Curious Darrin, as hull 731 is shown as a LP2A in the registration books, with engine number 2G19111F. Not that the books are infallible by any means. Do you think the carrier as you found it was still fitted with its original diff? If so, what ratio was marked on it?
With regard to Lynn's numbers, Hull 405, the first of the VR batch after South Aust Railways contract for hull 285 to 404, was listed as having a '40-640' differential, ie a 1940 differential with ration 6.66 to 1, so an LP2A. I don't have any reference to carriers built by VR with '38 diffs after that number (except a couple of much later 'specials'), but Darrin has raised the probability that there were some, given his is hull 731.
However there are certainly much later vehicles from SAR than hull 1207 which are listed as having '38-640' differentials, ie 1938 diffs, so LP2. Hull numbers 1668, 1674, 1680 to 1726 fall into this group.
Some Ford Homebush carriers after 1763 also have 1938 differentials, for example hull 1847 to 1885 are listed not only with 1938 axles, but the higher 5.83:1 ratio, denoted by '635' stamped into the housing, rather than '640'. So again, these are LP2, not LP2A models.
So it would appear that, despite the manuals, the installation of 1938 differentials continued is some manner, possibly depending upon availability, and it was not a matter of stop using '38 diffs and start using '40 diffs exclusively.
Mike
'38 type: splined pinion.
'40 type: plain tapered pinion & woodruf key
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