I've did a bunch of different searches and can't find exactly what i'm looking for. I have a 30 coupe that I am building and I plan on keeping it fendered. I have a friend who just pulled his stock rear end out of his 1965 Mustang and put in a beefier one since he is building the car for the track. He said I could have his Mustang rear end if I wanted to. According to the chart that I have seen numerous places on here the 8" rear end is 57.25 inches wide. I havent bought my wheels yet but I plan on running a 16x5 rim on a 7.00 bias tire in the rear. Is there anyone else out there that is running this rear end on a full fendered coupe and if so, did you run into any problems with fitment? Do you have any pictures? Thanks in advance for your help.
Mike, I have not run the Mustan rear under a model A and don;t remember the width of that I did put under the last one I built. Look at it this way, you can get the rear for free or it sounds like you can. Before you put spring mounts on it just slide it under there and look to see if it is too wide or wide enough. In the ned if it isn't going to work you have a spare rear for another project or trading power for the rear that you are looking for.
I ran a '65 Mustang rear axle under my 1930 Model A pickup,,worked great,,as I recall I used 6"x 15" rims. HRP
Thanks, The way I look at it is that I can always compensate for the width of the rear end with rim offset correct? Since I havent ordered my wheels yet I should be able to get an offset of a wheel that would still allow me to have the clearance I need. I plan on going with an artillery wheel from Wheelsmith. If I am wrong about compensating the rear end width with wheel offset please let me know. Thanks
measure your stock banjo from outside to outside of the drums, then measure the mustang the same, and that will tell you all you need to know about your offset. Divide by 2 for the # for each wheel. If I recall correctly, the banjo in my 29 roadster measured 54" outside hub to outside hub. So, that being correct, ( for the sake of conversation )you would need appx. 1 1/2" rear offset per wheel to compensate. I've heard that some of the rear ends from the early mavericks and comets and maybe even pintos, are the right width. Seems to me having wheels made to compensate for the offset is going to be pricey, might be cheaper, in the long run, to get the right size rear end to begin with.
If you call TCI, they will probably tell you what width, hub to hub, they use on their chassis. I am using their rear end and used custom backspace wheels from Wheel Vintiques. I also tubbed the body inward, even with the frame to run the largest tire possible under the fenders. 56" seems to be the magic number for everything I have done lately, but, always get this confirmed from other sources. ETA: I just confirmed on the TCI Model A chassis, the standard 9" Ford width measured at wheel mounting surfaces is 56".
Stock Model "A" rear is about 56" wide so you should be okay with your tire and wheel selection. It would also depend highly on the back space you intend to run back there too. If it's a fairly neutral backspace you'll do fine. Super shallow will get you real close to the fenders, but still should sneak in.
I feel the best way to have what you want is to have wheels and tires mounted you're going to use, set them in the wheel housings where you want them and stick a tape measure through one side to the back of the other side and get or narrow a rear end to those measurements.. Other wise you will not be happy.. Why compensate on something you're going to look at every day....
Good point Carl, I've put off buying the wheels so far because I was undecided on whther I was going to run a Ford or Gm rear end. Hence which bolt pattern I needed on the wheels that I order. I know you are a big fan of the s10 rear and it does look like a perfect fit and I was leaning torward that route and then my friend said he would give me the Ford rear and and I started looking into that. I'm not concerned about the price. It's a free rear end vs. a $100 rear end. I just want what will work the best.