Changing bolt pattern on rear end?

First off, I'd like to thank everyone for guiding me through my noob questions haha. Anyways, i just picked up a maverick rear end for my ford Model A. My question is simple, the bolt pattern on the maverick rear end 8 inch doesn't match up to the model a tires. The model a is a 5.5 pattern, and I believe the maverick is 4.5. How can I resolve this issue?

 

you will need wheel adapters....check with wheel kid

even if you could re-drill the maverick rear to 5-1/2......and you cant because the axle flange isn't big enough..... the drums will never fit inside those wheels

scroll down to the bottom of this page

http://www.rallyamerica.com/Adapters.html

 

You can find ford axle shafts with 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern with the same spline count. And length . A axle shop can modify axle shafts .

 

i was looking into the adapters, but would that add too much to the width of the rear end? those adapters look at least half an inch wide meaning it would increase the length of the rear end by at least an inch, also, our MOdel A project is a full fender car

And we considered also having the shafts changed, however, we want something cheap and easy.

 

You could use narrow tires. But if that does not appeal, you could slice the rear fenders front to back and then add in an inch in the center.

 

well we were gonna use the original Model A width on the tires, would it work then?

 

Maybe the wheel centres can be cut out of the Maveric rims and welded into the original rims?

 

let me get this straight ....are you using the original Model A ford wheels? that's the way i read your original post

 

New axles (Moser, Superior,K-A) are safe and inexspensive, they can make them any way you want.

 

Yep Moser http://www.moserengineering.com/axles.html Or Dutchmans http://www.dutchmanaxles.com/
and probably a few others can make you a pair of correct axles for not much more than what a pair of quality adapters would cost.

I just checked the price of good quality adapters after reading a thread on a truck board and starting price was 89 each and the minimum thickness was 1.9 inches. US made and not knocked out with a cookie cutter. Prices went up from there depending on what you needed.

 

You can look into early Ford Bronco axle shafts, (66-77), they came in 28 & 31 spline, both small & large bearing. You would need the small bearing 28 spline. I don't know if the stock lengths are usable, last I seen they were around $115 each.

 

Get some axles made is the easiest solution. But like somebody else asked, were you gonna run the A wheels? I can't imagine the maverick drums will fit behind those...


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

we did plan on using the Model A wheels, didn't even think to wonder whether or not they would fit on drums. Now we face another problem haha.

 

i don't know if you can find them but the shea model A had four lug wheels.

 

the wheel adapters i showed you will fix both problems

 

36-3 Window, would they still fit into the fenders with no problem using those?

 

The early Ford wheels have a lip that overhangs the mounting surface. You must use wheel adapters for this lip to fit. You also need support for the inside of the wheel mounting surface. Spacer rings or get an adapter with them built in. A Maverick with adapters will be the same width as a stock A rear.

 

Okay then perhaps I should just go with adapters

 

Go with adapters. Google Rally America (Wheelkid) and order a pair of his Kelsey-Hayes adapters. Listed at $75 each.

They are 1.25" thick, and allow you to bolt Model A thru '35 Ford V8 wire wheels right on.
And your tread width will be about the same as Model A.

 

That would probably be a good fix. Scroll down the page.
http://www.rallyamerica.com/Adapters.html Those have the raised lip for the wire wheel to sit correctly on.