52 Hornet differential color

Unknown
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edited November -1 in HUDSON
I am restoring the rear end in a 52 Hornet and need to determine if the 3rd member should be black or red. I know the diff had been changed in the early 70's because the car was a Hemmings staff car and was featured in Mar-Apr '74 Special interest auto magazine. The article stated that they changed the axles and 3rd member. The 3rd member in the car is red with a yellow paint inspection mark just above the pinion and it looks to be original paint. I was told that the entire rear axle and leaf springs were blacked out after the assembly was installed on the assembly line. If anyone knows the details on this subject or has pics, either original or correctly restored, it would sure help. Thanks, Doug

Comments

  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    That must have been an early '52 for it to have had the third-member type axle. Not all that many were made before they switched to the Dana with rear cover plate. In any case, I'd go with all black unless you find some really definitive proof otherwise.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Park W wrote:
    That must have been an early '52 for it to have had the third-member type axle. Not all that many were made before they switched to the Dana with rear cover plate. In any case, I'd go with all black unless you find some really definitive proof otherwise.



    Park-



    I found it interesting that my original convertible had the earlier type rear-end (which I'm nearly positive it is the original rear-end that came with the car). I'll check the serial # again . . . been wanting to find out what month she was manufactured. I think I'm going to cheat, as I have a Dana and will be putting that rear end in the finished car.
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