After sitting around for a year, I'm starting to put the pieces of parts together that will hopefully resemble a '32 Ford PU. I'd like to use the pieces that I got with the purchase, big truck front frame, cab, box (model A?) front axle and rear end. Which brings me to my question and would like some input. The rear frame is 38" wide outside to outside, the box is 43" where it mounts to the frame and approx. 48" at the top along the bed rails. I don't plan on installing fenders. How wide should the rear end be? What I have I beleive to be is a '50 Ford truck rear end, that is 55" from backing plate to backing plate. I'm concerned that that my be to wide for the box and not look right(too much space between the tire and box), I do realize that wheel combo/backspace will have an effect. What did you use? Thank you!
Mike, The main reason that a lot of guys are after the '57-'59 ford fullsize 9" rears and '77 back bronco 9" rears are that they are narrow as ford made. The '57 ford rears are 58.25" mounting surface to mounting surface. I believe and have the small ford/mopar bolt pattern. I would have to check my notes, but I think the bronco is slightly shorter than that but has the large 5 on 5.5 pattern...which will match if you run F1 or F100 brakes up front or early ford juice brakes. The truck rear you have is probably a dana 44. I have at least one or two of those from 1949-51 F1s if you want to come down and measure one and look to see if it is the same as you have. The 8" ford is also a popular choice because it was in the mustang and smaller cars and is narrow. I have a bunch of those in back if you want to measure one and see if it will fit. It really depends on what your running for wheels, brakes and how you want it to look.
I might have to do that, maybe after the holidays. Anybody else have any input, it'd be much appreciated!
The 57/58/59 Ford rear end and the 66 to mid 70's Bronco are basically the same width. I have a Bronco under my 32 roadster and a 57 rear under my 32 3W coupe ( both with fenders ). Some rodders use a 8 inch series V8 Maverick rear end. It is 56 inches wide ... measured this way The above way is the BEST, most accurate way to measure a rear end. The problem with measuring from backing plate to backing plate different width brake drums ... is ... brake drum widths mess up your measurements. Brake drum widths can vary as much as a inch or more. One inch per side ... makes for a two inch TOTAL width miscalulation. OH ... and I STOLE the above photo off the HAMB ...
My '32 has a '65 Mustang rear end and a model A bed, if I did it over again I would choose a narrower rear end. WTF?
I used a 58 inch wide ford rearend in my 33 pickup. I have a model A bed on it also. I will have to measure the backspace on the wheels that I used but they are 8 inch wide rims........
This is a 49 F-1 dana 44 rear in a 34 Truck I did. The bed is a narrowed 38 Ford. Not sure how wide it ended up. This is a 34 1.5 ton truck front frame and 2x3 from the firewall back. Those stock big truck frames are thick bro!!!
Stay away from Mcdonalds and you will be ok.Seriously I narrowed 2 mustang rears around 64 ,truck and 69 A ..... doing the short axle thing,........I had 2 push wheels out 2 ''on the model A and the same on the 32 truck .Truck has wires 16 x6 and the A has halibrands ,
I purchased a pile of parts, front frame from a big truck and I'm not sure what the rear portion is, so I don't have a complete frame. Thanks for all the advice, hopefully I'll find something to work. Looks like I'll have to check my stock and see if I have anything, but I'm afraid not.
Yes, I'm pretty sure that's what I have, but I've got it to behind the cab. Did you replace the front crossmember to a dropped?
I used a 42-46 Ford pickup rear under my 33 pickup with a skinny little 27 T bed and 35 ford wire wheels...it looked a little weird because it was a little weird.... behold
"How wide should my rear be?" Hmmm??? Is that one of those dangerous trick questions like when the wife or girlfriend asks "Do these pants make me look fat?" Mart3406 ==========================
Your rear is plenty wide, Yummy! Look who finally joined the message board. I will be happy to see any width rear in there as long as you get an old piece of iron on the road this year!!!!! Yessir
I'll take a pint of what he's been drinking or maybe snorting Maybe this will help http://50chevy.freeservers.com/Suspension_Widths.html#Suspension
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