The PO told me he thinks it came from a 56 Mercury car. The casting number appear to be C80147 although it's hard to tell under the gobs of yellow paint.
Been unable to find a match for it. I need a gasket for it...

 

Two very easy choices on sealing it. Buy a sheet of gasket material or use RTV. If you use the RTV, follow directions.

 

Yeah but I wanna know what it is ;-)

 

Maybe it's a DANA?

 

(Its a Dana 44)
Take an angle grinder and scrub the lower corners. I betcha one will say "44" on it

 

1949/56 Ford/Merc Passenger Cars, 1955/56 Thunderbird, 1953/56 F100: Spicer (Dana) 44.

Upper pic: Inspection cover appears to have an AXLE ID tag @ 7 o'clock.

F100 uses some of the same parts, some are F100 only.

Station Wagons/Police Cruisers/Thunderbirds: Housing is different as is the inspection cover gasket, pinion seal, most of the internal parts.

 

Awesome thanks guys. The numbers around 8 and 10 are the same I believe they say US patent and a number. The stamp in the circle over around 3 oclock I could swear was a 45 but I need to get under and look again when I get home...

 

Well now that you guys put me on the right track I've determined it is indeed the not so common dana 45. I think ill end up tossing it.

 

Why?? Is it the wrong ratio? Just because you can't find a gasket?

If you do use RTV on it, be aware it will be a BEAR to get off. With all that surface area it won't want to just pop off.

First thing I'd do is paint the damn thing black!!!

 

I know, everything on the damn truck was yellow! The ratio is either 4.10 or 4.11 I forget now. Either way, I don't like it. My goal when rebuilding this truck was to make it safe and reliable, furnish it with parts that are easier to find when they break. FMX tranny not that easy to get parts for, rearend not easy to get parts for, brakes same. Replacing it all with slightly more modern pieces that are easier to get parts for. Nothing to do with the gasket, that's easy.

 

1953/56 F100/350's were available with 3 speed Ford-O-Matic which is not an FMX Cruise-O-Matic.

FMX: 1969/89 misc Ford/Merc Passenger Cars & 1973/77 F350's w/300 I-6.

 

He has a 351C, also not available in '53....

 

Correct I have quite a mish mash, 351c came from a 73 Mustang, 74 FMX transmission, 56 Mercury rearend. Power steering from God only knows what...

 

Thanks Ross, gee whiz...the things one learns on here on FTE

'Course, I already knew 351C: 1970/74 misc Passenger Cars/Ranchero's only.

Swapped in P/S probably Power Assist. Manual steering gearbox remains in place as it has nothing to do with P/S.

Preston Ledbetter (deceased), former parts guy at Haberfelde Ford in Bakersfield and owner of F100 Parts Unlimited in San Jose came up with a "P/S kit" for 1953/56 F100/250's.

He cut the F100/250's draglink, threaded it, then screwed on the Power Assist P/S control valve (3A730) used on 1953/60 Ford Passenger Cars.

Used the P/S ram cylinder (3A650) and Eaton P/S pump from the same.

I wish I had taken pics of this set up (30 some years ago), as I cannot recall how he fabricated the ram into the trucks steering linkage.

1957/59 Ford Passenger Cars (not same as 1957/59 Birds) with Power Assist P/S.

 

I'll take a picture of the whole setup tonight after work. This truck has been in that vicinity since it was born.