I am in the process buying parts for my 34 Ford Pickup build. I am going to use a 9" Ford rear end but there are so many to choose from. I am finding 60s model F100 rear ends in the area because were are in a rural part of Texas. Is that too wide for my project? What would be the ideal one to buy? I am putting it behind a 322 nailhead. I have done a search on this site but didn't find a whole lot except for gear ratios. Thanks all.
IMO, first you need to pick wheels and tires than the 9", unless your going fenderless..……………………………...
Not sure how much wider a 35 slantback is to your 34 but I put a '79 Bronco 9" under it with a parallel spring kit and worked just fine.
The Bronco rear,66 -77 is the perfect width and you keep the 5.5" bolt pattern wich is the same pattern as the early front spindles. 66 - 77 Bronco rear axle is 58 78 - 86 Bronco rear axle is 65.25 I used the early Bronco under my '32 pickup. HRP
After searching for a long time for a Bronco rearend, I went with a Curie housing/axle/brake package (drums) for my '36 cut to my width. Was around 1100 8 or 9 years ago, I welded my brackets on and a buddy gave me a dropin I rebuilt. Like I say, may be cost prohibitive for you, but finding the proper width/etc from a 60's or 70's vehicle could also be time prohibitive as well.
The monarch-granada rear is a good choice. That's a parts bin car. It can have an 8" or a square tube large 9" housing shrunk down to the small bearing ends.
I had Currie build my 9" to my specs, Nodular Iron center section, braced housing, hardened 35 spline axles, locker, 5:14's, etc... Great people to deal with and reasonably priced too. Here is a quick info chart on stock housings, if it helps:
Early 60's step side pick up... slightly wider than a bronco but has much easier to get and bigger truck brakes...
I used a 9" out from a 57 Ford for my 34. But that may be harder to find than a Bronco now. I also agree that an 8" from a Mustang/Maverick/Comet in the 1966-68 era would probably be just as good if you aren't racing. I have an 8" out of a 67 Mustang in a 32 with a SBF engine in it and its been in there since 1975.
Around here the rear ends that we want have all been in junk yards for years... I bought a '77 cougar for $300, the pig, drums, guts and both backing plates were solid lumps... if I do it again I will buy a new housing, axles and brakes... all from the same dealer...
When I built this 34 coupe I used a 9" inch from a 69 Mustang. It was 60 inches axle face to axle face, rear springs where Chassis Engineering The wheels are 8" and tires where 255/70 /15 I think the coupe and the truck are close to the same track width. Larry
Mid '80's CJ Jeep rear end is the right width and is 5 on 5 1/2 but not sure how strong it is. Definitely not as stout as a 9 inch.
I am patient on finding the right one. I have time to look here and there. Several swap meets coming up and 9" rear ends pop up every so often on Craig's List.
This is what I like about this forum. There are so many folks that are willing to share their experience and knowledge. Thanks
I used a 9 inch out of a 64 T-Bird on my Model A. I had Dutchman Axles narrow the housing and centering the pinion. They didn't charge a lot to narrow the housing, but the new axles it required were pricey. The guy at Dutchman told me to set the tires and wheels I wanted to run under the fenders exactly where I wanted them. Then measure from mounting face to mounting face on the wheels. That's the width I needed.
I like to use 64-66 F100 rears, shorten the driver side 4-3/8", and re-spline the axle. 5.5" bolt circle (no unsightly ring gear hump in the back cover, 57" drum to drum. You can use housings back to 57, but the axle to be re-splined needs to be forged, that started around 64. This 34 has one under it. The pinion comes out centered.
You might consider the rear out of a Ford Explorer from the 90's, they're about the right width and junkyards are full of them, much cheaper than a 9" to build.
I wasn't looking too hard but a guy close by had a 9" rear end complete out of a 65 Galaxy for $80. The ring & pinion and one of the bearing caps is shot. The rest of it is there so I figured it was worth the $80 just for the housing and backing plates with the emergency brake cables and it looks like fairly new brake shoes and hardware. There are 3rd members all over the place so should pick one up cheap. According to Cobra Joe's chart this is 61" in width. Since I am going fenderless, this should work ok.
Do you have a pic of that 35 rear tire to fender lip .i am building a 35 and looking for the best rear to use .thank you
Bronco rears are 58" early car rears ('57/'58 for sure maybe '59) are '58". The five seven car rear actually has an 8.75 ring gear but a 9" chuck bolts in.
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