MTFCA Forum

I've got a Ruckstell for my '14 and I understand there needs to be some machining done to get the pieces to all fit up to the '14 housing and/or spool. What needs done?

Need more info. Do you have the proper early rux housing(made for early spool) & going to run an early D/S bearing housing with stock gear? Then nothing, bolts together with no issues.

There is no machining needed if you have a '14 rear end in the car. Any torque tube should work, but you really need either the original or later. A 1921 or later will work, but will not have the lip.

I have the proper 1914 torque tube, spool and housing. I don't have an early Ruckstell housing, it's a later one.

Other than the '26-'27 ruckstell housing I didn't know there were an early and late small drum.

Open pinion spool or closed spool is the difference. Match the spool to which ever Ruckstell housing you have and no machine work needed.
May have to get pass side rear axle housing to match.

Still dont know your gear ratio. Important!!.
I will answer for stock gears. (11/40) If you plan to use the early enclosed d/s spool, the rear lip must be removed to fit the later axle housing. If you use the later, open bolt spool, the drive shaft tube lip will interfere. Best to use a later d/s tube that dosent have the lip. They are more common. A dime a dozen.

Ruckstell made their small drum housings both ways. For with a lip, and without a lip.

First for the million $ question; original or new one?
Where the pinion bearing housing bolts to the Ruckstell, is it flat or stepped around the outer edge? If stepped then your 14 parts should just bolt up. The right side axle housing should bolt up to the Ruckstell. Ford did not change to the open spool or bearing housing till around 1921 so there were lots of T's with the closed spool and the axle housings were machined for it. Early up to 1925 small drum or it is the late 1926/27 big drum style. The up to 1925 lefts side Ruckstell housing might/should have the stepped area so it could have been mounted on more cars without changing the right axle housing, torque tube and pinion bearing housing. When you bought the kit it did not come assembled, you supplied some parts from your old rear end like the torque tube, axle housing, spool (bearing housing) driveshaft and not sure axles.

Question could be; what machining do you think or have been told needs to be done?

My OP, if I were installing a Ruckstell in your case, would use the 1915-1921 right side axle housing and not the 12 rivet one on the right side. I think it would just look better and might be stronger. Then you could use your 1914 toque tube and spool.