Hot Rods 1965 Ranchero - what rear axles fit?

I want to make our '65 Ranchero run better on longer trips. A little too high revs right now with the stock rear axle. Car is a six/manual.

What rear axles have you guys swapped in your Falcons/rancheros?

Thx
Thomas

 

An obvious choice would be an 8 inch from the same year Falcon. But that would be 5 lugs and your six cylinder rear end is 4 lugs. IIRC later model Mustangs had 4 lugs and would have a gear set which would bring your cruising RPM's down. However, will your six/manual trans have the guts to pull the new highway gear ratio?

 

First generation V-8 Mustang, 63-65 Comet, I would also look into a Maverick. Most had 3.00-3.25 ratios.

 

What do you consider a little too high revs? The engine will be fine running 3000-3500 rpm....that's how the car was designed to work.

 

I wonder if an early six cylinder Maverick wouldn’t be a better choice, as it would still have four lug axles.

It going to be the lighter integral carrier setup, not the 8” drop out center section like the later Maverick five bolt rears. I recall they had a 2.79 ratio.

 

Larger rear tires

 

I put an 8" from a '74 Maverick in my '61 ranchero. Bolted in with no modification.

 

Thank you all for some great input and pointers.

I know that the car was designed to work at a certain rpm and I guess I may have chosen the wrong words in my concerns. I am fine with the 3.000 rpm at cruising speeds except my needs would revolve around a higher cruising speed than it has now.
It is comfortable around 50mph, any higher and I feel it is stretching to go there.
Of course, I do not have a measured rpm at 50, but merely go by feel.

I will look for a Maverick or late 70's mustang rear end, I guess, as those would be easier to find here in Scandinavia.

 

Do you know what ratio it has now in the rear axle? Knowing that, and the tire size, will let you calculate the RPM.

Since you want to change it, you really should know what you have first, so that you actually make a change.

Also consider that the amount of power the engine has, determines what the best ratio is. Most cars with small engines need a ratio that lets the engine rev high rpm on the highway, just to have enough power available to keep moving.

 

A 170 ci 95 hp 6 cylinder is not going to be much fun with 2.74 gears, especially starting off on steep hills. Minimum for me would be 3.50’s.

 

you don't need a rear axel just change the gears...250 or 300 to1 ratio

 

IIRC, the 4-lug Falcon rears were a 7.25" R & P.

I had helped someone convert a '63-ish Falcon to a 5-lug around 1975, everything out of the junkyard. Mustang 8" whole rear end ***embly, Mustang or V8 Falcon stuff up front.

I had a '65 Falcon for a while, 6 and the 3-speed. I don't recall it revving that high. Do some homework, see what exactly you have, plug and chug through some rear-gear calculators.

 

It would be pretty easy to either go under the Ranchero and read the tag on the axle or decode the axle ratio from the data on the door jamb. I couldn't see many ratios being available for the 6 cylinder Falcons. Maybe a couple? One for auto / one for manual?