Rear Axle: How To Tell Which Hawk Rear Axle I Have? 44 or 23/27?

[Silverhawk59]

How can I differentiate on my 59 Silver Hawk which type of rear axle I have. They apparently came in 23/27 or 44. How can I find out which one I have?

[StudeRich]

Here's a very recent Post from 6/9/2017, same question:

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?101245-Differental-gears&highlight=Model

See Post #3.

[Jeffry Cassel]

If you have a 6 cyl it will likely be a 27 which is a light duty axle. Some 6's have a 29 which is a heavier duty version. V8's will have a 44 (45 is Twin Traction). The type is cast in the 3d member and the ratio is on a tag attached to the cover. Some have 2 nos. ; divide the larger by the smaller to arrive at gear ratio.

[4jc8z]

If you have a 6 cyl it will likely be a 27 which is a light duty axle. Some 6's have a 29 which is a heavier duty version. V8's will have a 44 (45 is Twin Traction). The type is cast in the 3d member and the ratio is on a tag attached to the cover. Some have 2 nos. ; divide the larger by the smaller to arrive at gear ratio.

NOT all V8's have 44's. Model 29? huh?

[4jc8z]

Here is a scan from the 1959-63 Parts book on how to identify rear axle... (click to enlarge)