Hello all. Can anyone tell me if a 1978 Mustang II rear end is a direct fit for a replacement rear end for my 63 Comet? I know the Granada and Maverick are, but try and find one that isn't trashed. Can anyone tell me or suggest other rear ends that are a direct fit without modification? Thank you in advance.
My Falcon has an 8.8 Explorer rear with disc brakes, wish you were closer, I have a 9" I'm going to, this one is for sale .
No. You need to remove the excess brackets, and have a set of spring pads welded on in the correct location, and have your driveshaft shortened.
Hot rods are all about making parts fit. Not everything is a direct bolt-in. Most reproduction parts don't just bolt -in. If this was easy everybody would drive a hot rod and I would be out of business.
You might look at pre 93 ford ranger 8.8 but the axle pads are on the wrong side a 59 9" bolted in my 60 falcon except the brake drums were to big to adapt for 13' wheels.
Pre 1993 Ranger rear ends are not 59", they are 56-1/2". Those Rangers had either 9" or 10" drums depending on engine size. 13" wheels fit over the 9" drums.
His stock axle is 56" wide. There is no way to get a 59" one in there, and get tires on it, without cutting out the arches. Going past 56" limits wheel choices. The stock wheel houses start at the opening, but immediatly start moving start moving toward the tire, as they go up. Unless you cut these out, you cannot get a decent tire in there. I have a 56-1/2" rear, 15x7, 4" backspace wheels, with 195/60-15's, and I had to make mini-tubs for the outside. Here is a cross-section (literally), of the section in question:
The Jalopy Journal
