Guys, I'd like to install a Ford 9 inch rear axle in my 1950 Matford Ford woodie which currently has the stock rear axle (51.5 inches from backplate to backplate) but the stock replacment comes in at 56 inches. Is there an alternative or a narrower axle availabkle anywhere? Colin
Here is a list of Ford rear axles. That Deuce Roadster posted several years ago.HRP 965-1966 Mustang 57.25 inches 1967-1970 Mustang 59.25 inches 1971-1973 Mustang 61.25 inches 1977-1981 Versailles 58.50 inches 1967-1973 Mustang, Torino, Ranchero, Fairlane 59.25 inches to 61.25 inches 1957-1959 Ranchero and station wagon 57.25 inches 1966-1977 Bronco 58 inches 1977-1981 Granada/Versailles 58 inches 1967-1971 Comet, Cougar, Mustang, Fairlane 59.25 inches 1971-1973 Mustang 61.25 inches 1964 Falcon 58 inches 1967 Cougar 60 inches 1967 Fairlane 63.50 inches coil springs 1972 Ford Van 3/4 ton 68 inches 1973-1986 Ford Van 3/4 ton 65.25 inches 1957-1959 Ranchero and station wagon 57.25 inches narrowest 9" housing 1966-1977 Bronco 58 inches 5-on-5 1/2 inch diameter bolt circle 1967-1973 Torinos, Rancheros, Fairlanes 59.25 inches or 61.25 inches 1967-1971 Comets, Cougars, Fairlanes 59.25 inches
the measurements hotrodprimer posted are wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface so you need to check that measurement of you stock axle to. the 8.8 can be had fairly easily in narrow widths. the stock explorer rear is i believe 59.5" wheel mount to wheel mount. it's also easy to narrow another 2". in stock form it's offset 2" to the right. the tubes are only "lugged" shorten the longer tube by 2" and use 2 right side short axles.
What is your WMS to WMS distance? A very common rear that fits very nicely under a 1935 to 40 Ford is the Ford 8 inch out of a Maverick. It's 56.5 inch wide WMS to WMS. They also are almost a direct bolt in for the 49-51 Ford. A friend of mine has one in his 36 Ford. Another friend has a Lincoln Versailles rear in his 1940 Ford but it's a little wide, very heavy and looks huge under the car. Plus you need to get all the emergency brake components in order for the rear brakes to adjust. Research will show that spare parts for these rears are non-existant and all have highway gears.They are overpriced and overated. Go with the 8 inch Ford. Read this: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26351
A '57 to '59 9" is 52-1/4" flange to flange. The narrowest 9" manufactured. This would likely work for you.... you could play with your backspacing a bit as well. Allan
Isn't that housing flange to flange and not wheel mounting surface. WMS to WMS is 57 1/4" as listed in HRP post #2
Unless you are putting huge horsepower in your rare Matford, maybe worth considering an Alfa Romeo live axle from the mid 1960s until early nineties - 52" wide wheel mount surface to wheel mount surface. This is a great looking aluminium casting, has a limited slip if you choose the right one and several different ratios and cheap. In fact the whole aluminium twin cam engine, 5 speed gearbox combo is a great setup for an econorod. www.alfabb.com is a useful source of info.
One thing to keep in mind when going to a narrowed 9" (or any rear for that matter) is that ther are a LOT of low buck ways to attain your goal. Getting 2 SHORT axles is one way (just leaving you with a housing to narrow. Or just cutting one axle and housing - that's what I did for my '47 Ford - the 9inch I had was 2" too wide - so I ended up just cutting it off one side - and shortening only one axle and tube. There are a zillion axles to choose from that are "off the shelf" - it's possible that you could find a mix and match of stock axles and save the cost of resplining a pair or single - leaving just the housing.
Thanks Guys, lots of useful information and options to think on. I'm going to check out a local American car workshop here in the UK to see if they have any in stock as I'll obviously have to change to later wheels instead of the old wide 5 pattern. Will keep you posted
He said his measurement backplate to backplate was 51-1/2". That's only 3/4" narrower than the '57-'59 9". The 57-1/4" measurement is drum to drum.
You probably caught it but the way 99.9 % of us measure axles is by going from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface. Back plate to back plate doesn't work well as different axles will have different width drums and other differences that cause that measurement to not be very useful when figuring the correct axle width. As several said, axles can be cut down and narrowed by a machine shop and some do have a long and short axle so only one axle tube needs to be shortened in certain instances. A number of industrial vehicles either run or at one time ran Ford nine inch rears including Taylor Dunn carts and some fork lifts. I think if a guy checked into the history of Currie Enterprises they actually got their start setting up rears for industrial applications and then got found by the hot rod side of the market.
Firstly I'd like to thank everybody who responded to this thread..much appreciated! I've since re-measured my axle from wheel mounting to wheel mounting and it's 58 inches which is much more like it. Somebody here in the UK suggested that as I'm only replacing the small 60hp flathead with a 105 hp motor I should go for a Ford 8 inch axle. Not sure if I can source one in the UK, but if I can't I might have to strat looking across the Pond there. Colin PS. For what it's worth I've attached a shot of the Matford newly arrived from France and before it got dis-***embled.
I used mavrick axels on my 28 splined 9 inch. only had to cut the housing to get a 56 inch rear, same as an 8 inch rear. Uses stock axles that way.
I called Curry and I saved a lot of money. I knew what I wanted axle flange to axle flange. He told me what model and year Ford axle to buy so that they could cheaply respline my axles rather than buy new axles at a much higher cost. I shortened the housing and sent him the axles. He shortened them, installed new bearings and seals, resplined them and sent them back. I got the exact width that I needed using my selected wheels. Call them first and you may have to buy a wider axle than you expect so that there is enough meat in the axle to shorten. to the desired length. He told me to get a Torino axle so that it could be shortened to what I needed. Axles ain't cheap. Resplining was perfect for my non racecar street application.
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