Quickchange Rear Ends for Square Bodies

[Gearheadsqce]

Hello everyone,
Just wanted to let y'all know that a Quick Change rear axle is a great option for our trucks.

I'm not trying to solicit business, I just think there are a lot of guys that could use one to their advantage. I'm trying to retire

While most of my stuff is aimed at street rodders, I have installed several QCs in trucks. My current '86 Crew Cab has one in it and I can tell you that it solves a lot of problems that come up with wanting and needing different gear ratios for towing, milage, performance and strength.

A quick overview of the most common style may answer some questions you may have:

What are they used for?
The most likely candidates are from stock car racing.

How strong are they?
Jamie Frankland says that they fall between a Ford 9" and a Dana 60.

What gear ratios are available?
There are approximately 67 gear sets with final drive ratios varying between 2.19 and 9.14:1 generally by about 0.2 increments.
10 minute gear changes for about $100 (less if you buy used)

How available are rear ends and parts?
These are based on 1938 - 1952 Ford 3/4 ton axles. (also referred to as Timken rear ends)
Still used today and each and every part is available.

What about axles?
Most applicable to our use are:
1. Push in style, like Ford 9" passenger cars and trucks Big Ford Bearings and brakes or Torino pattern housing ends.
2. Full Floating with either 3/4 ton snouts that use wide 5 wheels, or 2 1/2" Grand National that use 5 on 5 bolt circles.
the most common wheel studs for these are 5/8" either coarse or fine thread.

The most common axles are 31 spline (will interchange with Ford)

You can have Disc or drum brakes

There are several differential options,
Tru Trac
Detroit Locker
Vari lock
Spools

Although I have never built one as a front axle, there is no reason it can't be done.

Any questions, feel free

 

[idahovette]

PICS and Cost?????

 

[TotalyHucked]

Man I'd love to do a QC in my truck when the time comes but cost is typically a prohibitor here. Winters is the only QC I've ever seen/know people that run them

 

[SquareRoot]

QC's are sexy as hell. And, easier to spell QC correct than "aXLe".

 

[Vbb199]

Whos jamie frankland?

 

[Gearheadsqce]

Thanx for the responses,

I figured I would get a question about Jaime Frankland. He is the son of James Frankland III who was one of the pioneers of this style QC. As far as I can tell, he was the first one who made a separate center section for the Ford Truck innards. Another guy, Ted Halibrand, had made V8 sized QCs replacing the original banjo with his own castings. Others had built the bigger rears by adapting the Truck housings by welding the iron cases adding the lower shaft and change gear housings.

As to cost, how much do you want to spend? If you're a scrounger like me, you could probably put together a unt with a spool for a couple hundred dollars. If you want high zoot, new, polished, best of the best you could probably spend $7-8K!
Good used units are available for around $500. Buying a complete rear is cheaper than trying to piece together a bunch pf parts. The most expensive piece is normally the differential. My favorite is the Tru Trac style. Good used ones can be had for about $350.

There is quite a bit of interchangeability between most manufacturers. The big gun here is Winters. Others that you may encounter are Frankland, Coleman, Richmond, Jones, Lynn, Speedway Engineering, Tiger, & Bulldog. Ones with less compatibility are, Halibrand, CAE, ARC, Benson.

Showing a Frankland with Wide 5 Snouts and some bells with tubes that have the GN style ends.

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Also included is a n exploded View of a Winters Heavy Duty.
Power goes from driveshaft thru front u-joint to lower shaft, to change gears, to pinion, to ring gear. The pinion is on center with the ring gear (bevel ring & pinion). This is much more efficient than the hypoid ring and pinions like the GM, Dana, and especially Ford 9"
Ring gear is 10", 12 Bolt
Pinion uses double cup tapered roller bearing, straddle mount nose bearing and ball bearing in rear cover.

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That should keep you thinking for awhile,

Bruce Schneider
Gearhead's Quickchange Exchange