Classic/Antique Car Repair/Replacing rear end

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Expert: - 10/12/2010


Question
Sir; I have a 1938 Dodge -D 10 car Canadian. I would like to change the rear end to a higher ratio to a 308 or a 350 It has a stock 1938 transmission. I changed the drive shaft to a universal instead of the ball and pin also 15 inch rims from 16 inch . Would a Dodge Dakota rear end fit? If I've got to move the perches that's OK. I would like to keep up to highway speeds. The motor is a flat head 6. 105 HP and a 1951 Can.I respect your input. Thank you very much Carl

Answer
It sounds like you have the facility to do some fabrication. I would not go to the 308 rear gear as the low end performance will suffer to much. Especially getting the car moving on an incline and could require a good bit of clutch slipping. The Dakota rear seams like a good fit and one of our club members has this in his 39 Dodge.  

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

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