Im looking for a rear end for my 1930 model a project i was told a 8" out of a mavrick would be good, for those of you who have done this or know, what other options would i have? thanks for your help i also found this from a 70 mustang would this be ok? http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts/2431657861.html -Lou
hi, post this same messsage at the ford barn, those guys would know......good luck with your project.
Hard to find nowdays but the 57/8 Ranchero/ wagon 9" is a good fit, real close to the Maverick. Maverick 8" been a good choice for years (they are getting harder to find), not many V8 capable rears narrow enough for an A, more so if you run fenders. That why most rod shops sell 9" housings narrowed to fit an A. The 70 Mustang would be a little wide. BTW this IS a better forum then the Ford Barn for questains like this, Ford Barn is suppose to be for stockers, HAMB for hot rods.
thanks for the answers guy, im building a hot rod out of this thats why im here. im one of those guys who doesn't believe in stock haha, ill have a bunch of questions that will pop up, you must excuse me this is my first hot rod build, i come from a long history of auto cross and i built a mean 65 GTO drag car when i was younger. -Lou
All I have is 8 Plenty strong enough and width should be close.If you have to narrow one side its not a big deal Just need another short axle ,If your going fenderless its perfect and no need to narrow......Who needs to extra bodywork anyway ,Sell the fenders and dump the money back in your car................
I have an 8 inch in mine and it is plenty strong gear and axle wise, but my housing has to be bend outward slightly as I have had 5 bearings in it and two different sets of axle shafts and in total I have had 3 shafts walk out on me at highway speed. Now I have a 9 inch out of a 59 edsel that should be in it this fall. For now it is a low speed city car.
If you can find one an early ford bronco 9 inch mid 60s has the right width and usually has a 4.11 rear gear. They are 28 spline and have 5 by 5 1/2 bolt pattern.
I made the mistake of narrowing my rear for my A and then I added spacers ,Pushing it out 2 inches ,So I basically narrowed my rear to get 2 inches out of it what a waste of time ,Narrowed it 4 spaced out 2 and that leaves an inch on each side ,The 32 with fenders I had to do 4 and pack out ,Just so it fit..Rear in truck is 64 or 5 and car is 69 mustang 8 inch.......Back spacing of wheel is important and body roll
We use a lot of the Ford explorer or Mercury Mountainer 4x4 rear ends. Perfect width ,8.8 373 gear, LS and has disc. not traditional but work really well.
The Fairmont rear also works real well. If you need stout early bronco is a good choice. Jeep rear is also a good choice, the weak link being the axle key but that can be over come pretty easy. While I'm thinking about it 10 bolt out of a V-8 Box nova will work. Also 10 bolt out of an early S-10 that are cheap and will hold up well under a light bodied car.
The Maverick rear is perfect for a full fendered Model A at 55" from the wheel mounting surfaces. An early bronco is around 58". If you are going to channel the car, you'll need a wider rear than a Maverick.
I'm using an 8 inch from a '65 Mustang on my 'A'.Width is good though I'm not using stock fenders so not as critical.
I have an 8" in my roadster and it has taken mucho abuse with no problems. Because of my luck with the 8" in this car, I decided to put one in my current truck project. I found a used low numerical ratio open diff, and found out very quickly that used 8" posi units are non existent. And the new parts for an 8" are expensive. Over $1000 for posi,ring and pinion, and bearings.
Then by all means go with a 9 inch Ford. Width is not as critical if you do not have fenders. 58 to 60 inches wide ( measured this way ) is ideal The 9 inch Ford has a vastly better selection of factory Ford gear ratios and better aftermarket support also ... in addition to being stronger. The ever popular 57/58/59 Ford rear end has been the #1 choice for years. Here is a list of rear end widths ( Ford type ). Because you are going the channel the Model A ... I would try and find the very common mid to late 60's Ford pickup rear end. Strong and easy to find and the width is good for a channeled car. 65-66 Mustang 57.25 inches 67-70 Mustang 59.25 inches 71-73 Mustang 61.25 inches 77-81 Versailles 58.50 inches 74 Maverick 8" 56.50 inches 75 Mustang II 8" 57.00 inches 67-73 Mustang, Torino, Ranchero, Fairlane 9" 59.25 inches to 61.25 inches 57-59 Ranchero and station wagon rears, 57.25 inches 66-77 Bronco 9", 58 inches 77-81 Granada/Versailles, 58 inches 67-71 Comet, Cougar, Mustang, Fairlane, 59.25 inches 71-73 Mustang, 61.25 inches 64 Falcon 58 inches 67 Cougar 60 inches 67 Fairlane 63.50 inches (coil springs) 72 Ford Van 3/4 ton 68 inches 73-86 65.25 inches 57-59 Ranchero and station wagon 57.25 iches (narrowest 9" housing) 66-77 Bronco 58 inches but has 5-on-5 1/2 inch diameter bolt circle 67-73 Torinos, Rancheros, Fairlanes 59.25 inches or 61.25 inches 67-71 Comets, Cougars, Fairlanes 59.25 inches Where to find the 9" rear axle 67-73 medium and big block Mustangs and Cougars 66-71 Fairlanes, Torinos, Montegos, Comets, and other Ford intermediates with big blocks 57-59 V8 Fords and Mercurys 77-81 Lincoln Versailles & Trucks I have the early 9 inch Bronco under my 32 Ford roadster ( with fenders ) and a 57 Ford 9 inch under my 32 Ford 3W coupe ( with fenders ) With a channeled car ... I would try and find a mid 60's to late 60's Ford F-100 rear end. The width would be good for a channeled car and the F-100 rear end is strong and easy to find. Even the brake parts are easily found and purchased reasonably.
thanks for all of the support guys! I really appreciate all the help you guys have given me so far and really look forward to being a part of this forum.
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