VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1941 Rear Axle Ventilator

I bought a NOS rear axle housing for my 41 Chevy 5 passenger coupe. Today my brother-in-law connected the torque tube and differential up to it. While doing so, we noticed a threaded hole on the top of the housing, between the differential and the left (driver side) brake drum backing plate. I looked it up in the diagram in my Chevs of the 40's catalog, and the item that is supposed to fit there is labeled as a "Ventilator", parts group number 5.387. Anyone know where I might get one?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Probably from your local Chevrolet dealer. The new one will be of the "drive-in" style but that will be no problem. Also they will need to special order it.

Charlie
You could use the ventilator from your old housing or if that has gone total the local auto recycler will probably have 1 that close that noone would know the difference.
Tony

I never noticed this ventilator while the old axle housing was on my car. So, I don't know what it looks like. The old housing is now at a local scrap yard, probably gone by now. What does the ventilator look like and what does it do? Does it just let air in/out? Is is a sort of valve?

Hi Charlie,

I have an extra axle with a good vent on it. Contact me at fraub48@yahoo.com if you can not find one. Do you have an extra right side parking light housing for my 41?
Good luck, Mike

Hey Mike,

I'll do some more looking and contact you about your spare ventilator if I can not find one. I did have two good rear tail light housings for a 41, but I sold them on ebay a few months ago. Sorry I can't help on that one. Is there anything else you need? I do have some other assorted spare parts.

Charlie

Yes, it's a "breather". As the gears rotate and the differential oil heats up, it allows the pressure that builds up to bleed off and also prevents any contamination from entering the diff. If the pressure is not allowed to bleed off, the oil would be pushed past the seals.