Rear end Ratio

[vanthecarman]

I have a model 44 rear end and on the tag is the number 45B, what is the ratio? Thanks

Van
54 Cmdr HT
63 Hawk R-1

[Roscomacaw]

Can't tell you with that info. Of course, we know it's a Type 44 but that "45B" indicates that it's a Twin Traction axle with a particular type of clucth plates in the TT section.[:I]None of this tells anything of the ratio tho.

There SHOULD be another little tag under one of the rear cover bolts that reveals the ratio. Shy of that, that info's stamped on the outer edge of the ring gear OR, you could jack up the car, make reference marks on the rear axle yoke and on one brake drum edge and backing plate. Then turn the yoke and count how many times you have to do complete turn (and fractions thereof) to spin the mark on the brake drum, one revolution.
If you told us it took three and a half turns of the yoke to do this, we could assume you had a 3.54 ratio. If it was three and a third times around for the yoke, we'd say 3.31 and so on. Look for the little tag first tho! That's the easiest.

Miscreant at large.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS