Inliners International Forums General Discussion Ford '41 diff in a Model A

Just found a 41 diff with Columbia attached that I want to put in my '29 roadster. I'm going to run 32 B engine and also a 32 B tranny. I'm faced with shortening the torque tube now. I'm planning to use a reverse eye Model A spring and move the crossmember back 7.5" Can I mate the smaller diameter tube from an A diff and shaft to the 41? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Speedway Motors now has a shaft kit to do this very thing but is almost 350 bucks. Would like to do it myself if I can. I have access to a big lathe if that helps.

Check the way the 41 tube sits in its torque tube.

The 40 Ford had a solid shaft, and required a bearing inthe torque tube to locate it.

The 41 torque tube will bolt up to the 32 gearbox. I bolted a 40 ford to a model A, not al the bolts were the same, but sufficient were to enable the job. One had 4 bolts the other 6, but used the same ones.

the universals are the same from 28-48, so that base is covered.

Maybe a flathead site will give you the exact details.

Do you have any pics of your roadster? love to see ém

Is the 41 a solid shaft also? I haven't tore that far into it yet so don't know what I'll find. The kit Speedway sells is a hollow tube that you cut to length and weld in the rear coupler from the way I understand it. Shortening the out tube isn't what concerned me, it was the drive shaft.

Yes; Those 'rear ends' were the same till 1949 when Ford went to the "open" style.

Many times they were used for/in the; "juice" brake conversions.

If you presently have one of that era, just change the drishaft & tube, their the same (otherwise).

Good luck.

There are some differences in the splines on the pinion 6/8 I think but shouldn't come into play on your car. There was a really good article about those rear ends a year or so ago in either Rod & Custom or Old School Rods. I'll try to find it . My dad & I shortened a '48 Chevy closed drive 2 1/2". Like you say the outside is a snap. We cut the shaft and beveled the edges. Then dad tacked it together and rolled it across the floor to check for straightness. Then he welded more and rolled more till we thought it was straight and put it together. I drove it for years behind a good running 235. Two other guys I know owned it after me . Never a problem.