Choosing a replacement diff housing

Hi All,

I've been informed that my Thames is rather slow, and having only driven it in the driveway in 1st and reverse, i can only trust what I've been told. I have discovered that the diff ratio is roughly 6:1. This combined with the mechanical drum breaks means that I've decided to change the diff housing to something a little more modern.

What should I been looking for when choosing a replacement?
Obviously a lower ratio and hydraulic breaks, but what else?

Thanks in advance

Cheers

Overall width, width apart of mounting points (ie springs), whether the handbrake is at the rear wheels, and hubs/stud pattern, are some things that first come to mind.
Would a hydraulic brake conversion need to be engineered?
Might end up easier and cheaper to leave home 20 minutes earlier and just sit back and enjoy the ride................

There are places that do all kinds of things with Ford diffs for hotrods......at a price of course.

First thing that comes to mind is tyres
If you only have say 750 / 20's on there maybe change to 10.00's as these are a lot taller and will go onto the narrower rims with some effort
Also buy a cheap tacho and just check the revs at different speeds just to see for your self how fast it revs
6-1 is pretty handy diff ratio as plenty of trucks were around this or slower
But leaving home 20inutes earlier to me is the simplest answer by far and allows for a more relaxed cruise as these slower vehicles can be a bit of a handful when geared right up and most don't have the power either

Paul

You dont say what size Thames it is.......i assumed a van,but they came as big as 8 ton trucks too,with 2 speed diffs.

Roughy wrote: Hi All,

I've been informed that my Thames is rather slow, and having only driven it in the driveway in 1st and reverse, i can only trust what I've been told. I have discovered that the diff ratio is roughly 6:1. This combined with the mechanical drum breaks means that I've decided to change the diff housing to something a little more modern.

What should I been looking for when choosing a replacement?
Obviously a lower ratio and hydraulic breaks, but what else?

Thanks in advance

Cheers

Mechanical brakes??? What year model is it?

Hi

The breaks were my first concern, so if they could be converted to hydraulic and if it goes 80 km/h without wringing the flatheads neck I would be happy with that.

It's a 500e, 2 tonne tray.

Hydraulic to the diff then mechanical to the wheels, hopefully a pic might explain it.

That type of brake setup is a bit different. My Austins have an almost identical handbrake setup, but are hydraulic at the wheels. I think the early 1950's 2 ton Austin diff ratio is 5.85:1. Is that a torque tube, or open tailshaft?

Yes it's a bit different, it took the best part of 2 days and 3 different pullers to figure out that to remove the break drum I had to remove the axle half shaft first.
i.imgur.com/hIQu4jY.jpg
i.imgur.com/35loaEk.jpg

Yes that be a torque tube.

Overnite: I believe it's a 1956 model

Another issue is getting my hands on grease and oil seals so that this doesn't happen again,
i.imgur.com/g2SNuaT.jpg
i.imgur.com/N3ZZJkK.jpg
i.imgur.com/ovSPdiB.jpg

I'm thinking a replacement diff is unlikely to have a torque tube, which could cause you issues at the rear of the gearbox.