Projects Model AA rear end (non original)

Hi all. Hope I’m not beating a dead horse by creating a redundant thread here. And hope I don’t offend any purists.
I have an AA ch***is that I plan on making a hot rod tow truck out of. I’ll have a ton of questions as I go. it’ll be my first actual build, rather than tinker.
I want to ZEE the frame and have it very low. Haven’t decided on drivetrain yet. So my question is, what rear end would any of you recommend using? Want to keep it dual wheel. Same or similar wheeltrack. I’ve never done anything with AA before. And that spring pack seems like a bit of a pain to work with.

I’m interested in thoughts and opinions. Would you keep the stock rear? Has anyone used other options?

Thanks
Kevin

 

If you're serious about making it into a tow truck, I'm not sure you'll want to zee the frame. The cantilever springs on an AA are fine for using it as an actual tow truck, but the original rear axle is out for anything other than a stock restoration (6.14:1 ratio), so consider instead any one-ton rear that is using dualies, particularly a Dana 60. I'm using a Rockwell 140 (5.14:1 and 17.5" tires) from a 1960 F-350 tow truck I stripped out. Also using the spindles, tires, wheels, steering column stalk w/turn signals, steering wheel and even the cab markers from the tow truck. I set up the rear axle using the cantilever springs as the top "bars" of a four-bar setup, welding ears atop the axle housing to mount the springs. The spindles are at a different inclination than stock AAs, requiring a different "set" of the front axle, drilling out the axle to accommodate F-350 kingpins and shims as the axle thickness is narrower on the AA than the '60 F-350. Just some things to think about.

 

Thank you for all that info. To be clear, this is going to be a low riding roadster pickup cab with the hand crank wrecker on it for show only.

 

In that case, mix and match until you find out that perfect, low-rider stance! I guess it's obvious that I get a kick out of projects that try something completely different. Yours fills that bill.

 

How did the width work on yours? Not too wide?

 

. . . and what's powering this.

 

Haven’t decided. Model A engine, Perkins diesel, Mitsubishi diesel from a Ranger. Those are my preferred choices right now. Doesn’t have to be a closed shaft if you’re wondering

 

The rears are 82 inches outside to outside. The fronts are 64 inches outside to outside. I don't think it's too wide but I like big . . . I cannot lie.

 

351 Windsor with an AOD. Has an Edelbrock Performer intake, Edelbrock aluminum heads with 1.90-inch intakes, roller rockers, RV hydraulic cam, an oddball Holley 4160-ish four-barrel, a 1970 points distributor running 10 degrees of initial advance and a Rockwell 140 with floating hubs out the back. Sort of a brick ****house farm rod. This pic is from 10 years ago.