Help with rear Axle

Hello to all here
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I’m still very new here and have not been around much since joining a couple of months back. Hope I’m doing this correctly.
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I’m looking for advice and or suggestions on what kind of rear axle to use on my project.
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This is what I’m planning:
· ’32 ford glass body
· Early Chrysler Hemi 331 or Dodge 241 only minor hop up mods. (300HP or less)
· Boxed ’32 frame rails and homemade cross members
· Coil over rear suspension, and drum brakes, 7” wheels with 2” positive offset
· The ratio is not overly important, but I would like something in the 3.5 or 3.7 to 1 range
· Limited slip is also not so important
· The car will not be raced.
· I suspect that I will be able to match the wheel bolt pattern when I purchase front end components
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I’m thinking of purchasing a rear axle at a local salvage yard. Possibly a ½ ton pickup or maybe a Ranger unit
Some of my questions are:
· What length (wheel track) should I be looking at to put the wheels outside of the body but not so far out they will look stupid
· What manufacture’s axle would be good to weld the various brackets to.
· Which ones would have drum brakes
· What should I have to pay for one of these
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Any help will really be appreciated
Kip

 

Here is a link to an old thread Here on the HAMB covering that subject. The last post is three years old so don't answer it unless you feel like catching some flack for answering a thread that old. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=298627

Rear axle choice also is driven by your choice of bolt pattern on the axles. If you aren't dead set on running a certain set of wheels that may be easier but if you are planning on running a set wheels you already have or have decided on that is a factor to consider.
Price wise, just like real estate, Location location location seems to be a big factor in the going price for certain rear ends. A guy on the local craigslist has a Ford pickup rear end listed for 100 and a car nine inch for 200. Supply and demand in the area where you live probably is the biggest factor in cost.