Technical ‘58 ford wagon rear axle bolt pattern change?

Hey guys,

looking at a ‘58 wagon rear axle. How hard is it to swap to the earlier bolt pattern? Is it just a redrill or do I need new inner axles/brakes,etc? Sorry I am in the road and want to make an offer on it because the width is really close to what I want.

 

***uming its a 9 inch since its in a wagon and you want to go from 5 on 4.5 to 5 on 5.5?

 

Stock axles have a 1.250 hole drilled in the flange for the retainer bolt access. It almost always needs to be filled and then faced off on both sides.

 

redrilling is the way to go.
There is just enough room to get 5 on 5 1/2 on the flanges.

 

Done a few , filling the hole as stated must be done first . New axles have came down a bunch in prices , last time I looked , also . I looked and located early Bronco housing and axles to over come the redrill process.

 

Wasn't there some odd variation around that year in which the wagon had a different pattern than the sedan? Possibly it was Edsel though.

 

Going back to an old Hamb thread Some lincolns of that era and the Edsel Citation and Corsair had 5 on 5 rather than 5 on 4-1/2 or five on 5-1/2. I think I ran into that on a brake job on an Edsel in the early 70's.

Dollar wise, it is probably more prudent $$ wise to find someone local who can redrill the axles and drums. Drums might depend on if those are good enough and if there is a 5 on 5-1/2 drum that can be bought at the local parts house that works. New axles start around 330 (Dutchman) and then you start adding the extras.

 

While on the topic of redrilling axles, what’s a safe limit to keep enough material from the edge of the wheel stud to the edge of the flange?

Edit: I ask because @Pete Eastwood said there is “just enough room”.

 

This gives you a idea, looks very close to the edge.

https://www.jegs.com/i/Allstar-Performance/049/ALL67502/10002/-1

 

Wow, that looks like there’s not enough material there.
I guess I’m used to seeing OEM hubs and axles with more meat left.
Thanks

 

I wonder if there is enough spline on ford pickup axle to shorten them to use in the wagon housing?

 

The Mercurys of that era had a five on five bolt pattern, you may be thinking of them. I found this out the hard way back in about 1965 when I put a nine inch from a 1959 Mercury under my 55 Ford! I had to carry two spares! Lol,





Bones

 

No Idea what they would cost but what about Strange or similar shafts to your PCD pattern.

 

This is an idea I came up with a few years back, it was for front hubs but near shaft would be similar.

 

Thanks for all the replies. Yes I believe it is a 5 on 4.5 pattern and I want to go up to 5.5 so I can retain my ‘40 16” wheels. I live in a pretty small town in Northern Michigan and I am not finding too many 9” axles for sale.

 

Bronco axles might work, your 9 inch should be 28 spline, 28 spline Early Bronco axles are fairly cheap, as everyone that has a Bronco wants 31 spline axles! Maybe!






Bones

 

I hear that, Bones! My '54 Ford coupe (# 8 of 11!) came with a '56 Merc parts car. When I saw the difference, I then swapped front spindles and brakes, keeping the 'new' 5-on-5" pattern. But then I added '56 Buick wheels for that 'deep dish' look. Car handled great, looked good, too. Had that 'tough' look.

 

I have used these and those centering punch sets .https://www.amazon.com/Bolt-Pattern...wheel+bolt+pattern+tool&qid=1674168068&sr=8-3

 

Those early 9" rears have a different offset and the required brake drums are obsolete.

 

If you can get the length, spline count and bearing to flange space, I would look for a new axle.
I needed one for the Bronco rear under my 41 pickup and found it at Advanced Auto of all places.
List was $104, had a 20% off coupon, so I got a Motive Gear new axle for $84 +tax, with free shipping.