Help - 9" rear width under high-boy A roadster

Well, here's the skinny. Just brought home a 9" ford rear end - from 70's ford p/u I think. Put it under my A roadster high-boy (on deuce rails) and it looks too wide I think! Measurements were 57" backing plate to backing plate, but looks at least 2-3" too wide. I know this has probably come up a hundred times, but I can't seem to find the help I need. So, has anyone else used this rear on their project, or should I narrow this thing???

 

Generally see people go 55-inch on highboys- 57-inch with fenders. Depending on your wheel offsets you should be able to make that 57-inch work.

 

Couple pics I snapped before I left the shop - hope you can kind of see the rear!

 

Should have measured mounting surface to mounting surface, Flange to flange is not the correct way.....Should be able to make it work though..........PINCHER

 

Mounting surface to mounting surface? What mounting surface? Are you meaning outside drum to outside drum - Like over-all width kinda thing?

 

Drum face (where the wheels bolt to) to drum face. That is the number you are looking for!

 

56 to 58.5 is best

 

find one out of an early bronco 66-77, they also have the 5X5.5 bolt pattern, fits just right..

 

A 57 to 72 F-100 9 inch Ford rear end ( which I believe is what you have ) is 60 inches wide ... measured from the wheel mounting surface to the wheel mounting surface. You measure from the wheel mounting surface BECAUSE brake drums vary in width.



Most rodders want a rear end for a Model A to be 56 to 58 inches wide. A 66 to mid 70's Ford Bronco is 58 inches wide and has the desirable 5 on 5.5 wheel pattern. The 57 to 59 Ford passenger car rear end is also 58 inches ... but has the 5 on 4.5 wheel pattern. The V8 Maverick and Comet have a 8 inch rear end that is 2 inches more narrow at 56 inches wide but has the 5 on 4.5 wheel pattern.

 

I had mine cut down to 56'' flange to flange and i seem dead on for a fenderless car.