VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 38 Master Carrier to Torque Tube Gasket

In the next little while I plan to install my 3:73 torque tube/gear set on my 38 Master. I am having a bit of a time finding the proper gasket. I am wondering if I can just use RTV or does the gasket provides a precise position due to it's thickness?

The front gasket was a thin white paper. Usually when a cast piece is bolted to a heavy steel piece with a machiend surface that is all that was used. Leakage was not a common problem. The rear cover gasket is exactly the same but made from cork due to the cover being more "bendable".
I would guess RTV would be OK.

Gene,
thanks for your advice!

I agree with Gene on the gasket and RTV though you could cut your own gasket using the banjo housing as a template. Gasket paper and "imitation cork" should be available from your local auto parts store.
Hold the sheet into position against the housing and trace around it then cut it out with a pair of scissors. I sometimes cut gaskets by holding the sheet in place and lightly taping the edge with a little hammer.
Tony

My initial concern was that the gasket was of a specific precision thickness to locate the assemblies properly. However they are very thin and the slop in the semi floating assembly will probably allow for the application of RTV which would have almost zero thickness when the joint is tightened. I definitely don't use a gasket on the cover, I use RTV.

If you do want to make a gasket use the rear cover gasket as a template as they are exactly the same.

I have not had any complications with gasket thickness with any that I have done.
Tony

I know with my 1 Ton and the full floating axle design, inserting the axles takes a bit of time because the splines on both ends are so precise. With the Master you have a bearing on the outer end that has some movement to it and the axles slide in a little easier. My neighbor has a 37 Lincoln Zepher and the rearend design on that uses paper gaskets as precision shims! That was a first for me.

Hi Old216
As a Best Gasket dealer, I stock the differential carrier (mounting) gasket 10024E for $10.00, the rear axle housing cover gasket 10011E for $12.00 and the universal joint ball gasket set 5151 for $16.00. The mounting gasket is paper, the cover gasket is not cork but a black dense fiber material and the universal joint ball gasket set comes with the shim gaskets, tapered ball cork gasket and the cork slip seal. To see what these gaskets look like check out our website www.marxparts.com or click on these website links http://www.bestgasket.com/dt_pop_up_picture.asp?PartNumber=10024E , http://www.bestgasket.com/dt_pop_up_picture.asp?PartNumber=10011E , http://www.bestgasket.com/dt_pop_up_picture.asp?PartNumber=5151

The Ford and Lincoln rear axles you referred to use shim gaskets to set the bearing preload on the carrier bearing as they are split style rear axle.

Regards Bob@marxparts

marxparts,
thank you for that information. I will bookmark the Best gasket site. I managed to get the paper gasket that I wanted but your site sounds like a great resource. I find there are fewer and fewer businesses now, interested in supplying these kinds of parts for our old cars.

As a side comment, I have found the Best Gasket rear main seal for these 216s to be an excellent product.

Old 216,

I wouldn't use that RTV or such as a substute for the gasket. As Gene said, it may work. The draw-back is that it will buldge out and look like job was turned over to a ... well, a non-believer in originality, if you get my drift. As a purest, avoid that, if you can. Substuting the 3:73 is forgivable the other is not so much.

Best,
Charlie

Charlie
If the RTV is bulging out it has been used incorrectly though on a rare occassion a small bulging is acceptable.
Tony

Personally I think the only possible problem with RTV is if it bulges inside and becomes detached. That is a bad thing.

RTV has been used for mounting rear axle carrier assemblies for heavy trucks for many years with no problems other than improper usage. It is much easier to package a tube of RTV in an overhaul kit than trying to package a large diameter gasket. It also fills in minor imperfections better and allows better contact between the mating surfaces.

biggest problem with using ATV is over use. If it squashes out too much was used. All it need is like a thin coat of paint for to seal. More is not better.

Thats it, I squeeze from the tube onto my finger then spread/smear over 1 side only of the joint, that way it is easy to judge appropriate quantity.
Tony