Early welded center section question, rear end
- Thread starter redmodelt
- Start date
Kevin in NJ
Well-known member
They are cheap and common to find in very good condition. Find yourself a better one. Just ask around to some local guys.
You really prefer to have a unit that has never had the bolt holes cleaned with a tap or the bolts cleaned with a die. Ford used a tighter tolerance thread to prevent leakage and hold the bolts without needed lock washers. You should not be able to run the bolts in all the way by finger when the threads are cleaned. I clean them the hard way with a pick.
Usually the nastier the mess of grease and dirt, the cleaner the metal underneath. I bought a rear just because it was fully encrusted. The ring and pinion were bad, but the backing plates and housings were pretty nice with little rust.
You really prefer to have a unit that has never had the bolt holes cleaned with a tap or the bolts cleaned with a die. Ford used a tighter tolerance thread to prevent leakage and hold the bolts without needed lock washers. You should not be able to run the bolts in all the way by finger when the threads are cleaned. I clean them the hard way with a pick.
Usually the nastier the mess of grease and dirt, the cleaner the metal underneath. I bought a rear just because it was fully encrusted. The ring and pinion were bad, but the backing plates and housings were pretty nice with little rust.