[fanbelt]

Ok, so I've found not one but two 5-lug rear diffs for my 63. One is under a wagon and the other is a 4 door sedan. Both are first gen. Will they both have the same ratio? Both cars are sitting flat on the ground (no tires) in a junk yard and crammed between trees. The owner will sell me either for the same price. Please help! Mike

 

[patman]

The only way to tell the ratio for sure is to turn the snout and count the revs. For 1st/2nd gen, 3.08:1 is the common ratio, but the wagon is a little more likely to have 3.36:1 gears. All other things being equal (condition, price) I'd roll the dice and go with the wagon. Depends on what you're looking for.

Keep an eye out for a posi too, that will have an embossed tag on one of the diff cover bolts that says 'use limited slip lube only' or something like that. I'd take the posi regardless of what gears go with it. The tag is just a clue and doesn't prove anything one way or another, just gives a hint. The only way to tell for sure is to remove the cover and look inside.

 

[fanbelt]

Thanks Patman. My problem is the access to the bottom of the cars without major tree-cutting. I think I'll go with the wagon just for the chance of a better (for my use) ratio. Who knows, I just might end up with both. (Don't tell the misses) Mike

 

[Dan_Lebherz]

I'd also suggest the wagon. My '64 came with the 3.36. Also, if you have a choice between a 1964 axle and a '65 or later, go with the later axle, even if it is a 3.08 as the '65 and later axles use a different axle spline. If you would want to upgrade the '64 to a posi, you would need to upgrade axles too, whereas the '65 and later axles will work with the posi.

A couple of years ago I took side by side photos of a '64 28 spline axle and a '65 28 spline axle and posted it on here. Oddly, you cannot see the difference with the naked eye (I couldn't anyway) but they ARE different and they will not interchange.

 

[4door64]

I changed the gears in the more door a few months ago and it had 3.36's in it. :yes:

 

[Manford]

whats wrong with the stock 4 lug?

 

[Dan_Lebherz]

for a 4 or 6 cyl driver or show car, nothing.

for a performance or drag car, lack of strength.

 

[fanbelt]

Thanks for all the info, guys. I couldn't get close enough to see the year model of either car. Trees, other cars, etc. Plus, this jy is on the side of a mountain and I had already walked it for several hours, (phew!). There are over 30 Packards in there!

 

[Manford]

for a 4 or 6 cyl driver or show car, nothing.

for a performance or drag car, lack of strength.

ive been 11.50's with mine

 

[Dan_Lebherz]

11.50s with the four lug?

WOW

More power to ya!

Didn't I read that the 4 lug rear also has something like 17 spline axles or something like that?