Whats the easiest way to convert a 4 lug rear to a 5 lug short of ordering new axles? Can the old ones be redrilled?
axles can be redrilled, running some on my car now 5x5 converted to 5x 4 3/4. Yes you need to check if theres room available and lay it out. a lathe is your friend here, run a scribe mark at centerline of your bolt pattern, use the lathe to clock degrees for bolts. Find some circle track guys in your area and see if they can suggest a competent machine shop, also check for heavy truck mechanic shops both can usually handle this locally and for less than sending it out.
Well its a 74 MustangII 8 inch with the standard Ford 4 lug pattern. I'd probably convert it to small ford 5 lug. Its a nice rear and has a 3:55 punkin.
Done two sets for a 34 ford with mustang rears. Weld the holes up true them up on a lathe and drill new pattern.
X2 on that one,done the same myself many a time. Or you may be able to buy some bolt on addapters if you wanna go down that road.
I had Moser do mine. The biggest problem was a $40 freight bill coming and going. No one in Phoenix could do it,. Even the loud mouth rear end guys.
I would just re drill them . If you do the Ranger axles swap , remember you need 2 Rangers to get the axles from . Only one axel will work from one Ranger . Rangers have an offset rear and the axles are 2 different lengths ! Retro Jim
SO some say use a ranger, then one says they wont work. My guess is that the rangers will work on the later model Mustang rears, say '79 to early 90's. IF they dont work, anyone know of another swap that does. IF they do work, which side do you use?
I've done them on my Bridgeport, just have to fixture the axle hanging down off the table. I made up an aluminum block to nest the O.D. of the flange, swiveled the ram accordingly. It was like 90% set up time and 10% run time. Bob
It is not to hard to index, I do them on my Cincinnati Mill for guys here, Im sure if you PM the guy in Phenoix on here you can work out a deal. And no the Ranger axle will NOT fit your 8" that works on the 8.8" How wide is your rear axle? you might just want to consider swapping a 8.8 out of a leaf spring Explorer 31 spline axles 5x4.5" bolt circle Plus they are cheap as hell (at least here) about $100 at any junkyard as they made millions of them and the dont break. Watch out for the Mustang version only 28 spline. Keith
You can use Maverick axles with a little trimming on the splined end. As I recall, it's 1/4" on one side, and 3/8" on the other. The problem is, thebacking plate to axle flange spacing is not the same, so you have to use Maverick backing plates too, and the bolt pattern on the end of the housing is not the same. So you need to redrill the Maverick backing plates, and use the Mustang bearing retainers. The housing end is too small to drill the Maverick backing plate bolt pattern in it. When it's all said and done, it's cheaper to redrill the axles to 5 lug.
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