Banjo ID

41LjH

41LjH

Senior Member
I am playing with an open drive line banjo rear-end I literally "dug up". One of the brake drums was above ground, but the rest was buried.
So far I know it had tube shocks and hydraulic brakes, 5x5 1/2. It is 4:11 and that's about it. Can anyone determine anything from this, year range, car or truck, etc. ? I can add some pictures but it is partially disassembled and not real photogenic right now.:confused:
 
The OPEN DRIVE banjo was used under '42-'47 pick'm-up trucks. You should find the spring pads welded to the axle bell housings. DD

242778
 
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The open drive rear axle came on line in 1942 for commercial pickups so it is basically the same as most rear axles made from 1942 thru 1948 with exception to the open drive. Only the commercial pickups had the open drive in that era (1942 thru 1947).
 
It could be a converted regulator banjo. Be interesting to figure out how it was mounted without parallel springs and spring pads. Old Street Rod article.
 

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JSeery,

Great point. As you can see there are no pads. It has the same "buggy spring" mounts that are on my 41 pickup. It also does not have any modifications for stability that I can see. After soaking it, it turned and taking it apart didn't reveal any problems.
Once I get the radius rods off (heavy rust) I plan to put the pieces in the electrolysis tank.
 

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I thought the open drive pinion was tapered with a keyway to accept the yoke, and the close drive had splines and a coupler. The open drive conversion(HRW) yoke is splined, to accept the close drive pinion. If the original ring gear and pinion are shot, that might be the only option is aftermarket conversion or back to close drive.
 
You could be correct, it has been so long since I messed with any of this who knows how good my memory is! :) I do remember that some type of conversion was done using stock parts.

Update: Looks like it is tapered per the Green Book. This is 42 - 47 Commercial.
 

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Yes, I have that image here some where but you beat me to it. The HRW conversion is very nicely done, I have one that I plan to use some day. THe speedway motors one, well that's another subject.
 
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