1952-59 Ford 55 ford customline rear end

well I need a little info on the type of rear end that is in my customline.it don't look like the 8in be cause it has a round look and the 8 in I have out of a 67 farelaine has a flat spot on top and bottom. what im looking for is a set of gears that will work mine are a stock 3.78 and I want to change to a 2.70- 3.00. if anyone can help me I would appreciate it. im having trouble with finding out was size it is.

 

The 67 8 inch rears are a lot different than the stock 55 rears. As far as I know, nothing interchanges except the brakes in some instances.

I good swap to a later rear would be a 65-66 Mustang as the length is the same and the spring perches are the same.

 

You can't even see the rear end the gas tank hangs so low in these car.

 

can I use the same u shape bolts that held the rear end to the leaf springs and the shock bracket if I use the 66 mustang rear end as the mustang rear is smaller at the mounting point.

Thanks
BeerMoney49

 

I used a '66 Mustang rear axle under our '54 Wagon. HRP

 

I've also heard that a Maverick 8 inch and possibly an Explorer 8.8 will fit under a '55 Ford. Can anybody speak to those rear ends? Updating a '55 Ford with front disc brakes already. Disc brakes on rear would be great.

 

An Explorer 8.8 has to be shortened to fit under the 55. It is just shy of 3" too long. I have one I got from pull a part (3.73, 31 spline, with trac loc) for $100 complete. Just have to strip it down and shorten it now.

 

On youtube.com put in "narrowing a Ford 7.5 rear end" in search there are several videos showing how it is done this also applies to the 8.8 rears,as one axle is shorter than the other you will only be shortening up one side.In the "sticky FAQ" there is a link to the rangerstation.com with a ton of info you can use regarding the 8.8's the 1988-93 Ford Ranger rears are narrower than the Explorers.

 

I put a 8 in maverick in my 55 worked great 2.79 gear the spring perch is about half a inch to wide but i was able to fudge a little on each side and it worked just right been driving it for 4 years

 

From what I've gathered so far from the HAMB and interweb, the rear ends to look for are:
'64-'66 Mustang for 8" diff, '57-'59 Ford wagon/Ranchero for 9" diff and bigger bearings, V8 Maverick for 8" diff and 5 lug axles. These are all right on or very close in width to the '55-'56 Ford rear end to be replaced. Does anyone know of a reason these axles shouldn't be sought to do a swap on a '55-'56 Ford?