Banger posi traction

Step-down

Step-down

Well-known member
So down at Jersey shore it looked to me that some of the A’s looked like they have Posi traction .
How’s that accomplice (weld the gears)
Any one done this to a model A rear banjo . Looked to me some of those old model A’s hooked up pretty good with both wheels spinning in the sand .
 
I think you need to change to a 9" rear end. Once that's done, there are multiple LSD options such as TrueTrac or Trac-Lok.
 
Here is my story about welding up the spider gears. When I moved to the Santa Cruz Mountains in the late 1970's, I met some people who were logging redwoods. They had actually stopped logging at that time but the old equipment was still there. They had a 10 wheel truck with mud tires that they used to haul logs up the steep muddy trails to the loading site. They had welded up the differentials solid in both rear driving axles. They did not have to worry about going around corners because it was so muddy that the tires would just slip. The truck was 1950 vintage or older. The front axle may have been driving too. I don't remember. The truck may have been WWII surplus.
 
I've welded up side gears, mostly for myself. I was only interested in going in a straight line. The whole car will argue trying to go around a corner. It was a bit of a relief when I could spring for a locker. You can feel it ratchet but they will corner.

I can't remember any limited slip type rear for a torque tube.

If a parking brake is adjusted just right, applying it judicially will send power to both wheels.
 
Step-down said:
So down at Jersey shore it looked to me that some of the A’s looked like they have Posi traction .
How’s that accomplice (weld the gears)
Any one done this to a model A rear banjo . Looked to me some of those old model A’s hooked up pretty good with both wheels spinning in the sand .
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It is unlikely they had a Positraction in an "A" rear end but most likely had the rear end locked either with a spool or by various different methods.

A discussion is going on over on the Fordbarn early V8 forum now about locking "A" rear ends.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=304870&showall=1

As a side note, I drove a 32 roadster on the street with a locked rear end for many years and as long as you run normal street tires and get used to the slight chirping on corners, you will never know it is there.
 
I probably have a set of welded differential (spider) gears that I used when we were dirt track racing Model-As. Let me know if you need a set.

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Here is a spool I made for a V-8 banjo rear that uses Ford 9" Axles. Still have 1 or 2 on the shelf.
 

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Yes, the spool that Dan made is typically what was used by all the dirt track sprit cars running Ford V8 rear end gears in the Hallibrand 201 center sections. The sprit cars drifted around every corner so having a conventional set up was not required and the differential was full time positraction.
 
johnneilson said:
There have been in the past some positraction V8 differentials made by using plug in axles and a lunchbox.
https://www.offroadxtreme.com/news/what-is-a-lunchbox-locker-and-how-does-it-work/
These work pretty well, nut are a ton of work.

John
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Many years ago, when I first met an old 4e4 machinist. He explained how he made a ‘bullet proof’ rear end for old (model A) race cars. With axles that he machined to just be easily installed/and or removed.
He had just finished the last one he ever made. He said each unit took a ton of work and was expensive to make. I tried to ‘bribe’ him to do one more…. No dice !
Some guys, maybe dead by that time, had the ultimate durable non slip hot rod rear ends. He said… never made many such rear ends. Mainly for racers.
 
hardtimes said:
Many years ago, when I first met an old 4e4 machinist. He explained how he made a ‘bullet proof’ rear end for old (model A) race cars. With axles that he machined to just be easily installed/and or removed.
He had just finished the last one he ever made. He said each unit took a ton of work and was expensive to make. I tried to ‘bribe’ him to do one more…. No dice !
Some guys, maybe dead by that time, had the ultimate durable non slip hot rod rear ends. He said… never made many such rear ends. Mainly for racers.
Click to expand...

HardTimes,
I sure would like to see the "bulletproof" rear end that he made. Does he have drawings, pictures or descriptions? There are others sources to make parts for something that would be popular like this. Thank you. Gene
 
GeneBob said:
HardTimes,
I sure would like to see the "bulletproof" rear end that he made. Does he have drawings, pictures or descriptions? There are others sources to make parts for something that would be popular like this. Thank you. Gene
Click to expand...

It is a ton of work
starting inside the diff, must bore gear and opposite side to fit late model side gears. this makes room for adding in Posi unit shown above in earlier post.

then housings modified for plug in axles, this usually entails changing brake assemblies also.

then axles made to fit for length and posi unit splines.

there is more room inside the V8 rearends width wise and stronger pinion.

currently I run a spool in the B'ville car, late model 28 spline shortened axles.

Easy to do with the right equipment, just not too many people have the eq.

John
 

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Richard Scaldwell drives a JAP powered Edwardian car with a rear end that does not have a differential. He gets around just fine. Of course, most of the time he is drifting around the corners.

Here is an interview with him and after that a link to an article about him at The Old Motor.

In The Old Motor article there is a shot of the rear axle which is nothing more that a straight shaft with chain sprockets. Gear change is accomplished by dog clutches for the various chains.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ks2e_pjasQ

https://theoldmotor.com/?p=136808
 
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Most people don't realize it but if you need a bullet proof, light as possible rear end, it is FAR cheaper to just get a sprint car or midget rear end and bolt it in. Can be had for either cross spring or torsion bars and either closed or open drive shaft. Only one brake to fiddle with also.
 
Gotta love that JAP. I've got a JAP lawnmower.
What helps is the narrow wheel track so there is less difference in wheel speed when cornering and the narrow tyres.
My cousin in Tasmania had a VW beach buggy with dual wheels on the back and wide racing slicks on the front with a welded diff. You could steer at low speed, but going faster on the beach the steering was non eventful. It was like a rocket.
 
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