Technical Can I gain up to 1/2” on a ford 9”?

If you dont have a lead foot,install a Maverick 8 inch.

 

this is interesting. Do I still need to shorten the inner ends of the axle? ***ume they sit deeper into the diff?

 

Yes and yes.

The minimum gap between the left and right axle shaft ends- when they're bolted in the housing- is 1.125" for all 9" rears whether you have a locker, spool, posi or open diff.

This gap allows the axle shafts to float slightly without bottoming out hard against the cross pin or center chunk.

You can have a slightly bigger gap, but you still want to have as much of the axle splines as possible engaged in the center chunk.

Hope this helps.

 

I'm always looking for the less complicated way.
How much space do you have between the Hubcap and wheel center to be able to have the wheels redone by cuttubg the center out and reducing the offset a tad while increasing the back spacing a tad.

 

The wheels are centre-mount wire wheels. There are centre mount adapters like these mounted to the hub face. Reducing wheel offset isn’t really an option.
Possibly rolling the arches will do it….. but fender skirts do look better

 

You can narrow it without cutting and shortening the axle housing.
But it will require swapping some components.

Your rear brakes are 11" x 2" drums !
What you need is some backing plates for 11" x 2-1/2" drums and put your 2" wide shoes & hardware on it.
This ^^^ will recess the brakes 1/2" each side
Then get some custom axles from Moser which have 1/2" less offset. ["B" below]



OR if you have access to a good machinist, remove the axle bearing and get the shoulder machined back 1/2" [arrow] and press on the new axle bearings 1/2" deeper . You will need to cut the spline back 1/2" as well.

Personally custom axles is the best approach because these can be removed and swapped back to stock later if needed.

 

I'll bet each of us has done what others consider an inordinate amount of work to achieve our own personal aesthetic.

 

this is precisely what I need thanks so much! Next question is what backing plates I’m looking for? You say a 51 ford are they all the same?

 

I’m swapping a rear and re-drilling axles just to tuck some wheels up into the body
Just part of the game

 

I never mentioned 51 Ford [that might be somebody else]

Look for 60-68 Galaxie rear backing plates.
Galaxie's had 11" x 2-1/2" rear drums. [Just check to see if it is small or large bearing]

The Galaxie combo is a popular rear brake upgrade on early Mustangs [not requiring axle swaps]
[I believe speedway do repro options]

If you are really squeezed for options you can "French" your existing backing plates.
You put the whole backing plate into a lathe and "part off" the center [slightly larger than the axle flange]
Then get a 1/2" section of tube and weld it all back together so it has a recess
[This is the sort of trick my dad did in his dirt track days to fit wider brakes]

 

Hi all- really struggling to find the right backing plates. Can you buy new? Or does anyone have any?

 

Try Strange Engineering [The do a complete kit for early large bearing 9" Fords
https://www.strangeengineering.net/product/early-big-ford-drum-brake-kit.html/

Give them a call and see if you can buy just the backs.
Let them know what you're trying to achieve [there might be some other issues]

They can also make custom axles

 

Thank you a tbird is def a large bearing rear end?

 

I would modify the skirts just a touch