3.51 diff for terraplane wanted

Unknown
Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
im wanting to put a 3.51 diff in my terraplane ute(as a commercial it runs a 4.5,revving hard at 45mph!)any idea where i can find such an item and at what cost?

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  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    It's highly doubtful that you'll find an original Hudson one. Not that many were made to begin with. Your best hope is to obtain one of those that Pat McDonald has been making over in England, though I've read (in this forum recently) that he's stopped production. Price was + or - $600 USD (depending upon the exchange rate).



    If you're revving hard at 45, at least find a set of standard 3.1 gears, then you'll only rev hard at 50!.



    Your least expensive bet will be to replace the entire rear axle with housing, with something from a 1960's MoPar or Mustang. There was an article about this several years ago in the WTN.



    I also know of a gentleman who replaced the "pumpkin" in his 1935 Terraplane, with one from an early Ford with a Fordomatic automatic transmission-equipped car. It went in rather easily and didn't even require modification of the driveshaft length.
  • Kdancy
    Kdancy Senior Contributor
    Jon B wrote:

    Your least expensive bet will be to replace the entire rear axle with housing, with something from a 1960's MoPar or Mustang. There was an article about this several years ago in the WTN.



    I also know of a gentleman who replaced the "pumpkin" in his 1935 Terraplane, with one from an early Ford with a Fordomatic automatic transmission-equipped car. It went in rather easily and didn't even require modification of the driveshaft length.



    Anyone have that WTN article they would post?

    Also, the Ford conversion is something I would like to hear more on!
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    Er..I think Jon meant to say 4.11 rather than the 3.1
  • 35Terra
    35Terra Senior Contributor
    I actually read this thread earlier and was thinking about posting but forgot about checking on my stash of parts. Now I feel I have to clear the air.



    That gentleman who replaced the front pumkin was my Uncle, Charlie Gfroerer. He has since passed away and I own the car now. Yes he did use a 53 Ford pumpkin half and I think it is a 3.53 ratio. I wasn't around the garage when he changed it out though. But I did talk to someone who helped and he said he made some special shims or something for it. I might be able to find out what he did if really needed. I do have a stash of various ratio rear ends that I might sell. I will check them out tonight. I also think he drilled new holes, as the old pumpkin is an eight hole and the Ford is a ten hole.



    Which brings me to another delima...I'm thinking about selling my Terraplane but don't know if now is the time (bad economy and all). Or if I should wait a couple of years first. I have only driven it to one meet in three years and can't seem to find the time to go places. I would rather someone get it and drive it instead of leaving it sit all the time.



    Jim
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    thanks folks,lot of good info here
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    There are a couple of other options.



    1. Get a 5-speed tranny out of a front engine/rear drive car/truck. You'd have to make an adapter, but it would get ya an overdrive.



    2. I've been thinking about doing this for years, but I just read in 'Old Cars Weekly' where a couple of guys did it to a 25 Dodge. Add a 2nd standard transmission behind the regular one, but turn it backwards and shorten the driveshaft. 3rd gives you straight thru and 2nd gives you overdrive.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I changed mine to the 3.5 and am fairly happy. They are from a gentleman in CA and are used in the Railtons. I think they are actualy for another brand rear, because of some of the fitting you have to do. They are over $800 now.

    If Jim could figure out the Ford pig that his uncle used and what shims it would be well worth knowing.



    I love Jim's 35 and would like to have it and run the hill climbs like his uncle did. Scare me with a price when your ready!

    Glen
  • Richard E.
    Richard E. Senior Contributor
    You want to speak to Ivan Zaremba from the Bay area. He is on this forum and may jump in here. He handles the gears that are made in England. There are a few tricks to installing them. I have a set in my '36T and I am very happy with them. I can go 65mph on the freeway and I still get up steep hills just fine.
  • 35Terra
    35Terra Senior Contributor
    I checked last night and the Ford rear end ratio is 3.31 according to the tag and also from a 54 year car and currently not installed. I think the rear end was changed back to a 4.11 or something so he could run the hill climb in Indiana (he said he won his class). So I could do some research and take some pix and measurements. But would have to be a little down the road as we are having a high school graduation party this weekend for the middle child. All my energy is focused towards her right now.



    Glen will send you a PM sometime. I would love someone to drive it as is and not rat rod it. I would never sell it to someone that has intentions of rat rodding it. This car is too original.
  • Spencer Yarrow
    Spencer Yarrow Expert Adviser
    skipster wrote:
    im wanting to put a 3.51 diff in my terraplane ute(as a commercial it runs a 4.5,revving hard at 45mph!)any idea where i can find such an item and at what cost?



    skipster, I think you are in AUS. if so a friend of mine replaced the rear end with a Holden rear end. Lots of ratio's available 3.36,3.55,3.89 and some higher and lower if this is a way you want to go let me know and will get more info. I am just west of Brisbane.

    Cheers Spencer.
  • 35Terra
    35Terra Senior Contributor
    Glen,



    Scared you with a price. Check your PM.



    Jim
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I had talked to Charlie about 15 years ago when he was at my Dad's place picking up some parts. He told me about the Ford pumpkin change over. Even though the bolt pattern was different, one or 2 hole locations were correct and he used the other holes as a guide to drill the housing. He had to make a bushing for the side spider gears(Terraplane) to fit into the Ford carrier and remove the bushing and hone to fit the small spider gears to the ford cross pin. Then shim the spiders to get the right fit/mesh. He said he came up with a crossover u-joint to fit between the ford flange & original d/shaft.



    The rear diff came from a 54 Ford 6 cylinder auto trans car 3.3:1 ratio.



    Tom Brintnall
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