I've got two HO72s. One is in my '56 3600 and is stock. The other is out of a 71 van and is stock. The specs are below:
1956-open differential, 4.57 gears
1971-detroit, 4.10 gears
My question is what is the best way for me to make a 4.10 open differential third member with these parts? I see it a few different ways but am not sure about the compatibility of some parts. For instance will the spline count of the shafts be the same? I want to keep my 1956 housing, shafts, and outers since I just added all new brake components and bearings.
-Pull the 4.10 gears out of the '71 axle and swap them into the 1956 open carrier and third member.
-Put the '71 third member into '56 housing and pull the Detroit/replace with open carrier.
I am not incredibly familiar with these axles. How difficult is it to set the bearing preload and gear backlash on these axles if I pull them apart?
I guess the easiest thing to do would be to swap the entire '71 third member in with Detroit and all (assuming the shafts are the same spline count). If I hate the Detroit I can then start creating a Frankenstein's monster with the two axles.
Thanks for any and all advise.
