replace 51 Hornet Rear end

Unknown
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edited November -1 in HUDSON
I managed to break something the rear end (*trying to "unstick" the clutch).

I wanted to put in "taller" gears anyway (4.11 or 4.56 currently). I've read many of the posts on the subject of rear ratio and have some questions.

Other then available gearsets are there any reason to get the DANA

With OD is 3.50 a good for highway use? For 308 Hornet Cp

Are 3.50 Hudson rear available. ? As a gear assembly to put in my rear housing.

I found a whole Rear end but the quotes to ship it (Uship.com) are quite high.( North Dakota to Hilton Head, SC)

Found a Dana 44 but its 300 miles away and a 4.56.



* How did I break the rear?... Well..., while loading it onto the trailer to in NJ to bring it to SC, the clutch got hot and stuck, to the flywheel I guess. After rolling it off the trailer in SC it was still stuck. I had thought in might unstick as it cooled.

The method I tried to unstick it was to jack up a rear wheel. Start the car in gear and tap to brake til it breakes free. Tapped 3 times ... no luck.. then I mashed the brake and something snapped in the rear, locking the rear wheels.

This method has worked in the past, but I was in a hurry and put it in 1st gear in stead of 3rd.



If anyone know of parts reasonably close to Hilton Head ( Near Savanah) Give me a shout

Dave

dnn1942@msn.com

Comments

  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Dave, the only better ratio for the earlier Hudson axles is the 3.58 used in '51s with Hydramatic ... a one-year offering. Two advantages to the Dana come to mind ... a range of ratios, and the axle shaft bearings are not made out of unobtainium. Bearing price about $15 vs. $200-plus for the earlier axles. I tried the 3.58 on my Hornet convertible with OD and found it was a bit overgeared. Put a Dana under it with 3.73 gears, and it's proven to be just right.
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