I'm getting ready to build my first hot rod, I've been building Volkswagens since I was eighteen. So far I've got a '36 Chevy cab, 400 block Pontiac bolted to a 400 turbo, a dropped ford axle, a pair of 5 on 4.5 Ford brakes, and this rear end I'm asking about. I'm trying to get things squared away so I can start the mock-up. I've been lurking here on the Hamb for awhile and have been learning alot. Thanks to everyone for all the cool **** I've seen on here, I hope to learn alot more and to inspire others as I have been. Here's what I've got.... I think I've figured out everything but what car it came from. The tag that came with the gears reads as follows. WDM-J 2CD 3 . 50 9 332A So I know it's a 31 spline 3.50 ratio made in what I think was the forth week of March, 1972. The housing from flange to flange measures 56 3/8 in. So what auto was this thing from and what lug pattern will it be? Also on the outside of the gears someone has written 10p 35r, anybody know what that's for?
Being that narrow I would guess a bronco. I have used the early bronco's uncut in 32's and they are right about 56+ " The early bronco's had 5X5 1/2 bolt pattern.
picked up one just like that and installed it in a model A sedan. the one I had was a limited slip, although except for the housing itself the unit was toast!. bent axles, and a bad R&P gear. check to see if you turn one drum does the other turn the same direction or the opposite??
The correct way to measure a rear end is this way. The reason you measure from the wheel mounting flange to the wheel mounting flange is brake drums vary in width ... and measuring from backing plate to backing plate can be very misleading. A 72 Ford pickup rear end should measure just a tad over 61 inches wide. If you have a 72 Ford pickup rear end ... the wheel bolt pattern will be 5 on 5.5 A lot of rodders really like having the 5 on 5.5 wheel pattern because that is the stock, original wheel pattern of 1940 Fords ... so using the original style 16 inch rims ... is easy ( they bolt right on ).
Thanks for the information guys, I couldn't measure from flange to flange cause all I've got is the housing and gears, No axles, and the brakes I got with the rear end (not bolted on) I think are from an 8 in rear based on the smaller backing plate hole pattern. With all the info from the link that "57 HEAP" gave I probably am looking at a 72 pickup rear. Now I need to find brakes to fit and axles.
Look at the housing and see where the axle pads are located ( if they are still welded to the rear end. With the rear end housing in the as installed position, the pads should be on the TOP of the axle tubes. Pickup rears were mounted that way. IF the pads are installed on the bottom of the axle tubes ... it is NOT a pickup housing. A 1972 Ford pickup axle shaft with 31 splines is FoMoCo # C8TZ4234B and should be 29 and 13/16ths of a inch long with the larger wheel bearings. Both the right and left axles will be the same length.
Opps, maybe it's not from a truck. I had a chance to look at the housing today and realized some previous work has been done. Originally was probably not for a 72 truck (or at least the housing wasn't), looks like someone has cut the axle pads from the bottom and welded a pair on top. The other odd thing is there are welds on either side where the axle pads are now located, like someone sectioned in part of another housing, lengthening the housing I have. I've attached a couple of photos. The brake backing plates have a hole pattern that measures the same for an 8 in rear end, I'm guessing they are rears. I'm wondering if 9 inch gears will fit in an 8 inch housing or if I can get backing plates with a a 9 inch hole pattern that will work with these brakes. Thanks for everyones responses so far, It's much appreciated!
A 9 inch pumpkin or gear set will not fit in the 8 inch housing but....the backing plates and 28 spline axles from a 9 inch will fit. On the other hand I have 8 inch diff backing plates, brakes and drums from a 66 Fairlane on my 59 Ford 9 inch.A bit of maching on the drums was required.
Thanks for that link Ratmotor, everybody can use that chart...(even the chevy guys like the 9")...Dave
Here's some more helpful stuff, http://www.g-body.org/tnt/diffs/diff-housings.php http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2002/02/nineinch/index.shtml
The Jalopy Journal
