what other rear axle choices do I have other than 8 or 9 inch ford.56/57 inches wide for 32 ford.not putting loads of power through it.going to run a stock 2.5 Daimler hemi and auto box.thanks.
Mopar 8 & 3/4 out of an A body. 70 to 74 340 Demon or Duster is what I have in my model A. You'll need a pair of axles with the larger 4 & 1/2 bolt circle or have Strange or Moser make some, I think most of, if not all those A bodies had the 5 lug on 4 inch bolt circle, mine did anyway.
You don't need a huge axle with an A/T & small cubes. 318 with a 904 in the 70s used a 7 1/4, so an 8 1/4 should be more than plenty, or a GM 10 bolt or the 8" Ford.
Toyota Hilux 2WD, Ford bolt pattern, VERY strong. Lots of ratios, drop out centre like a 9 inch. Because it's a pickup, most ratios are pretty low, but one out of a diesel auto should be in the 3:7 range. Most are 4:11. then it gets down to your tyre diameter.
8.8 rear end from Explorer probably has limited slip, disk brakes, tough axles, and a good ge****t. Pretty close to the correct width. Ranger pickups had some rears that would work, as well.
Exploder rears are 59-1/2" but easily narrowed to 56-1/2 and nearly center the pinion. Cut 2-7/8 out of the long tube and use a short side axle. Any 8.8 ge****t will fit but the exploders most common is 3.73 LSD. Earlier ones had drum brakes and the later have disk. Ill tell you I love the damn things, but they have a few drawbacks. They are HEAVY The tubes are heavy wall 3-1/4 " OD, so any brackets need modified or custom made, however they take to welding well and stay straight
Given the powertrain, I'd recommend a lighter weight axle than 8.8 Explorer, or 9" Ford for that matter. I have no idea how U S car parts availability is in the UK, but I'd have to think there must be some sort of rear drive axle from UK/Euro vehicles that would work for you. Unsprung weight is not your friend for ride or handling. The lightest weight axle with sufficient strength would serve you best. Ray
My choice would be any axle with a drop out centre, the smoother back Ford, Toyota or Mopar axle "hump" look so much better than a 8.8 or other Salisbury type rear when looking at the back of the car. Especially if the axle hump is visible (no 32 rear tank or its a hiboy)
Ray is on target. What we have here has no direct application to what is in the UK. Start trolling your local auto-dismantling-facility and take a tape measure with you. .
More for the U.S. guys, but a light axle no one has considered is a V-8 Grand Cherokee '96-'05 Dana 44a (a for aluminum center). It's wide at 62-1/2" and axle tubes are 2-5/8". Most all are 3.73 ratio and Quadradrives have Hydra-Lok. '96-'98 ZJ are c clip Ford 5 on 4-1/2" axles. Later WJ have 5 on 5" with bearing retainers but custom axles and earlier rotors should get you back to Ford pattern. Vettes use an aluminum Dana from '85-'97 so if a quick check shows cover gaskets are the same you could get a rear cover for about $100 off the auction site, cut off the mounting ears and polish the whole package and you have a good looking rear. Cover is larger than Dana 44/Jag so you can't use the ribbed or QC covers without an adapter plate. An empty 9" aluminum center with tubes and Strange aluminum carrier are $1300 from Currie.
thanks for all the options so far,any more.salvage yards are getting thin on the ground with all this recyleing lark.alot have closed up.love a quickchange.
Yea that would be a 1000 dollar cure for a 100 dollar problem. I don't know anyone who doesn't like a quicky, if you are not going to be changing gears all the time they are not real practical. Disclaimer: Not to be mean to anyone, a quick change will be useful in that it will transfer torque to the wheels.
The Jalopy Journal
