Identification help for Ford rearend

bergie

Member
I took the bed off my 1950 f1 in order to clean it up and now everyone that sees the truck mentions that I don’t have a 1950 rearend installed. Nobody is sure what application it comes from(year/model, etc.) but they believe it is Ford because of the large hole to access the axle bolts. I am hoping someone on Fordbarn can help. There is no “tag” but I cleaned enough built up paint to see two stampings. There is a “41” with a raised area with “0-87” below that. There also is a triangle with an “I” inside and then 18423 below that. Yes, I did take some photos but I don’t know how to import them and am hoping this is enough info to solve this mystery. Thanks, Bergie.
 
I have created an album of photos of the rearend in question. Let’s see if I can get them.
 

Attachments

  • 873D904C-B70B-4AEA-971C-611547A86B0E.jpg
    873D904C-B70B-4AEA-971C-611547A86B0E.jpg
    61.9 KB · Views: 117
  • 9562B77A-6331-47ED-B180-DC6A3B83EAB7.jpg
    9562B77A-6331-47ED-B180-DC6A3B83EAB7.jpg
    48 KB · Views: 102
  • 4E2D2779-17D0-4CD4-8E1E-205A42783045.jpg
    4E2D2779-17D0-4CD4-8E1E-205A42783045.jpg
    55.2 KB · Views: 103
That rear end looks stock to me. If it has the stock 5 1/2' bolt pattern for the wheels I would say it is a Ford rear. That style rear end was used up and including 1956. the '57 was the later 3rd member type.
 
It's probably a Dana 41. I think that is what Ford used in the first couple years of production of the F series trucks. I have a '48 that has a Dana 44 axle but I'm shur it has been changed. Looks the same as yours. Ford switched to the 44 around '50 or '51.
 
That's a Dana 41. The lighter of the two available . The 44 was the heavier of the two. I have seen both many time in the early F series 1/2 ton trucks.
 
The rear cover pan on the Dana 41 is similar to Dana 44 but is more round due to the smaller carrier. The photo is a Dana 41. The Dana 44 came out in early to mid 1950 for F1 pickups. Some parts are interchangeable between the two but they have distinctly different ring & pinion gear sets with the 44 having the larger carrier. They can easily be swapped if a person needs hard parts or wants a different gear ratio.
 
That looks like the rear end I sold out of my 1951 Mercury car.
Look here:
 

Attachments

  • DSC00208 (Small).JPG
    DSC00208 (Small).JPG
    37.1 KB · Views: 120
  • DSC00212 (Small).JPG
    DSC00212 (Small).JPG
    37.1 KB · Views: 12
  • DSC00216 (Small).JPG
    DSC00216 (Small).JPG
    43.4 KB · Views: 117
  • DSC00209 (Small).JPG
    DSC00209 (Small).JPG
    43.3 KB · Views: 11
Thanks Pete for enlarging my photos.
Sure makes a huge difference and assures our viewing pleasure. JIM
 
The 1951 cars all had the Dana 44. The two axles are almost the same but the F1 had different spring mounts. All of the rest is interchangeable between the F1 and Mercury cars of the respective Dana units. Mercury also used the Dana 41 from 1949 till some time in 1950 when they changed to the slightly heavier Dana 44. Ford police cars and station wagon types also used the Dana rear axles.
 
Back
Top