Got a 9"Ford rear for my '29 Essex;it's outta a '68-'72 pickup for the early ford bolt pattern.To get the rear end centered in the frame I have to narrow the long side axle tube 2.062". The stock axle is a 31 spline, 29.5" long so I have to get a shorter axle 27.5" to fit. Did ford make an axle in that length? I've been to several boneyards but not much luck so I'm looking for your expertise.The hollander book didn't help either. If this doesn't pan out,I guess a call to Currie is in my future.
Do you need to get the whole rear end centered? On mine the pumpkin thing or whatever you call it is off centered in the frame but the pinion is dead center and lines up perfect with the*******.
Various 67-70 427/428 Mustang, Fairlane, and similar size are 27 5/64 31 spline. Also in the 70-71 Montego/Fairlane with big engines at 27 13/16. But the above is all small bolt pattern. Moser is an excellent source of cutting and resplining for very reasonable cost.
Thanks for your info; much appreciated. Believe it or not both axles are the same length,29.5". I figured WTF until I thought out the extra 2.0" in the tube was the same as the pinion offset.Does that make sense? I want the pumpkin centered in the frame as it is somewhat visible and the U-joints should handle the pinion offset.I checked out a machine shop here in town and they wanted $25.00 per spline; damned expensive axle and besides it looks like theres not enough metal there for a respline; the unsplined area looks about .030 thinner or so my micrometer says.
Got any photos of that 29 Essex? I have the oppertunity to buy a coupe 3 window body and was wondering what you used for a frame?
286 Merc; Is there enough meat in the axle flanges to take a 5.5" bolt pattern? Levis Classic; Wise choice in cars, we save the best for the last 'eh! I used the front 2/3 of a model A and the rest is Essex frame for the kick-up.The W/B is 110" Fordnutz posted some pics of the car about a month ago, garage scene with a flatty in the chassis. If this doesn't work I'll get him to post a few more. I don't have a scanner/printer yet.
Well, here is a pic of mine, the pumpkin is offset and the pinion it dead center but i can hardly even tell the pumpkin is offset. I am definately not an expert on this subject but i figured i can put in my 2 cents worth. Do you think the u joints would bind up if the pinion is offset, or do you think they can handle it? I like learnin about this for some reason. Nick
29 SX....if both axles are the same length,[29.5"] then both axle tubes should also be the same length. Have you done a quicky pre-assembly of the axle****embly yet? Might do it before spending any money. If you have one tube shortened to accept the 29.5" shaft, you could move the engine and******* over an inch or an inch and a half to the passenger side to keep U-joint angles within acceptable limits. If you have a really short driveshaft, that 2 inch offset of the pinion could wear U-joints fast and be the cause of a vibration. If you have a reasonably long driveshaft, an inch or 2 won't hurt too bad. Many rear drive stockers have the engine factory offset to the right a little to clear steering, starter clearance etc etc etc.
29sx,you need a early bronco nine inch.They're 57 inches long,5.5 bolt circle.They fit perfect.Pat should be able to find you one.Theres a few places here that respline axles really reasonable. Also check out ford van diffs,they have a wierd offset.You could prolly use the short axle outa one of em.......Shiny
[ QUOTE ] Do you think the u joints would bind up if the pinion is offset, or do you think they can handle it? [/ QUOTE ] The u-joints should handle it with no problems. They handle very similar angles with the trans tailshaft above the pinion. Some shops/guys talk about "compound" angles." No such thing when you think about it, an offset in the vertical plane and offset in the horizontal plane - if done an equal amount - means the only offset is in the 45 degree plane. Key thing with the overhead view of the offset is that tailshaft and pinion are at the same angle - IE: parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car. Side view of the tailshaft and pinion should have them at the same angle, but not necessarily parallel with frame or ground reference. Granted, there are some side view tailshaft/pinion angle differences due to rear suspension in use, but that's another discussion. Boiled down, it means your offset as shown in the pics is no problem. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far as re-splining the 31 spline axle goes, you should have sufficient 'meat' to cut new splines further inboard. Not true with the 28 spline axles as they taper down just in from the factory spline. There are a few - very few - 28 spline axles that are quite long, in the vans I think, and I understand they can be re-splined if the axle narrowing/shortening process is enough to get down to where the axle has tapered back up enough so as to have enough material for the re-splining. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far as the question about enough axle flange material to allow drilling the flange to the 5 1/2" pattern, get yourself one of the inexpensive plastic wheel pattern gauges. You'll be able to see what's what when you place the gauge over the present studs. I've bought several of these gauges at swap meets and Summit probably carries them. Less than $5.00 in most cases.
29SX, are you SURE those axles are 31 spline? I've pulled several axles out of the '67-'72 F-100's and they were all 28 spline! The axles in those were the same length to put the pinion offset to the passenger side to match the engine offset. The early Bronco (mid - late 60's) IS narrower. Also look at the early 70's Econoline vans. They had more offset which means the passenger side axle should be a shorter one. Tracy
I have seen 31 spline axles in 68 -72 F100's. They are 29 and 13/16 inches long. They are 1/8" shorter than the 28's of the same year. I run a early Bronco in my 32......58" flange to flange.
Thanks again guys for all the info; learned a lot. Although the axles are both 29.5" long, the axle tubes are 22 and 24.125" long measured from the backing plate flange to the center section bolts. Nick32Vic; Thanks for pics; the rear sits exactly like yours does on your frame however I must narrow my rear axle so the wheels don't stick out too far. The Essex body is only 43" wide at the point where the rear axles exit.I figure to have about 3-4" clearance between the tire and body.Oh ya never****ume anything without checking it out properly; my 31 spline axles are 28 spline; the outer flange center piece had all the ID for 31 spline. I counted the damn things 3 times to be sure!! I gotta wear my specs more!
Duece Roadster, how can you ID the axles without removing them? I have four pairs of axles with the solid end with two holes that are 28 spline. Tracy
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