Ok, I have all the gaskets and seals for the trannie and the rear axle on my '48, how much have you found, does it cost to have someone replace them in a shop?

How about bearings and races? It won't cost that much more to replace them now as opposed to later when every thing else will have to be replaced. Do you have someone who knows these rears doing the job, or does he just have experience on Chevies and late model Fords?

I will second what Bill said. I found the races on the inner side of the axle tubes were worn and and needed replaced. Once you get them off you might as well have them inspected and if there is any doubt, go ahead and replace the bearings and races.

I'm not familiar with how much more complex the hypoid rear-end is than the banjo-style I have, but as long as you don't mess with the pinion bearing, I think you should be to replace the bearings, seals, and gaskets yourself, as long you follow the directions. I also found the 3-speed tranny I have pretty easy to rebuild and the parts easy to find. I think total parts to rebuild my tranny and replace all the rearend bearings, races and gaskets ran about $150 or so.

If the axle bearings and races need replacement, then the pinion bearings and races will need replacement also. I would think that the Ford rear as in 36 - 37 Lincolns would be in the same degree of difficulty as the hypoid rear of the 38 - 48 Lincolns. I am in the process of rebuilding a 46 rear and find that the rear hub races on the axle housings are badly worn. Are these the same size as Ford hubs and where can I obtain the sleeves for my machinist to install?

I got mine from Alan Whilehan, though Earle Brown has them as well, as does Naragansett. I had mine gound down to size from a grinding shop locally and they then heated the repair sleeves in oil and pressed them on. From everything I have read about replacing the sleeves, grinding is the way to go rather than having them turned down on a lathe.

The proper dimensions were printed on the sleeves I got so the machinist would have something to work with.

Tom

I ordered sleeves for the axle housing hubs from Job Lot yesterday at 11:00AM and received them at 12;30 today. Also ordered the rear gasket set for $19.95 with shim gaskets. The sleeves were $28.95 each and have to be machined and installed. Also ordered bearings and races for the carrier and pinion at 10:30 AM yesterday and received them at 9:30 AM today.I don't know their cost yet but would assume $250. would be in the ballpark.
If your man has experience in rebuilding these rears, I would think 10 to 12 hours would be about right just for the assembly portion. Clean up and paint could be another 8 to 10 hours times the shop rate.

Well, I am not a particular person, I dont need to have it painted or taken apart all the way, just need to have those seals replaced. My Connie is not a show car by any means, it is a driver (I know, I am crazy!) I just am tired of the thing leaking and me having it filled up every couple of weeks! Must to the disdain of the guys at the lube place that have to fill it up for free! LOL!

Wes,

The axle tubes have to come off totally for the old seals to be replaced and the new ones installed as the seals are removed and installed from the end that bolts to the center section.

For the cost of the bearings and races, I would have your mechanic inspect those, as now is the time to replace them if needed. It is time consuming to get those things off, so replace now if there is any doubt about their condition.

I don't have my reciepts in front of me right now, but I think the bearings and races ran roughly 50 bucks a side. He will also need the gasket set with the different thickness of gaskets to set the ring and pinion mesh. I just measured the ones that came off and replaced the old with new with the same thickness.

Tom

I just checked my 1947 Chiltons Flat Rate book and to replace the pinion bearings which are deep into the job, Chilton recommends $27.45 labor at $3.00 per hour. This is about 9+ hours. I will have about $500 in parts and machine shop labor plus my time which I figure at 15+ hours @ $0.10 per hour. I have to figure in the fun of doing the job, so ...

Well, the hourly labor rate has increased substantially in the past 60+ years! It's about $90 per hour these days. A 9 hour job will cost around $800 for labor alone.

Better plan on doing as much as possible yourself unless you have VERY DEEP pockets!