57 ford wagon 9"; vs 55, 56, 58, or 59; which one do i want?

[atch]

here's the deal, guys:

i just found out about a "supposed" 57 ford wagon that i might be able to buy the rear out of, and i've got to go look at it tonight after work. so what if it turns out to be some other year? should i buy it anyway? i'm sort of familiar with the advantages of the 57 (smooth, narrow, etc.), but what about the others? are they desirable or undesirable? advantages or disadvantages? usable or not in a T modified? need narrowing? good bearings? good pumpkins? anything else i should know before i go look?

[enjenjo]

57 to 59 wagons all use the same rear, 57 is the only year with the smooth back cover. The only real difference between the Wagon/Ranchero rear and the rest of the passenger cars is the wheel bearing, the wagon uses a bigger bearing. 55 and 56 are not 8" or 9" rears originally.

[a/fxcomet]

Just make sure you box the leaf spring brackets (if you use leaf springs http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif).

[flt-blk]

Here's the 58 Custom parts car I just picked up for my 58 Ranchero Project. I guess this has a desireable rear end in it then??
TZ

[wayfarer]

I have a 9" out of a '57 edsel in my wayfarer and it has the big bearings and smooth rear. The thing bolted right in without even needing to move the spring perches.

[Deyomatic]

The 55 and 56 stuff gets a little confusing. According to my 55 Factory Manual, there were 2 different rears used, so I imagine that 56 was the same. I have a 55 Fairlane and the rear "pumpkin" loads from the front of the housing, they call it the "banjo style" in the manual. PAIN IN THE ASS to get parts for. NOBODY'S parts books/ Computers show the correct pinion seal, they all list a 48-56 Ford, that is too small, so I assume it is the rear loading one that it is for. The guy that just checked out the 56 pumpkin that I used in my 55 said that he doesn't even know where to find new gears for it, if mine turned out to be crap.

There is another style in the 55 manual that loads from the rear of the housing.
I can snap some pics of mine, if you want to compare it. PM me if you want pics.

[286merc]

57-62 rears have the WAR case (low nodular iron content)which is not as strong as the later ones. They also used butt welded axle tubes.
Also the 57 is not a true 9" altho it will interchange with them, the ring is a 8 3/4". I believe the true 9" came out in late 58.

Nothing wrong with them as long its not going to be really beat on

[jonizzle]

[ QUOTE ]
Also the 57 is not a true 9" altho it will interchange with them, the ring is a 8 3/4". I believe the true 9" came out in late 58.

Nothing wrong with them as long its not going to be really beat on

[/ QUOTE ]

Also remember that the 8 inchers are strong too unless you are using slicks and 400+HP, and doing lots of runs. i would think that the 1/4" less wouldn't be that big of a deal. it is all about how much the pinion and the pinion support can handle not to mention the case.

[desertratrodder]

Hi, one other thing to keep in mind or look at is the drums on the wagon rear. These are wider than the car ones, and the right ones are hard to find and expensive. If they are shit, dont panic as you can take the backing plates and drums off a 60-69 Wagon 9" and it all works, and you can get brake parts at the local supplier. If youre going to convert to the Explorer discs or something else, then forget I said anything at all. I have particular interest in the 57 58 Wagons, so I'm tossing in my 2 cents.

By the way, where do you post your intros? They seem to be in every area. Let me know, and its on the way.

[atch]

desert,

in the message board area (not the classifieds area, not the questions area, not the tech o'matic areas).