will cost you a fair amount for new parts. F1 pickups used almost the same rear axle except the spring pads were different.
The rear covers on the Dana 41s are near round all the way around except for the ring travel area while the Dana 44 is flat on the right and the left with curvature on both top & bottom. The 41 had a smaller ring gear carrier than the 44 and wasn't quite as heavy duty. Dana 44s were a fairly popular axle back in the day with Ford commercials , Studebaker, Jeep and other manufacturers using them. Since they were used in Ford pickups well up into the mid fifties, I think you may be able to source several ratios new even now but they will cost you a fair amount for new parts. F1 pickups used almost the same rear axle except the spring pads were different.