I'm gathering parts for my '32 Roadster, and would like to know what width Ford 9" I should use/look for...preferably without having to shorten it. Is there such an animal? Before anyone asks, I prefer the Ford 9 for a number of reasons, not the least of which is strength and parts availability. Thanks, guys...
This gives a nice description of how to measure: http://www.est1946.com/straightened9-inchfordrearendhousing.aspx
Pre 78 Bronco...before they went to full size pickup styling...being the correct width and having the large bolt pattern for early wheels and the Mustang having the car bolt pattern.
Most 32 Ford owners want a rear end that is 56 to 58 inches wide ... measured this way. The 57/58/59 Ford car rear ends and the 66 to mid 70's Bronco rear ends are basically 58 inches. This is a 57 Ford car rear end under my 32 3W coupe. As you can see ... 235/75/15 tires fit nicely under the fenders ... My 32 roadster ( with fenders ) uses a late 60's Bronco ( @ 58 inches ) If you are planning on using the early Ford wheel pattern of 5 on 5.5 ... the Bronco is a better choice ... because that is the pattern on them. If you are going without fenders ... you can use a little wider rear end ... and then backspace the rims or run way larger tires
Found this buried on my computer: Rear Axle Measurements MEASURED ACROSS WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE 56 1/2" 71-77 Ford Maverick 8", 57" 71-74 V-8 Mavericks 8", All '75-77 6's & 8's Maverick 5 Lug 8", 49-51 Ford, 57-59 Ford 9" 57 1/4" 64 1/2 - 65 Mustang 58" 78-88 Mid sized GM Car, Malibu/Monte Carlo (82 up Metric Studs), 80 Granada & Lincoln Versailles, 67-70 Mustang/Cougar/Fairlane, Regal with 10 bolt axle, S-10 P.U., 65-67 Nova 58 1/2 " Ford Grenada 59" 68-83 Corvette 60" 55-64 Chevy Car, 67-69 Camaro, 64-67 Chevelle, 68-74 Nova, 71-73 Mustang/Cougar, 84-95 Corvette 60-61" 64-69 1/2 ton 2wd Chevy/ Some GMC 6 lug rear end 12 bolt Coil spring set up Possible gear ratio's 3.70 62" 64-77 Chevelle, 73-76 Torino, 89 Trans Am, 70 2wd 6 lug rear end 12 bolt Possible gear ratio's 3:08, 3:40, 3:73 70-81 4wd 6 lug reared ............................................................... 71- Newer 2wd trucks use a 5 on 5 lug pattern 71-76 Full Size Cars " "" "" " 60" 60's GMC and some Chevy's Dana 44 or Dana 60 with leaf springs 6 lug, Gear ratio's 3.21 to 3.92. GMC V-6 used a 3.21 Dana 44 used a standard chevy 1310 yoke, Dana 60 used the heavy duty yoke which takes the larger 1350 yoke. Hope this gives you some place to start....along with Duece's great info with pics (hard to beat pics!!). Mike
I don't have any measurements with me, but had always operated on early Bronco meaning first gen - 66-73. The 74-77 were bigger, weren't they? I honesty don't know...
1st gen went to 77. 78 and up had the truck styling. I just did a Google image search for "77 Bronco" because you had me thinking my memory was toast!!! Hahaha
'74-'77 Bronco rear ends are the same width as the '66-'73 rears. I believe that in '71 or so, they all went to big bearing housings and axles, but still the same width and bolt pattern.
I like the Maverick rears. They are lighter, use less power, car rides better, goes faster. I use one with wheel adapters so I can run early steelies. KH and early wires will also fit. The wires will not easily fit to the 9" rears due to the larger brakes. The width is perfect with the adapters.
66-77 bronco. USUALLY 70 and up will have the large bearing rearend but either will work great. i beat the hell out of my 2 broncos and they just keep going!!...ill admit it i have issues with certain cars
345... have you used a Versailles before? If not, beware of the off world adjustments and ebrake setting. I think I have the maunals / cheat sheets some place if you need them. Gary
i hope its actually a versailes ? most i come across have poor ring gear selection and have yet to see one with a posi , not saying it couldn't be , leaf spring pads on the axle or coil buckets ? i have come across several full size lincoln disc brake rearends with posi trac units , they're actually a 9 and three eighths center section and are a very wide rearend but have the same brake hardware .
also as stated above the parking brake must be hooked up so snag the cables , parts are still available reman but hope the rotors have enough left on them to turn and the calipers are good , i have done a couple of these rearends and parts get expensive real quick if they need them , hopefully you scored it cheap other wise you may want to keep looking , not trying to discourage you just sompthing to keep in mind they were the hot swap back in the day but if your set on rear disk , its about as cheap to go aftermarket nowadays unless everything looks to be in great shape
Look at the later Explorer 8.8, many different ratios, easy to upgrade with T-lock, disc brakes, easy parking brake (actually great parking brake hook up!) and none of the Lincolns issues. Parts are so easy....standard Ford p***enger car bolt pattern. The drive shaft "flange" issue is a no brainer, precise measurements of the u-joint ends on the flange and the drive shaft, off to NAPA and the "BOOK". NAPA has a book that convert the measurements to a part number...just have to remember the part number for later.
I've heard bad things about the versailes rear. I would stay with the bronco or the 57,58,59 rears are a little easier to find.
Tony... sorry to say I can't find my cheat sheets on the ebrakes on this diff. But you can probably find them elsewhere. The one I used in my 37 was the PERFECT width for that car using 7" rims with no offset - if that helps. Gary
I can second the challeges of the Lincoln rear disk setup. Parts can be challenging to find and expensive when you do. Get as complete a setup as you possibly can.
The Versailles disk brake rear is about 58 1/2" wide, but the parts are expensive, sometimes hard to find, and they don't stop any better than drums. You also have to have the parking brake functioning because the pistons screw in to the calipers, and applying the parking brake is what adjusts the pistons. Whenever someone brings me any factory disc brake Ford 9" to work on, I convert them back to drums and save alot of trouble.
57-59 ford is 57 1/4 inch wide 66-77 bronco is 58 inches 8 incher 65-66 mustang - 57 1/4 inches 77-81 versailles - 58 1/2 inches 77-81 granada - 58 inches 64 falcon - 58 inches mustang II - 57 inches (4 lug axles) 74 maverick - 56 1/2 inches
I have 1962 Mercury Comet S-22 and I want to install a Ford 9" rear end (posi with disc brakes). What year rear ends with fit my car? Thanks!
No 9" does, exactly. The axle in your car is 56" wide. The closest are: 56 1/2" 71-77 Ford Maverick 8" 4-lug, All '75-77 6's & 8's Maverick 5 Lug 8", 1983-1992 Ford Ranger Pickup 7.5 and 8.8 (the 7.5 is fine for a 6-cylinder). 58" 57-59 Ford 9". ANY of those will leave you with somewhat limited wheel options, as they are all wider than stock. I run a 56-1/2 wide 8.8 in my first-generation Falcon. I had to mini-tub the outer wheel houses, just to get 195-60-15's, on 15" x 7" (4" bs.) wheels in there.
My A has a Versailles rear, with Torino drum brakes. Just a little welding and drilling go them on there.
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