Dean

The vin # is stamped on top of right rear axle toob near inside of leaf spring. With the vin # the month and date of the car it came from can be determined. Also the axle manufacture then can be determined since there was a manufacture change in mid 1952.

The 3.08 gear started being used on mid 1952 and later stepdown production with automatic transmission.

The 1951 Hudson's were produced with 3 different gear ratios according to 1951 Hudson Mechanical Procedure Manual.
3.58
4.10 and
4.5555 round off to 4.56

The rear end gear ratio can be verified by jacking up only one rear wheel. Blocks around front tire. Release parking brake. Put trans in neutral. Put a mark on the drive shaft. Then turn the tire two full turns while counting how many turns of drive shaft.

I hope this helps answer some of your questions.
Provide us with rear end vin # and the manufacture can be verified.

Enjoy your new Hudson.
Lee O'Dell

Moved to "Hudson" category

There are several parts books in the online library at:
http://hetclub.org/burr/lithomepage.htm - filed in the 1948-1954 Manuals folder.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

One quick check you can make ... if the axle doesn't have a bolt-on rear cover plate, it's not a 3.07.

Hi Dean

I'm curious what you found out about your 51's rear end.

If you will post the vin # stamped on axle tube we can tell you what year Hudson it came from.

Have a great day.
Lee O'Dell

From the 1948-1954 Hudson Parts Catalog:

Two types of rear axles were used in Hudson cars during 1948-1954. The first type axle was used in 1948-1952 and is denoted in this Catalog by "H". It is identified by a housing with a welded cover.

The second type was used in 1952-1954 and is denoted in this Catalog by "0". It is identified by a housing with a bolted cover. The first car manufactured with the "P" axle was 75-159456.

To identify the ratio of the "H" type rear axle a number is stamped on the flange of the differential carrier where it is bolted to the housing.
For the "P" type rear axle an identifying number is stamped on a tag which is attached to the axle by one of the cover bolts.

Standard usage of different ratio rear axles.

First letter is type; 2nd is ratio and 3rd is ID number
1948-1952
"H" - 4 1/10-1 - 1-10

1948-52
"H" - 4 5/9-1 - 5-9

1950
"H" - 3 9/11-1 - 9-11

1951-1952
"H' - 3 7/12-1 - 7-12

Hudsonly,
Alex B

Well I finally dragged my old xxx under this puppy, and its definitely a Dana 44, ratio tag says 43/14, so that matches what the previous owner said about the 3.07 ratio. But the only significant characters I can read off the right side of right hand tube is "53 J" which I can't decode from any source on Dana coding.
I applied Acetone three times to remove the paint and a little bit of grime, but the stamping was just too shallow when it was manufactured. I hate to sand it and take the little remaining stamping completely off.

43/14 was used in Models 1952, 1953 4C, 5C, 7C, 1954 4D, 5D, 6D, 7D, Type "P", ratio 3.07-1, ID No. 43/14. The part number is 309295 and the parts book says it's for Severe Usage.

Hudsonly,
Alex B

Thank you very much. Looks like I'll keep it and take it to West Coast Differentials In Rancho Cordova for an update to flanged axles. I think that will require converting to a 30 spline center section. I found a reference in their catalog to 30 spline axles that can be cut to any length from 26 - 32'.
I saved it as a file, but its easily downloaded from their website.

Let us know how that goes. I bet it will be easier to use an existing 44 later model 30 spline rear then modify to fit the Hudson.

I just heard from Fairborn Studebaker, and they are still trying to create the profile for flanged axles to fit the Hudsons.
You may well be right about getting a late model 44 assembly and just get it modified to sit on my leaf spring rear suspension.
The Dana website advertises a number of updates. A thirty split with a positraction unit would be just the ticket.
I just wonder if they still make one narrow enough to fit these chassis?
Dean