Eight bolt rearend.......

RussBees
RussBees Expert Adviser
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I have a 1937 Railton Stratton 8 cyl with an eight bolt rear end. What would the final ratio be for this car? I was told the 6 bolt rearends have the option of an exchange on the ring and pinion. Is that an option or necessary with my car?



Russ

Comments

  • ivanz62
    ivanz62 Expert Adviser
    Have you actually seen the "8 bolt" parts in there? A '37 Hudson 8 cylinder should be six bolt. I have 3.5:1 gear sets for the 6 bolt differential. The tallest I have heard of for the 8 bolt wer original Hudson gears at 4.11:1. I suppose your Railton could have had the rear axle parts changed in its life.
  • RussBees
    RussBees Expert Adviser
    If we are talking about the eight bolts visible on the differential (pumpkin) there are eight such bolts on this 1937 Railton. I spun the rear wheel while counting the revs of the drive shaft and it came out 2:1 which can't be correct, but then someone said you have to spin both rear wheels together to get an accurate count of the rear end ratios. Correct? Russ
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    The "8-bolt" configuration refers to the number and size of the bolts that hold the ring gear on to the carrier, inside the housing. The earlier 6-bolt ones had a nasty habit of shaering the bolts off, loeaving you with no drive to the rear wheels. It was upgraded in 1939. I don't know if you can re-drill the carrier to take the newer ring gear.
  • RussBees wrote:
    If we are talking about the eight bolts visible on the differential (pumpkin) there are eight such bolts on this 1937 Railton. I spun the rear wheel while counting the revs of the drive shaft and it came out 2:1 which can't be correct, but then someone said you have to spin both rear wheels together to get an accurate count of the rear end ratios. Correct? Russ
    Leave one wheel on the ground then paint a mark on the drive shaft and matching mark on the rear housing, then the wheel that is up off the ground mark the floor and the tire so they line up. Now have someone watch the drive shaft and count the turns while you turn the tire 2 complete turns, there is your ratio. Walt.
  • RussBees
    RussBees Expert Adviser
    Walt:



    Thanks for giving those instructions on determining the final ratio on my Railton. Will try it tomorrow. Russ
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    It's gonna' be 4.1.
This discussion has been closed.